An overseas Shenzhen student in France, identified as Ma Li, has been staying at home for three weeks since French President Emmanuel Macron announced March 16 that the country would enact a 15-day lockdown given the situation of COVID-19 pandemic.
Ma who came to Paris for doctoral degree in 2017 had, in fact, already begun this before the announcement, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.
Like Ma, there are around 1.42 million of a total 1.6 million overseas Chinese students scattered across the globe during the fight against the coronavirus, according to information released from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ma said that as the situation in France is getting more severe, many of his colleagues have stopped greeting with kisses and have increased social distancing.
When Ma learned that his 70-year-old landlord did not have any face masks, he gave 10 masks to him.
“The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate. We are living under the same roof. We should help each other,” said Ma.
Ma said that he felt so warm when he received a healthcare package from the Chinese Embassy in France on Saturday, which included face masks, disinfectant wipes, Chinese medicine and epidemic prevention guidance.
Another overseas Chinese student, Chen Jia, in the United Kingdom, also helped her neighbors, an elderly couple, get food amid the outbreak.
Chen said that she felt grateful for the help she received from the couple when she arrived in London three years ago. “It is difficult for them to shop like young people during this difficult time, so I decided to buy food for them,” said Chen.
Additionally, Chen has also donated money to the U.K.’s NHS frontline workers through a local charity organization.
“About 80 percent of my classmates are staying in America during this time,” said Li Wei, a student studying in California.
Li said that her school had turned from face-to-face teaching, to online lessons from March 17.
Due to heavy schoolwork, as well as troubles of going back China, Li said that many Chinese students decided to stay on campus.
Li said that she calls home every day to talk to her parents for an hour.
“Many of my relatives have asked me if I need any help. This has made me feel that I am not alone during this fight,” said Li.