Under the epidemic, we are trapped in Africa (Part 2) Lesotho

After the last Kenyan article was published, I did not expect to receive so much support and encouragement from friends, and it also aroused the outcry of many compatriots struggling overseas. Therefore, while working, In addition, I finished writing the Lesotho chapter overnight and dedicated it to everyone. Due to its long length, the Lesotho chapter will be divided into two parts (middle) and (part two).

In 2019, due to job transfer, I came to Lesotho. Not many people should have heard of this country. It is completely surrounded by South Africa and is the largest country in the world. Economically, it is recognized by the United Nations as one of the least developed countries in the world. Politically, it is a country that implements a constitutional monarchy like the United Kingdom. It has its own king, but the person who holds the most power is the prime minister. It also has a nice name: The Kingdom of the Sky, because its average altitude is over 1,600 meters, making it truly a country in the sky.

This is a primitive society

Although I did my homework in advance and knew that Lesotho is one of the least developed countries in the world, when the plane hovered over Lesotho, I was still confused. The world below was stunned. Except for mountains or mountains, except for grasslands or grasslands, no buildings can be seen, and only a few scattered small houses can be seen vaguely. Is this a primitive society? This was my first impression of Lesotho.

"Welcome to Lesotho~" At the security checkpoint, the airport security staff said to me enthusiastically. My intuition told me that this country can still be saved, and it is not accustomed to the bad habits of extortion and bribery.

I like life here very much

This time it is a housing construction project, building a dormitory building in the National University, and it is also an athlete village for the upcoming African Youth Games. As a good student, my favorite place has been the campus since I was a child. Especially when I entered the society after graduation, I missed the carefree campus life even more. So no matter which city I travel to, a university campus is a must. place. So I really enjoyed my job on campus this time. I would ride a bicycle to visit the campus if I had nothing to do.

When we first arrived at the project, we lived in a rented two-story villa. I was shocked when I first saw such a "luxury" villa. I thought Lesotho, a primitive society, could be so beautiful. There are many small houses in this country style, most of which are built of red bricks or sandstone, and are very low-key and hidden in the village. Because the villa we stayed in was the official residence of a senior government official in his hometown, the decoration and furniture were particularly exquisite. We also saw a fireplace like the one in the Gryffindor lounge in "Harry Potter" and imagined that Sirius's face would appear there. Come out and talk to me.

We have several dogs in the villa, and we walk them in the yard when we have nothing to do. Occasionally, we have small donkeys and goats as guests.

We were busy working during the day, and after dinner at night we would take a stroll in the yard to enjoy the night view and stars. Because it is a rural area, the place where we live is very comfortable, without the noise and impetuousness of the city. With the people I like, I am willing to spend my whole life quietly here. “I really like life here”, I often thought like this at that time. Although material life is very scarce, I am very happy to be able to eat a small pack of local biscuits and a sour green apple. Isn't this the simplest happiness in our childhood? Life is so simple yet so happy. It was an unforgettable and wonderful time in my life.

Later we moved to a prefabricated house in the temporary construction area next to the university. Although the accommodation conditions were not comparable to those in the villa, our happiness did not decrease at all.

Every night, I always like to stand in the yard and look up at the stars in the sky, accompanied by the chirping of crickets and the occasional barking of dogs. If it is not cloudy and rainy, I can always see the Milky Way hanging in the sky. It is so beautiful. I have never seen the starry sky at home. Although there is a canopy city in Qingdao, my hometown, there is a huge difference between the artificial starry sky and the real natural starry sky.

Where we lived, the foremen also planted many crops. In addition to dogs, kittens and reed chickens also joined our family. Later, the reed chickens also hatched many chicks. It was chattering every day, so lively. I always thought that what we lived at that time was the Lesotho version of "The Longing for Life", and it was even worse than the longing for life of Huang Xiaochu and Teacher He. I really miss the life at that time.

It’s time to leave

I don’t know why, the good days are always so short. Due to various reasons, the university project was suspended and there was no sign of resumption. I was transferred I arrived at the headquarters in Maseru, the capital, and took over a small project. Although the material life in the capital is very rich, there are large shopping malls, KFC, steak and pizza restaurants, and several Chinese supermarkets, where you can buy Lay's potato chips, Three Squirrel Nuts, Weilong Spicy Strips, Master Kong instant noodles, and all kinds of Such imported fruits and my favorite charcoal-grilled corn, but I am tired of city life after all. I don’t like the traffic jams in the city, the many people in the city, the rush in the city, and the impetuousness in the city. , I really miss the life in the countryside, the comfortable, beautiful and yearning life.

Because I have not returned home since I went abroad in 2018, I flew directly from Kenya to Lesotho, so I have been planning to go home on vacation at the end of March this year. Why the end of March? Because at that time, the domestic epidemic was much better under control, and the end of March was the beginning of spring in China. Spring is my favorite season. The weather is getting warmer, and it won’t be too cold even if there is no heating at home. At that time, hundreds of flowers were blooming in China. , and there are a lot of fresh fruits in season. I can take my mother out for an outing. The most important thing is that on April 5th, Qingming Festival, I can visit my father’s grave and talk to him. Dad and I haven’t seen each other for a long time. .

