Omicron has made things a bit tougher for me here. I've mentioned before that I can't register on the local health system that let's people scan QR codes for transport and shops because in this city to do that you have to have Chinese ID. A passport isn't any good. Until last week it wasn't a problem. I carried a card explaining the problem and giving my details in Chinese. But on Saturday after shopping I got on a bus and the driver called for some security guy. I felt so embarrassed because a bus full of passengers was held up for 45 minutes while the security guy checked all my details and made a dozen phone calls before eventually letting me proceed. The problem is that to the nearest good shops it's about an hour to walk from my apartment so if I can't use buses or taxis I'm kind of stuck. There are a couple of small convenience stores so I won't starve but I wont be able to have a very varied or healthy diet until I can use the buses again.

Anyway. I hope you all have a happy and peaceful holiday season and a healthy new year. And I have a horrible feeling that I sincerely hope is misplaced that I'll be able to cut and paste this post this time next year.

And in the last hour...

Now the school wants me to go to the hospital to take a COVID test. This is a problem because
a) they won't send anyone with me so I'd have no way to communicate at the hospital
b) I don't know where the hospital is anyway
c) Even if I did I'd have no way to get there as buses and taxis won't take me

They also want me to send screen shots of my local health code. This is a problem because
a) I don't have one
b) I can't register because
b1) the registration app is about twenty screens long and all in Chinese and
b2) it only works if you have a Chinese ID number which of course I don't and
c) They say no one is available to help me to try to register.

What exactly they expect me to do about all this remains a mystery but even if we get it all sorted out it's given me pause for thought. When I was at my last school I had a number of health issues with my knees and feet but at least there was always someone to help me out at the hospital. If I get those problems here I am going to be in serious trouble as I have a realistic idea of my own competence in getting help by myself... that realistic idea being that I would be completely incapable of doing it.

Today just goes on getting better. I went to the small corner shop to buy some bread. When I returned the school guard wouldn't let me back in to go to my apartment because I can't scan the QR code. I only got back in after a lengthy argument and help from a student. So it seems I now can't even leave the school grounds at all.

Time to go back to Borisland - IF you can get to the airport!

Absolutely not. Boris has no clue about anything and doesn't give two hoots how many people die as long as his rich mates don't lose any opportunities to get richer. I don't want to go back until I am reasonably sure his policies aren't going to kill me.