I would like someone to crunch the odds of me leaving Ghana and traveling to northern Thailand where I would meet a random traveler who had come from Europe where he had had met someone (at the running of the bulls in Pamplona) who I knew in Ghana (it's difficult to convey that story in a single sentence).
I previously wrote about one of the more difficult parts of expat life. This is my fifth time living abroad. I can't say that I really thought about needing to go home for an emergency when I was 16 years old but most 16 year-olds wouldn't. I did think about it during my time in Ghana and while it was possible the logistics were a bit trickier. The most frightening thing was a Peace Corps SUV pulling up to your site unscheduled. This was before the time of cell phones (at least in Ghana) so if there was a real emergency the Peace Corps would send someone to you. I only got an unexpected visit once and it was not an emergency (it was a program director visiting volunteers (not from my program) who stopped by to drop off a package). I was in the classroom teaching but I saw the vehicle pull onto the school compound and went running out of the class in a panic. Logistics were also difficult when I was in Afghanistan because there just weren't flights in and out every day. But normally you can hand over a credit card and be on a plane from western Europe to the US in less than a day.
This is the first time that's not an option. It's terrifying. It's nerve wracking. It's heart breaking. I have never wanted to hug someone more in my life (and I am not someone who generally wants to hug people).
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In an age where we can fly to any corner of the world at almost a moment's notice (okay, maybe you need to plan ahead to get a visa for a particular country but the flight options are there), the COVID-19 pandemic has made the world suddenly feel as big as it must have felt to the early explorers when it took them years to make the same journey that we can now do in a matter of hours.
Whether you're in a lockdown situation or a place that's doing a less-than-stellar job at handling this pandemic, I hope you are safe and healthy and staying home as much as humanly possible. If you're a front-line worker, THANK YOU! Check on your neighbors. Don't hoard toilet paper (I really don't understand this one and it's thankfully not a thing where I am). Wash your hands (why weren't you doing this already?!?!).
What's the situation where you are? How are you coping?
I live approximately 45 minutes from the epicenter in NYC. I self-quarantined a week or so before it was mandatory. I have an almost 91 year old mother that resides with us to be concerned about. I am usually a very strong person, but this pandemic has me extremely anxious, frightened and sad. I feel such a deep, hard sadness. I fight to hold back tears every few hours.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is an essential governmental employee. I fear for his safety and the safety of his employees. I know he's taking all necessary safety precautions, but there's always that nagging feeling (thought) about him being exposed. He's the designated shopper for our family, as well as his mother, who lives in a senior high rise. They are on total lockdown. No one allowed inside, so he drops the groceries at the front door and calls her to come get them. He sees her through the glass doors.
We had our first death in my township last week. It was my neighbor around the corner whom I grew up and went to school with. He was only 63. Although I know how prevalent this pandemic is, that really brings it far too close to home. My friend's son in another state had to have non-related emergency surgery. They failed to give him the appropriate meds when they released him far too early because of the virus. He was back in the hospital a few days later, unable to breathe and in critical conditon He was transferred to 3 different hospitals because of the CoVid outbreak. Thankfully, he survived and is home again. Had it not been for CoVid, he probably would have received the proper care. Instead, overworked healthcare workers missed a vitally important condition in his medical history. It should not of happened, but I understand why. I have healthcare workers in my family. They are overworked and exhausted.
I also have a lot of anger at our government "leaders." A pandemic was predicted nearly 5 years ago. The near guarantee of it occurring was known in early January. Instead of being proactive back then, all we got was a "wait and see". The idiocracy of that makes my brain hurt. I have to limit watching the news. I'm just so overloaded with the repetitive reports.
On the very few days it's been sunny, I go outside and putter around my back yard, or go for a walk around the block. Many others are doing the same thing. We nod as we pass by one another; a knowing nod, while keeping a very safe distance.
I am thankful I have a home. We have plenty of food. All of my cooking double batches and freezing one has really come in handy these past few weeks. I have plenty of toilet paper. I stocked up weeks before the pandemic when I had a bunch of coupons about to expire. I did not go out and buy more "just in case." If we run out and are unable to find any TP, we can improvise; there's always those socks without the mate; napkins, paper towels, washable washcloths, or hop in the bathtub and use the hand-held shower.
Stay safe out there. There's no place like home.