When I left China on 19th January there was news about a virus in Wuhan, but I had no idea that the whole world would be impacted the way in which it has. I would have never guessed that my 14 day trip would eventually be an additional 186 days! However, after an approximate 2 month process, today I was finally reunited with my family and almost got licked to death by my two dogs!

I would not have got through this experience without the love and encouragement of my family and friends all around the world. I am especially grateful to my friends in Hodenhagen who looked after me for the vast majority of the time I was in Germany. An experience I will never forget.

I must say a big thank you to my colleagues in HR at thyssenkrupp System Engineering, The German Chamber of Commerce and Lufthansa for making my return to China possible at this globally challenging time.

I would also like to say a special thank you to the Qingdao authorities and the staff of the Mangrove Tree Resort World who have looked after me, along with the other passengers who arrived in Qingdao on the 22nd July Charter flight. You have made the last 14 days as comfortable as they could be. 谢谢!

I should also thank the Qingdao West New Area Government for the ample supply of complimentary beer!🍺.

I think I have some interesting photos to post from today, which I will do in the coming days. But right now I must get myself readjusted to life at home at give my wife and dogs the attention they have missed.

Thank you all for coming on this journey with me!

Yesterday, my journey from hell finally ended. After leaving my hotel in Frankfurt at 7:30am on Wednesday 22nd July, I finally arrived at my quarantine hotel in Qingdao around 5:00pm. A total door to door journey time of 27.5 hours!

During this period, I was tested twice for COVID–19, and had my temperature taken 6 times. Although there was lots of waiting around at times, the actual process was extremely well organised by the Chinese Authorities. I remain grateful to the German Chamber of Commerce and all the local Qingdao authorities that have worked extremely hard to facilitate and receive these special charter flights. An extra special call out and thanks goes to the Qingdao West Coast New Area Government who are providing complimentary beverages throughout quarantine, include the famous Tsingtao beer that is made here.

The quarantine accommodation is better than I can possibly have expected, and I was lucky enough to get a room with a sea view! The hotel is part of the Mangrove Tree Resort which you can see on the map below. Now you should have a better idea of where I am in the world right now.

Throughout the journey yesterday I took a several photos, those that I think maybe of interest for you can be seen on my image website:

Arrival in China - 23 July 2020 - Paul Git’s Images

Additionally for those interested in the food that is being served, I will also be posting the pictures on my image website:

China Quarantine Food - Paul Git’s Images)

Even though my flight is not until Wednesday, I am not taking any chances. Today I will take the ICE 575 from Hannover to Frankfurt and stay the next two nights at an airport hotel.

I leave with mixed emotions. My good friend and colleague welcomed me into his family and home four months ago so that I didn’t have to endure the lockdown period all alone in a hotel room. This is an incredibly kind gesture for which I can never repay him. I will miss the whisky tasting and the quality food and beer. Not only do I leave as the 2020 Hodenhagen Corona Lockdown Phase 10 Champion, I have a long term souvenir of a few extra kilos around my waist that will remind me of all the happy memories together!

As a sufferer of depression, I have no idea what my mental state would be if I had remained in a hotel for the whole six months. But with the help from my friend, his family, my colleagues and the extended support of my new friends around the world in the weekly Eve Selis Patreon Zoom meeting, I have come through this relatively unscathed and I am now a just a little more relaxed about situations that I am unable to influence.

Today is just the beginning of a long journey home, there are still a few obstacles to overcome but I am facing them with positivity and vigor!

As regular visitors to this blog will know, for the last 6 months I have been stuck in Germany after the outbreak of the Corona Virus extended my two week trip!

One of my friends and colleagues who I have been lucky enough to be staying with during this time is very much into Whisky tasting, and with the help of the live tastings and the live tasting archives of Whisky.com (or Whisky.de) I am now also enjoying and appreciating whisky like I have never done before.

Updated 2020–07–26 - forgot some whiskies! So to keep track of which whiskies we have tasted, I decided to list them all. Unbelievably it was 62, roughly 1 every 3 days! 🥴

I sincerely hope that I can continue my new hobby when I am back in China, though I am sure the availability of miniatures maybe limited. Fingers crossed that I can find a good store in Shanghai!

Wednesday was not a great day for me as I found out that I did not get a seat allocated on 15th July Charter Flight to Qingdao, China (NOTE: Since then I have found out I have been allocated seat on the 22nd July Charter Flight).

In the evening, to help raise my spirits, my friend took me to a neighbours socially distanced birthday celebration in the village of Eickeloh. Everyone was super friendly and sympathetic about my situation.

During the evening, one couple asked me where I was from in England. Usually when I answer this question I say Milton Keynes because it’s the nearest biggest city to my small home town and many people have at least heard of it, even if they don’t know where it is. They knew Milton Keynes, and responded with a follow up question of whether I knew the town of Winslow because they used to live there for a time….Winslow is the town where I have my house and where I went to secondary school! A great conversation ensued reminiscing about various town events such as the Winslow Beer Festival and Winslow Show!

