Both Chen Chunmei and Qiu Yongfei are from Wenzhou. In September 2019, they were dispatched for volunteer teaching at Florence Chinese School in Italy. They suffered a lot under the grim situation of COVID-19 there. However, they finally decided to stay in Italy to fight against the epidemic together with the children.

Chen Chenmei: We will be happy in our lives as long as we are optimistic

I am from Dongtou District, Wenzhou. Before going abroad, I was a middle-level cadre at Dongtou Experimental Junior Middle School.

I ever thought of returning to China, but how about the children if I leave? After getting along with them for months, I have been deeply attached to these children who are so far away from my hometown. All of them deserve to be treasured by me. Therefore, I am reluctant to leave them alone.

If I return to China, how about the school? Without teachers, how will the school proceed with its teaching? In the face of this crisis, I can’t leave. What’s more, I have to be confident. How can I return home before fulfilling my missions?

What if I am infected on my way back to China? Personal infection is just a trifle, but it will matter much if China’s gratifying situation of epidemic prevention is impacted because of me. Now, it is a critical stage for Chinese children to return to schools and for enterprises to restore production. The more the people returning to China, the greater the risks our country will have to take.

In our group of teachers dispatched abroad, I’ve made a resolute statement of personal attitude. “We will be safe as long as we take appropriate protective measures and stay at home. We shall not bring troubles to any party at this key moment.”

Enrich classes and keep children motivated

After the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy, our Chinese school suspended schooling immediately and started online teaching so that students could continue studying. So far, online teaching has been performed for more than 40 days.

While carrying on teaching, I’ve actively cooperated with our school to publicize and act as a contact person. I promptly forward and transmit the school’s documents and kind notices on the fight against COVID-19. Mobile phone and computer are my weapons. WeChat Group and mobile groups are battlefields where I perform my duties. By accompanying our students online without a meeting, I lead the children to lead their lives meaningfully, fruitfully and safely every day.

Qiu Yongfei: stay to fight against COVID-19 and fulfill the missions of volunteer teaching

Under the current grim situation, we decide not to go back.

I am Qiu Yongfei, a math teacher. I acted as headmaster of Wenzhou Overseas Chinese Vocational Senior Middle School for 14 years. At present, I work as the chancellor’s advisor at Florence Chinese School in Italy.

For the time being, the number of COVID cases is increasing drastically in Italy every day. The local government is motivating all people to “race with death”.

“How about the children if I return to China? Like us, they stay at home as well. They will lag behind in courses if I go back. The children won’t bear so heavy mental pressure if they can attend online classes.” After getting along with the overseas Chinese children for a few months, these teachers abroad have been deeply attached to these children.

Fight against epidemic without suspending teachings

Our school implemented a tentative online teaching plan immediately. Touchingly, students and teachers are quite cooperative. This greatly increases my confidence.

While guaranteeing teaching quality, we arrange some procurement personnel. Some of them are specially arranged to do the shopping and buy vegetables, while some others are in charge of buying masks, goggles, and disinfectants. Materials are reserved and updated every day as many as possible.

My family members are worried about me, but I am overburdened with duties.

“Son, won’t you come back?” my mother sighed. My father is ill lately. My mother, who is 82 years old, can’t fall asleep at night. I am so sorry for them, feeling something tug at my heartstrings.

In a phone call, I asked my wife, daughter, and son-in-law to take care of my father and pacify my mother for me. “In spite of many hardships, the triumph will come one day at last.” Now, it is the critical stage of fighting against COVID-19. What’s more, it is time for testing wills of volunteer teachers like me. At this moment, only if all volunteer teachers of our Chinese school get united can we overcome the difficulties and smoothly fulfill the missions of volunteer teaching.

Having acted as headmaster for years and working as the chancellor’s advisor at our Chinese school, I have to continue reassuring people, offering them help, guiding them and consolidating teaching, in hope of winning the triumph at the end.

陈春媚和邱永飞都是温州人，2019年9月被外派至意大利佛罗伦萨中文学校支教。严峻的疫情，让他们备受煎熬。但他们最终选择留守意大利，跟孩子们共同抗疫。

陈春媚：心里有花开，人生春常在

我来自温州洞头，出国前是洞头区实验中学的一名中层干部。

回国，不是没想过。但是回国以后，孩子们怎么办？经过几个月的相处，对这群千里之外的孩子们早已有了深深的依恋。他们每一个都值得我珍惜，怎么能说放就放，说走就走。

回国，学校怎么办？没有老师的学校怎么继续坚持教学？危机时刻，我不能走，信心更不能动摇。使命未达，怎可归家？

回国，路上要是感染了怎么办？个人得病事小，可影响了国内防疫的大好局面事大。现在是国内孩子们复学和企业复工的关键时期，多回去一个，国家将多担一分危险。

在我们外派教师群里，我坚决表明了自己的态度: “只要我们做好防护，闭门不出，我们就安全，关键时刻不能给任何一方添乱。” 

丰富课堂内容，让孩子保持动力

意大利疫情发生后，我们中文学校及时停课，并开启“停课不停学”线上教学，到现在已经有40多天的时间了。

在做好教学的同时，我也积极配合学校，做好宣传工作，当好联络员。将学校的抗疫文件、温馨通知及时转发和传达，手机电脑是我的战斗武器，微信群、手机群就是阵地和岗位，不见面的陪伴，引领孩子们度过有意义有收获又安全的每一天。

邱永飞：留守抗疫 完成支教使命

局势严峻，我们决定不回去

我是邱永飞，是名数学老师，在温州市华侨职业中等专业学校（温州华侨中学）担任校长14年，目前在佛罗伦萨中文学校任校长顾问。

此刻，意大利确诊病例每天在迅猛攀升，当地正在举全国之力“与死神赛跑”。

“回去，孩子们怎么办？他们也和我们一样宅在家，回去了课程耽搁不说，孩子们如果有课学，他们心里压力也会小点。”几个月的相处，对这群身处他国的华裔小孩们老师们有了很深的感情。

教学防疫两不误

我们学校立即开展临时网络教学方案。令人感动的是，学生、家长也很配合。这给我提增了很大信心。

在保证教学质量的同时，我们安排了采购工作组，一些专门购物购菜，一些专门负责口罩、护目镜，消毒液，每天尽可能都在储备、更新物资。

家人担心，但我职责在身

“孩子，不回来吗？”母亲向我叹气道。我父亲最近身体抱恙，82岁老母亲特别担心，整夜不眠。我非常愧疚，心一阵阵揪紧。

在电话里，我拜托了我的妻子、我女儿还有我女婿，希望他们照顾好父亲、安抚好我母亲。

“千淘万漉虽辛苦，吹尽狂沙始到金”，现在是非常时期，更是考验我们支教教职工意志的时候。同样的时刻，我们中文学校的支教教职工只有携手团结，才能共克时艰，圆满完成支教使命。

作为多年的老校长、现在的中文学校的校长顾问，要继续安定好人心、做好帮助、引导工作、继续巩固教学质量，期待未来最后的胜利。

(Executive Editor: Ye Ke)