RC grad teaching in China is doing well
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
Hometown girl, Rebecca Meredith, who had been teaching at an American school in Shanghai, China until about a month ago, is doing well in another part of the world with no health concerns, whatsoever.
Rebecca, who is the daughter of Dennis and Sharon Meredith of Rogers City, emailed an audio recording to the Presque Isle County Advance to provide an update about her well-being. Especially, in the grips of the coronavirus scare that has people around the world on edge.
Rebecca has been out of China for a little more than a month. She received a week off for the Chinese New Year that started Jan. 25 and has not been able to return to the country.
“I know a lot of people have been asking my family about it,” said Rebecca, a 2013 Rogers City High School graduate who received a degree in special education from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU).
“I’m safe and happy, and healthy. I have no chance of getting the virus. The likelihood of someone in Shanghai getting it are so small because it is transferred by droplets – it is not an airborne disease.”
Shanghai is about nine hours east of the epicenter in Wuhan.
“I really appreciate all the concerns, phone calls and texts, asking how Rebecca is doing,” said Sharon. “Thanks for reaching out to us. All is well with her so far.” Sharon also has a lot of interaction with her customers at Beauty Boutique.
At the moment, Rebecca is visiting her cousin, Muriel Burye, in Australia, waiting for the word to go back and continue teaching. That decision is being left in the hands of government officials from China and the United States.
The Advance featured Rebecca in a story in December 2017 because she was involved in a pilot program through SVSU to student teach in China.
“My theory is, and what I have read a lot about is the reason it is spread so wildly in China is because it is cold, and the virus thrives when it is cold. It will stay alive on a surface. In Australia, there are not a lot of cases because it is hot in the middle of summer. The virus does not like humidity and it is quite humid here as well.
“Plus, people in China have different hygiene standards than the western world. I’m not saying they are wrong, it’s just very different. In China, people sneeze or cough into their hands. At a young age, we are taught to
There have been a few cases in Shanghai, but it is people who have been to Wuhan.
Rebecca is confident that her health would not be compromised if she went back.
“If I get the corona virus, because I have a healthy immune system, I would be OK,” said Rebecca. “The people that are passing away are the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.”
Rebecca urges everyone back in the states to be leery about media reports that paint a dire picture.
“Shanghai is not Wuhan and what everyone is seeing in the news is Wuhan, that is one city in the whole country of billions of people,” added Rebecca. “Just remember, the news puts things in a different light, and makes things seem like they are a lot worse than they are.”