I just find it so fascinating that you can be in the middle of nowhere in rural Germany and meet somebody who has lived in the same small rural English town as you.

A similar occurrence also happened to me back in the mid 90’s. On one business trip to the USA I stayed in the Marriott Hotel in Livonia, MI. Normally I would stay in the hotel across the street, but on this occasion it was fully booked so I had to stay a few nights in the Marriott first. One evening I was talking to one of the bar staff, not only did they know the small village of Great Horwood where I grew up, they also went to school with the daughter of our neighbour!

These little chance acquaintances always make me smile and consider how small the world actually is.

Following my successful trip to Hamburg to obtain a visa so that I can return home to China, I decided to try out the FFP3 mask that I had purchased many months ago in anticipation of returning home in the height of the COVID–19 outbreak in Mainland China.

The train journey was only 2 hours, and it was clear that you get hot and a little uncomfortable with the bands strapped around your head. How medical professionals wear these day in and day I have no idea. I have even more respect for them now. All I have to do is put up with discomfort for a 12 hour flight! My good friend @yogimo suggested that I pack several and change them throughout the journey. I think this is probably a wise idea and I will give it a try. All I need now is a flight!

Previously I have written about my current situation, When can I go home? and Two steps forward, one step back. Today I woke up to some good news from my HR department back in Shanghai, the special invitation letter has been approved, so now I can apply for an appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Hamburg so that I can obtain a special visa.

I submitted all the documents and fortunately I got a quick response, sadly it stated I need another document but this time it must be issued by the local German authorities. I think it’s like a proof of residence or something. I find it strange that this is required because I am basically living here due to being stranded and not by choice.

Emotionally today has been a complete rollercoaster, fantastic news followed by rapid anxiety and stress of finding out how to obtain a document I don’t really understand, in a country I am not really that familiar with. Fortunately my good friends and colleagues here have helped me find a way forward. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the required document and a visa appointment date and time.

This afternoon focus has been hard, and at times like this I turn to music, and in particular my favourite album by a very special singer/songwriter to me, Eve Selis. Eve has offered inspiration and a sympathetic listening ear to me and others during the weekly Zoom meeting for her Patreon supporters.

The special track for me at this time is One Day At A Time. Check it out, I am sure you will love it.

For almost 9 years I have been living and working in Shanghai, China. For the last 6 years I have been working for large German multi-national and have enjoyed building up their technical capability in China.

Back in January, I came to Germany for a 2 week business trip. Little did I know that 5 months on I would still be here. Due to the outbreak of COVID–19 in China earlier this year, my employer initially prohibited all travel to China and then in late March this announcement came:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China National Immigration Administration Announcement on the Temporary Suspension of Entry by Foreign Nationals Holding Valid Chinese Visas or Residence Permits

So where does this leave me? Well, fortunately as a UK national I don’t have any immigration problems with staying in Germany (I have no idea what happens when the Brexit transition period ends). A good friend and colleague has invited me to his home, so I am being well looked after and gaining all the weight I lost in the last 9 years!

Since the announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there has been no further information as to when the borders will be opened again to Foreigners, let alone those of us with residence permits. If I am honest, I have no real idea when I will see my family again.

Earlier this month, the German Chamber of Commerce arranged two Charter flights to China for employees of German companies, one to Tianjin and one to Shanghai. Sadly I was unable to secure a seat on one of these flights, but last week there was an announcement that further Charter flights are being negotiated, but this time the destination would be Qingdao. My employer has applied for a seat and now I am playing the waiting game. Even if I can secure a seat, it is no guarantee that I can return as the Chinese Authorities have to approve the passenger list, and negative COVID–19 tests must be completed before getting on the flight.

As my home is in Shanghai there is a good chance that I will have to quarantine twice, 14 days on arrival in Qingdao, and then for another 14 days when I eventually arrive in Shanghai. So, even if I was to able to fly home today I would still not see my family for another month! This is something I am prepared to endure because there would be definite light at the end of the tunnel, unlike now. Mentally this situation is proving quite challenging, especially now that the amount of work I can effectively do remotely is beginning to dry up which could also lead to other complications with my predicament.

I am extremely grateful to my friend who has welcomed me into his home for the last few months. As well as providing me a comfortable environment to live in, he has also introduced me to the best COVID–19 lockdown hobby of online Whisky tasting!

Here is my family that I miss so much being so far away:

Wish me luck!

A fitness craze from Germany combining yoga poses while drinking beer is gaining popularity in Asia.

Source: Have you got the bottle for ‘beer yoga’? - BBC News

What can I say other than ‘Sign me up!’?