Experiencing the Pandemic: Narrative Reflection about Two Coronavirus Outbreaks

Abstract

This is a narrative reflection about my experience of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks across countries between January and early March 2020. My recalled memories showed the shifting and contingent thoughts and emotions. Contextual factors such as my ethnic identity and local anticoronavirus policies also constructed my perceptions of the pandemic. While my story is unfinished as the coronavirus outbreak is still happening, the narratives provide a novel perspective to understand public health practices in a global context. As the health knowledge construction is infused with identity and personal meanings, this reflection also shows that people from a racial group may face unfair treatment in a pandemic. My narratives suggest the need for a more globally synchronized health communication in pandemics. "In all our preparations for the coming pandemic, then, we would be wise not to give short shrift to metaphor and language, and the way they shape not just our thinking, but also our actions."-Davis (2013, p. 178) I am a researcher in Klagenfurt, Austria. I originally come from China. These self-introduction-like starting sentences are the key for my story. My story starts from my holiday on the 19 th of January 2020. I planned this holiday a long time ago. Going back home for Chinese New Year always brings me happiness. Even now, it is still hard to associate my holiday with the coronavirus particles with those little pink spikes. Rumors, outbreak, terminology CONTACT Xiang Zhao

Face mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic: comparing perceptions in China and three European countries

“…As hypothesized, Chinese residents showed a significantly higher level on all behavioral and perceptional variables regarding mask wearing, even though the European sample reported more cases with underlying diseases and more participants knew people with COVID-19. This contrast between these countries is consistent with cross-national mask wearing status based on naturalistic observations [ 14 ]. Since face mask wearing is crucial for vulnerable populations [ 1 ], such cross-national discrepancies highlight the necessity of stronger community-wide mask wearing promotion in Europe.…”

Fighting ahead: Adoption of social distancing in COVID-19 outbreak through the lens of theory of planned behavior

“…The new Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak originated in Wuhan city of China in late December 2019, brought a new public health crisis all over the world (Zhao, 2020). It is an infectious disease, and the world has experienced facing these sorts of microorganisms in the past.…”

Torn between two worlds: COVID, it’s your fault

“…Acculturative stress can be discerned from Zhao’s (2020) vivid description of his experience of being Chinese in Austria, when he was often asked how far his hometown was from Wuhan. Zhao stated “a great anger grew, but, at the same time, I became afraid of my surroundings … I feared to go out at night as if I am the unwanted” (p. 1584).…”

“…There is a growing literature on the impacts of COVID-19 on immigrants with themes such as migrant autoethnographic experiences ( Zhao, 2020 ), hostile media perceptions ( Chu and Lu, 2021 , Yen et al, 2021 ), and online learning challenges for parents of school children ( Santiago et al, 2021 , Schenkels et al, 2021 ). Few studies have directly addressed the acculturation experience and associated concepts such as acculturative stress, transnational relationships, and a sense of belonging.…”