To anyone who has been following the mind-boggling string of disasters striking Japan, I can give you the faint comfort that at least we here in China are doing fine. Japan is a long way away, and even in the unbelievably improbably worst case scenario, it would mean nothing more than staying indoors for a couple of days.
Of course, none of this stops the course of human nature. At least two exchange students at the university here immediately flew home to Europe, whether of their own choice or by urging of their parents. When I dropped by the supermarket last night I found a lineup to buy salt, many customers with 20 or more bags of salt in their baskets. The salt buying spree apparently stems from two rumours, one that the iodine in salt is defense against radiation, and another that the government plans to collect all salt to refine iodine for the same purpose. The first rumour is a little silly, and the second seems groundless. Perhaps some of this panic comes from memories of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake or the 2006 Wenchuan earthquake, both of which were followed by extreme shortages across the country.
The people with real worries in Nanjing are Japanese exchange students, who will be going home to a very different country than the one they left. The community here has been very supportive. I know several of my professors took the time to call each of their Japanese students in the last few days to ask how they were doing, offer their help, and ask after their families and relatives. After four years, the meaning of a disastrous earthquake is still painfully present in the Chinese consciousness.
Of course, none of this stops the course of human nature. At least two exchange students at the university here immediately flew home to Europe, whether of their own choice or by urging of their parents. When I dropped by the supermarket last night I found a lineup to buy salt, many customers with 20 or more bags of salt in their baskets. The salt buying spree apparently stems from two rumours, one that the iodine in salt is defense against radiation, and another that the government plans to collect all salt to refine iodine for the same purpose. The first rumour is a little silly, and the second seems groundless. Perhaps some of this panic comes from memories of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake or the 2006 Wenchuan earthquake, both of which were followed by extreme shortages across the country.
The people with real worries in Nanjing are Japanese exchange students, who will be going home to a very different country than the one they left. The community here has been very supportive. I know several of my professors took the time to call each of their Japanese students in the last few days to ask how they were doing, offer their help, and ask after their families and relatives. After four years, the meaning of a disastrous earthquake is still painfully present in the Chinese consciousness.
RSS Feed