Sundaymail Editor
Munyaradzi Gurure
I am a third-year computer science student at Guangxi University of Finance and Economics.
Some time in December, schools had just gone on vacation for the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and I was looking for some entertainment for the holidays.
I then planned to go to a concert with my friend and watch some fireworks display, but in light of the coronavirus, most of the shows across the country were cancelled.
On January 10, my friend invited me to do a performance in Yulin for the Spring Festival.
That was around the time the Covid-19 epidemic was getting serious.
I knew that there was a virus outbreak, but had no idea how severe it was and how fast it was spreading.
That is when my friend suggested we volunteer to do some work at the Yulin Railway Station in Guangxi province.
We worked together with a few other local volunteers doing various different assignments at the station.
There are thousands of people around China who travel every year to and from their home towns during the Spring Festival.
If the facilities and areas, which people use the most, are not sanitised properly, this could cause the virus to spread quickly.
Since it was in the early stages of the epidemic, some people may have been unaware of the severity of the situation, as well as how to essentially protect, not only themselves, but others around them.
The main job we had was to guide the passengers in and around the station, disinfect areas of the train station, especially the facilities that are frequently used by passengers. Given that it was the early stages of the epidemic, we were tasked with guiding the passengers to the area where their temperatures were tested.
We used a large electronic pump to cover the larger areas and a smaller one for more compact areas in order to be thorough.
A lot of the local people were very surprised to see a foreign national helping, but they were supportive.
After a few days, we settled down in order to let the professionals do what they do best.
However, because I felt as if I should do more, my friend and I, together with a few others including a nurse and a policewoman, decided to compose a song that would encourage and uplift the people of China and the world during the epidemic.
One of our goals was to spread awareness concerning the coronavirus epidemic.
We wanted the song to captivate the audience as well as appreciate the brave people who are risking their lives to fight against the spread of the virus.
We then spent the following few days recording the music video, which is now live online together with the song.
A lot of people have asked why I volunteered, and my answer is: “Sometimes when you are given an opportunity to help others in any way you can, you should feel obligated.”
This disease, which has now been declared a pandemic, affects everyone in one way or another.
So, I suggest we all follow the many guidelines provided by the health systems in the areas that we live.
Even simple tasks such as self-isolation, proper hygiene and wearing a mask are all ways to help prevent the spread of the virus.
In China, at times the difference between the lifestyle and cultures can be both challenging and frightening, and, on the other hand, it can be spontaneously exciting.
You experience many different situations that you probably would not have imagined.
The coronavirus pandemic is one of those situations.
Amidst all the tension brought by the virus, I was very privileged to have had the opportunity to actively lend a hand, although it might seem strange to some.
These new experiences are the ones that help you understand the world you live in, and more specifically, help you keep your head above the water in the environment that you live in.
I am hopeful that a medical solution will be found soon and I look forward to seeing my friends as often as I used to, walk outside and breathing fresh air without wearing a mask and maybe go to watch concert.
Hopefully that time will come sooner than later.
Munyaradzi Gurure wrote this article for The Sunday Mail.
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