It was the times of May – June 2002, the whole of China was terror stricken with SARS. Everything came to a halt, economy, business, life. Every small breath was taken with dread, a little white mask on every face, a futile effort to fight off something small, invisible, and unknown. It was a period of uncertainty, death, and horror.
People panicked and fled. There was chaos, confusion. Universities shut down. Offices, institutions, all but the hospitals. Foreign students studying in my university decided to leave China and headed back home. It was dangerous to stay back, but I decided to take the risk and decided to spend the ill-gotten holidays in China. University was bare and empty, except for a few uncertain vagrant souls lost in the dubious mess. 10 or maybe 20 or so.

Time was hard to kill. ‘An empty mind is devil’s workshop.’ Nothing to do, nowhere to go. A silent wait for death. Sooner or later everybody has got to die. Soon, I got weary of the fear, so I decided to visit Beijing. And at the same time I filled my HSK forms. I had always wanted to see the Great Wall. Sightseeing plus a wild attempt at Hanyu exams. Two birds with a single stone. Besides, there was nothing to do.
It was worth the visit. The visit to Beijing was refreshing. The historical Great Wall, awesome Tiananmen Square, breathtaking Summer Palace, awe-inspiring Heaven Temple, amazing World Park…. I was spell bounded by it all. China had always seemed mysterious to me. I got to know more about the wonderful people and the rich culture of China as I spent my days in Beijing.
I also prepared earnestly for the HSK exams. And gave my exams in Beijing. Parents sent us all the way, far away from home, so that we could be good doctors. But the SARS had cruelly disappointed all of us. All our classes had stopped, it hampered our studies. But there was nothing I could do about it. So I tried to make the best of it all.
I also helped some little Chinese friends with their English. Teaching English to them was fun.
Sometimes I wondered if my Beijing tour had been a bad idea. I wondered if it had been just a waste of money. But, I thought, if I have done the right thing then God is with me, there is nothing to worry.
Soon, the results were out. And I was happily shocked to hear that I had passed my HSK exams. Chinese university won’t give us our MBBS degree until and unless we’ve cleared the HSK exams. Many spent years trying to clear this exam. I was surprised at my luck.
This was how I spent my time during SARS. It didn’t go in a waste. I had a wonderful time in Beijing and cleared the exam of HSK.

My time with SARS in China