While planning my vacation, I happened to meet the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau who was recruiting translators. Because of the myth of Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals, I was particularly yearning for China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, just for the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals. Hospital Myths. To be honest, I really envy the staff who went to support the construction of Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals. I was also a part of the "cloud supervisor" every day, cheering for Xiao Huang, Xiao Lan, Cha Jiang, and Wu Ni Jiang. . When the motherland and the nation need us, if I can have the opportunity to bravely go against the grain and contribute my own strength without hesitation, just like the medical staff, it will be the glory of my life and become an example worthy of being praised and learned by future generations.

I thought, "It's time to leave," so I submitted my resume, participated in an online remote interview, and finally got an offer from China Construction Third Engineering Bureau. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I finally missed my myth.

Nothing left

I received the offer in early March, but for some reason, I kept putting off submitting my resignation and continued working as usual. , it was delayed until late March, and I finally made up my mind and submitted my resignation to the leader. But at that time, South Africa was already the country with the worst epidemic in Africa (it still is today), and South Africa entered a state of national disaster.

South Africa has always been a country that has always fascinated me, and it is also one of the main purposes of my coming to Africa to work. I had already made a travel guide to Cape Town, South Africa a long time ago, booked a flight ticket and selected a bed and breakfast at Penguin Beach in Simon's Town.

However, at the end of March, due to the epidemic, South African customs began to refuse the entry of Chinese tourists. All Chinese tourists’ visas became invalid overnight, so I had to cancel my trip to Cape Town. Table Mountain and Table Mountain were dear to my heart. The Cape of Good Hope, African penguins, and Seal Island are all gone.

Although I was not allowed to enter South Africa, it was still possible to transfer back to China at that time. My ticket was for the 26th. I told my relatives and friends in China that I would be home on the 28th. Before going home, I really I was so excited that I made a lot of plans for my trip after returning home. Even the things I had to do every day during the hotel quarantine were clearly planned. I reported the time and flight home to the community, consulted in advance about quarantine matters, and made an appointment with my friends to go eat Haidilao together after the quarantine. We even got vouchers for the group.

On the evening of March 23, the President of South Africa gave a televised speech and decided to lock down the country starting at midnight on March 26! At that time, I was still worried about taking chances. I thought that my ticket was for the morning of the 26th. The lockdown at midnight on the 26th should not affect my flight. Moreover, I was only connecting flights in South Africa and did not enter South Africa. It shouldn't affect me, I comforted myself.

On March 25, during lunch, I received a text message from the airline. My flight was canceled due to South Africa’s lockdown! At that time, my heart was extremely broken. I didn’t know why God wanted to play such a joke on me! My flight took off early on the 26th! Why can't we wait for half a day? My mother is still waiting for me to come home! My myth is still waiting for me to join the company! My community has already registered! Our Haidilao coupons are all sold out!

Just like that, my hope of returning home was extinguished by the ice water of reality. There was no light, no warmth, nothing left.

In addition, after the flight was cancelled, Qunar.com did not refund the ticket fee to me. I tried every conceivable method but failed. I had no choice but to resort to law. , sued Qunar.com to the Beijing Internet Court. When I was in Kenya, the local people were very good at defending their rights. They would always find lawyers and write legal letters to take us to court. After a year of being baptized by Kenyan lawyers and courts, I also learned that Qunar.com would not refund my ticket money. , It doesn’t matter, we’ll see you in court.

The nightmare has just begun

After the big brother South Africa locked down the country at the end of March, the little brother Lesotho followed suit and also formulated a series of lockdown policies. Such a double lockdown has blocked the way home for all Chinese compatriots. With no hope in sight, we are trapped in Africa and have begun the long wait.

During the lockdown, our projects were also suspended, and everyone returned to the base and began to quarantine at home. I turned my grief and anger into motivation and transformed into a top student. I arranged a full daily study plan and started The days when I couldn't hear what was going on outside the window and only read the books of sages.

Fortunately, Lesotho is the last country in Africa to have confirmed cases, and one of the few countries in the world to have confirmed cases. However, after the country was sealed off, a tense atmosphere immediately enveloped the entire Lesotho, especially those of us Chinese who have witnessed the raging of the new coronavirus in the country and witnessed the heavy blow and heavy casualties caused by the new coronavirus to the motherland. We are always tense. Xian didn't dare to slack off. He didn't leave the door twice every day, and the warehouse was filled with food and water early. We are ready for a tough battle.

On May 13, Lesotho officially announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19. By then, Lesotho had lifted its lockdown and we had already resumed work, but the border gates were still tightly closed. Only trucks are allowed to pass through the space, and other people are not allowed to pass. There is no news about the airport being open to traffic. As the number of confirmed cases increases, I can feel that the locals are becoming nervous.

Medical masks and disinfectants have long been sold out, and people on the roadside are beginning to sell gaudy cotton masks that cannot filter viruses at all. Everyone is wearing a mask on the streets and in shopping malls. Every time you enter a store, you must spray disinfectant, and even have your temperature taken. Sometimes you can spray disinfectant more than a dozen times a day when running materials. Disinfectants of various flavors and forms are mixed with sweat on the palms of your hands, exuding a odor. The pungent and disgusting smell made me feel like my hands were going to rot. After returning to the base, I had to spray disinfectant carefully all over my body from head to toe. Shopping malls and supermarkets have limited capacity, and customers have to line up at the door. There are even long lines to withdraw cash at ATMs. No matter where you are doing anything, everyone has to line up and everyone maintains social distance. In Lesotho at that time, the nightmare had just begun.

What kind of unprecedented crisis is it?

How are we doing now?

To be continued, please stay tuned for "We Are Trapped in Africa During the Epidemic (Part 2)"