On February 6, 2020 (4 hours for all), five students in New Jersey including Danny Jiao, John Berg, Andrew Mosteika, Elena Jiao, and Brian Chu, teamed up to start a cultural exchange group chat: American Stands with Wuhan to help fight the novel coronavirus in their unique way. They also collected 8 boxes of medical masks for the Wuhan hospitals. Both American and Chinese students are welcome to add the Wechat ID (nowhere88) to join the group. So far there are over 150 students in the group, and the best of all, active discussions ongoing all the time.
Below is a letter and a video from the team leader, Danny Jiao, a passionate high school student:
Dear Chinese friends in Wuhan,
Nice to meet you, my name is Danny and I’m an American high school junior.
I am the third generation of Wuhan University, my grandpa graduated in 1953, so Wuhan is very important to me on a personal level.
We are aware of coronavirus in China and all the panic it has caused. As a result, planes have stopped, and sections quarantined. The coronavirus is a scary disease, one that spreads rapidly and kills those with weak immune systems.
My peers and I are here to help and provide a perspective from someone from the same age on the other side of the world.
However, when life is in big trouble, we urge you to keep fighting and outlast the virus. Be careful of hygiene and try to be as sanitary as possible.
This pandemic is a worldwide crisis in which scientists are all working around the clock to solve.
Don’t give up, because once this hardship passes, all that will remain are bad memories and another extinct virus.
We want you guys to look to the future and live your full and healthy best life.
A problem like this also concerns the rest of the world. We want to assure you that, we, America and the rest of the world all support you in your time of need.
China is precious to the entire world from its culture, diversity, and people.
Since we know that being a teenager during such a time can be hard, we want this group to be an outlet in which you can rely on.
Staying cooped up inside your room all day is boring so hopefully, as a group, we discuss anything you guys are curious about or are interested in.
Those of us from America can answer questions from an American perspective about coronavirus or even questions about school and daily life.
Let’s get to know each other and get along well! If you have any friends, they are welcome to join as well!
May the people of Wuhan and China overcome this disease as soon as possible!
