My days in UK under pandemic

I planned to go home in March 2020, but it was not until March 2021 that I finally got home.

When England has imposed lockdown in that desperate Spring, I knew my journey home is prone to be a tough odyssey. I told my parents to buy me an air ticket in a WeChat video call. It was to me a hard decision for the reason that I risked my academic career.

The University of Bristol didn’t call for a shutdown even after the first Covid case on campus was reported. What shocked me more was UK government chief medical scientist Sir Patrick Vallance’s statement that the nation will adopt a “herd immunity” strategy regarding the coronavirus. I was totally speechless and was helpless.

What’s worse was my flatmate Mary would come back after the short Easter break, and to work as a nurse at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. I asked her not to come back or I would leave the flat. Meanwhile, I tried to find a flat that I can live alone in Bristol. After several rejection by the landlords, I finally managed to secure a flat situated on Park Row, from two Chinese female students.

The Flat 3 at my Park Row residence was a lovely studio flat in an old British terraced house. I had my best days in my life there despite the slightly expensive rent. I firstly rented for 4 months from the Chinese girls and then I extended my tenancy for another 7 months.

The studio flat was built before 1810s so it has more than 200 years of history. How I knew that? I saw a blue plaque on the wall out of the house write: painter William James Muller lived here from 1812 to 1845. The house is located on the brae of St Michael’s Hill so I could see the full picture of Bristol city centre, Cabot Tower and a part of Clifton.

Due to the coronavirus, I didn’t take any strenuous exercise. Rather I walked around Bristol city centre, the University and Clifton every day. The scenery was amazing. There are hills and harbour in Bristol, creating multiple landscapes of the city. I am a crazy fan about old architecture and I feel Bristol is the paradise for me for its endless historical building clusters.

The best part of the city for me is Clifton, where I can climb on the old narrow alleys up the hills and enjoy the harbour view on the tops. One day an old lady invited me to walk in her garden on top of hill and see the harbour, “a secret place in Bristol where not many people know”, she said. I also went to Goldney Hall, where Watson, the partner of Sherlock Holmes held his wedding. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is the best of the best. It is above the nearly 100 metres deep Avon Gorges and has more than 150 years of history.

I flew home in March 2021, and I really miss my days in Bristol, UK.