Dare I say it? It seems the end is in sight. As restrictions begin to be lifted, people are relaxing more. Still, abundant precaution is being exercised on the base. The surrounding community seems to not change.
Truth be known, the Japanese were wearing masks before the virus appeared. A person suffering a cold or the air is thick with pollution was reason enough. The only difference of now and then is more people have been wearing them. I see shop owners wearing them but lately, more customers are not.
On base the restrictions ease. Chao lei is pleased for some of it. I am able to take him to the play areas but only if there are less than 5 children. That means we must be early or our timing is fortuitous. Chao lei has no issue with being there early. He has, almost daily, come to be sure I am awake and ready for a 6 am visit to the park.
Adults may now run the base perimeter but spacing must be maintained. We may also use the pool if one makes reservations. I may begin running if only to be able to be outside for a time. I only wish it were like home soon where restaurants are beginning to host sit-down dinners. I could die for some good Mexican food. Taco Bell does not count.
Continued caution is warranted though. The ship next to ours has 7 CoVid-19 cases and are isolated from the base. They are approaching lifting the end of the ROM (restriction of movement). Jared is almost two months being unable to board his ship. Some people who were supposed to DEROS are being held here until June 30 but that could change. It is the military.
The university remains closed but on-line class work continues. I must say this is difficult to do and my concern is for my students. If they have questions they must email them to me. I have been having live classes on Go-To-Meeting and that seems to work well but I have had to work with the school to get an academic license. Otherwise, some find it difficult to pay for it. The most interesting part of this year is graduation. The staff still are working with how to award doctorates in some other way than simply mailing them. It is a great accomplishment and deserves more than only a postage stamp.
At the least, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel as SOME restrictions begin to be lifted. I look forward to return to normal.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Monday, May 11, 2020
Still moving forward
It has been difficult at times trying to live life as normal as possible during this pandemic. Some things are to be expected; others are too much. The difference in behavior between the military and the local government is a sharp contrast in the philosophy of virus control.
On base, we are told to go outside as little as possible and when we do, face masks and social distancing are a must. The military even goes so far as to tell me, a civilian, what I may or may not do while off base and offer punishments for not doing as I am told.
The Japanese, on the other hand, require reasonable precautions to be taken but restaurants, bars, salons and many such places remain open. It is far from normal life but it is not so restrictive as on base is. Also, the government did not say "close or else" but rather they compensated those that did closed. Do not be discovered in one of these businesses that remained open.
I have patronized some of these places but only ones I am able to pick up an order. Just because there is a virus about it does not follow that my husband must be forced to eat only my cooking. Admittedly, he does have a ship's mess he can eat at. I however, do not. It has been tempting but I have been a good girl.
On and off base, people are becoming resentful of the restrictions; more so on base than off since the restrictions are more severe. Still, the locals are becoming very vocal about it. They are showing their frustration over the prolonged requests for people to stay home and businesses to close. Honestly, I do not see their resistance since they are requests rather than orders as we on base must endure. The difference of us is, Japanese people may express their frustrations openly. We may not without consequences.
Bur we move on and do what we must until things return to what was.
On base, we are told to go outside as little as possible and when we do, face masks and social distancing are a must. The military even goes so far as to tell me, a civilian, what I may or may not do while off base and offer punishments for not doing as I am told.
The Japanese, on the other hand, require reasonable precautions to be taken but restaurants, bars, salons and many such places remain open. It is far from normal life but it is not so restrictive as on base is. Also, the government did not say "close or else" but rather they compensated those that did closed. Do not be discovered in one of these businesses that remained open.
I have patronized some of these places but only ones I am able to pick up an order. Just because there is a virus about it does not follow that my husband must be forced to eat only my cooking. Admittedly, he does have a ship's mess he can eat at. I however, do not. It has been tempting but I have been a good girl.
On and off base, people are becoming resentful of the restrictions; more so on base than off since the restrictions are more severe. Still, the locals are becoming very vocal about it. They are showing their frustration over the prolonged requests for people to stay home and businesses to close. Honestly, I do not see their resistance since they are requests rather than orders as we on base must endure. The difference of us is, Japanese people may express their frustrations openly. We may not without consequences.
Bur we move on and do what we must until things return to what was.
Wednesday, May 06, 2020
I Got Them Excited
If you are curious how anxious people are because of CoVid-19, all one need do is get the flu.
I did just that. Last Sunday I was feeling a little ill but it quickly got worse from there. I found myself shivering and feeling very nauseous. By Monday morning I felt as if I was dying. It was typical flu. I have no idea where I got it. One would believe it unlikely that flu could be caught since we are sheltering in place for CoVid-19 and these measures are supposed to stop it.
The hospital's response was what I would label as overdone. Masks and gloves were expected. HazMat suits were too much. The questions were numerous and my answers were, at least I thought, obvious. I was sweating, shivering, nauseous, aching, coughing; all those things you feel during flu. It was so overdone as to cause me to think I was a suspect in a crime... same questions over and over. Some of the staff seemed to be openly hostile toward me. Here I will say, a swab up your nose is not pleasant. Especially when it feels as if they are attempting to gather brain matter through your nose. after much poking and prodding, I was finally ordered to home with no stopping anywhere. Really? I have the flu. I had no desire to go to the hospital in the beginning. Why would I desire to be anywhere other than my house?
Now I am becoming better and do not feel as ill. What I have learned from this is if I begin to feel ill again... remain silent, dry the sweat on my face frequently, do not cough where I may be heard and insist I am not ill.
So how was your week?
I did just that. Last Sunday I was feeling a little ill but it quickly got worse from there. I found myself shivering and feeling very nauseous. By Monday morning I felt as if I was dying. It was typical flu. I have no idea where I got it. One would believe it unlikely that flu could be caught since we are sheltering in place for CoVid-19 and these measures are supposed to stop it.
The hospital's response was what I would label as overdone. Masks and gloves were expected. HazMat suits were too much. The questions were numerous and my answers were, at least I thought, obvious. I was sweating, shivering, nauseous, aching, coughing; all those things you feel during flu. It was so overdone as to cause me to think I was a suspect in a crime... same questions over and over. Some of the staff seemed to be openly hostile toward me. Here I will say, a swab up your nose is not pleasant. Especially when it feels as if they are attempting to gather brain matter through your nose. after much poking and prodding, I was finally ordered to home with no stopping anywhere. Really? I have the flu. I had no desire to go to the hospital in the beginning. Why would I desire to be anywhere other than my house?
Now I am becoming better and do not feel as ill. What I have learned from this is if I begin to feel ill again... remain silent, dry the sweat on my face frequently, do not cough where I may be heard and insist I am not ill.
So how was your week?
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