As you might have read, today was the first ever “Red Alert” for smog in Beijing. Beijing is well known for its smog. And strangely enough the red alert day (Today) the smog was literally half the level it was about a week ago when it reached 670 parts per million (Of 2.5 micron particles). Today, the smog was about 320 at its height. So, to choose today to sound the alarm really surprised everyone in the city.

    What the alarm meant for us. The government decreed that students stay home, to study, and only the kids who stay at the school (Boarding) should be in class. For us, the parents came and picked up most of the boarding students. I had a half day work, just in case some students were sent in anyways. Which could happen, a lot of parents work, and they can’t afford to take the day off to watch their child during a school day that the kid is not sick for…. I got all my marking up to date, had a meeting about final exams, and winter camps, then after lunch left.

    The smog alert has been set for 2 ½ days, which means officially no classes for us until Thursday afternoon, but our school declared Friday morning to be the return. We are a bit worried that the students will fall behind, and I will send out homework to the parents each day through Wechat (Kind of like skype on steroids).

    A lot of parents were posting pictures of their kids doing housework with them to share with the school. We are alive and breathing, so no worries there, we all have quality breathing masks and use them when we go out. Not sure what we will do tomorrow if we are home stuck, but will figure it out.