Is this reasonable? Is this how life is supposed to be from now on? Can I give someone a hug? Or maybe I only can hug my children and my husband for the rest of my life? I'm confused. I'm not sure I resonate with it all or not. I don't know what to think, feel or do to be honest. Is it over? Am I comfortable with this? Are we ready? I'm not sure...
A part of me is relieved that we are opening up society again, that my kids can go back to school and see their friends, that I can go back to work. That we can go back to "normal". "Normal"? This is NOT normal. This is sooooo far from normal it could be. I don't even remember "normal" anymore.
Classes are split in two groups, Group A and Group B. My kids go to school every two days, rotating their schedule with Group B. They take public transport. They "elbow" their friends at school, spread out in the class rooms, but at least they have some type of routine and get to leave the house and have their "own" life for a few days a week. Emmy Bo and Luca Bo are very happy for that: the routine and getting out of the house.
Nelly Bo is not back at gymnasium yet. Gymnasium students are considered adults as most of them are 17 - 20 years old which makes them more prone to catch the virus... they say.She has to wait and see what happens. Maybe she\ll go back the 8th of June...
I'm back at work as an After School Care Teacher at a private school. We have had between two to six children staying every afternoon this week. Before Covid19 we had between 30-40 children. The new health and safety routines are very strict, not allowing parents into the building at all, less children, social distancing marked on floors, tables spread out, free masks and gloves given at entrance for those who chose to use those, a team of cleaners on constant mission of disinfecting furniture, door handles, toilets etc... It's alright, but totally weird.
I have so many questions, I worry and look around me for guidance on how to behave in all this. But it doesn't help. Some people are totally relaxed and says "Let's just live." others covers up with face masks and gloves, standing meters away and telling me to be responsible and do the same. I find myself standing somewhere in the middle of all this, one foot in lock down behavior and one foot in "I want to be free". I've made some decisions throughout the week, as days passed by and I adjusted to all this. Decisions I'm comfortable with, such as:
1. When going shopping I wear mask and gloves or I wash hands before and after my visit and use hand sanitizer. I keep distance and move slowly and responsibly through the store. And I don't go shopping if I don't really have to. No mindless "window shopping" or "Ohhh, lets pop into this store and see what they have." No, now I bring a shopping list, walk in, get what I need and go out.
2. When working at the school I don't wear a mask or gloves. I keep social distance with my two dear colleagues but with the kids I find it hard. I sit next to them, but not too close, and we play games, talk and draw. I wash my hands multiple times throughout our afternoon sessions.
I guess everyone has to find their own way of comfortable in this "new normal", and just like it took a good week or two to adjust to the lock down, we now need to adjust to this lock up. The fear has to go. It's just not worth walking around in fear. But saying that, we still need to be cautious and pay attention to hygiene and social behavior, keep distance when we can and not run out thinking "Alright! Everything is open - lets go party!". It's not over. This is just the first flat stretch in a marathon where we get the chance to catch our breath. New hills are to be climbed ahead of us. We just don't know when they will appear or how steep they will be. This race has just begun. That is what I think.
KĂ€rlek
Annette
Annette
FOLLOW My Rose Valley HERE:
good morning! i agree with you, annette. it's not over, it is the beginning of a new path to negotiate. personally, i want to hug and see my children and grandchildren again! thank you for your blog, and your pictures. it helps to think there are other people out there.
ReplyDeleteI think you've said it absolutely right ☺️ I follow the same rules as you do when I go outdoors. The situation is definitely not back to normal as we knew it. I'd like to call this the new normal. As you said, there are probably more hills to climb, hopefully we will meet, healthy and happy on the other side. Until then, let's try and stay safe đ
ReplyDeleteKavitha
Stay safe. Here in New York, on Long Island, we won't be going back to school until September. I may decide not to go back at all as I take care of my elderly mother too and do not want to risk her getting ill. Currently only groceries, pharmacies and garden stores are open here, with restaurants only having curbside pickup or delivery of food. We must where masks at all times in stores right now. I go early in the morning when most stores are fairly empty and, like you, only for what I need with a list. I think it will be quite sometime until I understand what normal is again.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate hearing how things are in Switzerland. I live in Washington state, USA, and we have been is strict quarantine for many weeks. Things are just now in the first phase of opening up for us. I am a nurse and work with the elderly. We have not allowed visitors for more than ten weeks now. It is hard for all of us. We all wear a surgical mask and face shield if we are in any patient area. We had one positive case and one area of our building was totally sealed off. It has been a stressful time, but things are better now. We wear a mask if we go out anywhere, and social distancing is being practiced. There are those who are not following the guidelines very well, though. Like you, we shop when we have to, not when we want to. Kids have no "in-school" classes until September. Our daughter teaches school via Zoom every day. Stay safe and healthy, and as I always have said, "this, too, shall pass".
ReplyDelete