14 minute read
The COVID Chronicles
THE COVID CHRONICLES Life in Lockdown
Here, three correspondents from some of the world’s hardest hit nations offer an insight into their experience of Coronavirus in their part of the world. Seth Kaplan is an American who has for decades been travelling to Ireland to enjoy its culture, literature and Guinness and has made many friends there. Emmett Bowen will be familiar to regular readers as an active member of the Irish community in Japan and contributor to the magazine. Italian Lucia Guarino is a former marketing executive with The Irish Trade Board, before it became Enterprise Ireland.
Advertisement
THE COVID CHRONICLES
For those of you who don’t know, Washington DC is a federal district wedged in between the states of Maryland and Virginia. It is the capitol of the United States and has a population of just over 702,000, smaller than you may have thought. I live in the Upper Northwest of the city, a few miles from downtown. It’s quiet, away from the bustle, but close enough that you know your definitely in the city. Our current situation is, like many of you, weird, scary, bizarre and challenging. I will try and present a bit of a snapshot of what my world is like now. I will of course omit things like how poorly I’m eating at times and how much more beer I seem to be drinking, because, like some of you, those are the things I need to ignore right now. DC is under a stay at home order until May 15th. That means the city is asking all citizens to stay at home, isolated from others, and to practice social distancing when you do go out. All non essential business are closed and we are required to wear face coverings in public areas, on public transportation, ride shares, etc. If you do go out it should be for essentials like food and drink, for exercise or to walk a pet. The stay at home order is “due to expire…” but it will not be lifted until there is a two week decline in positive Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. Some speculation is that it could last until July or August. I certainly hope not. I’d like to get back to work, back to normal, back to not being panicked because I’m down to my last two rolls of toilet paper! But I’m not going to rush it or push it. I’d prefer not to have this stupid virus and will certainly do everything I can not to get it or spread it. So, what is life like here in DC? Sure, I’m inside my apartment more than I’ve ever been, and I think I’m about to finish Netflix. But, at times, if the news is off, and you’re nice and distracted, things can seem almost normal. And then you remember what’s happening out there. It’s an unusual time and we’re all experiencing a rather new reality. And, obviously we’ve been at this a while now. Some things have really changed, while others are exactly the same, except you’ll be wearing a mask. What follows are a few things, examples of how life is now in the midst of this pandemic here in Washington DC. Shopping for essentials is a bit of an event. First of all, it’s a trip to the outside. Secondly, it’s more complicated than it used to be. I don’t own a car so I’m lucky to be two blocks away from a big supermarket. I’ll tie my bandana/face mask around my mouth and nose, grab a reusable bag or two and walk up the street to the store. They limit the number of LIFE DURING COVID
AS EXPERIENCED BY SETH KAPLAN IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Seth geared up to go to the market
people that can be in the store at one time, so I always try and go at off hours, usually in the afternoon. I walk in, say hello to the masked security guard at the entrance who checks to make sure I’m masked, I grab a few disinfectant wipes provided by the store, get a cart, wipe it down a bit and go. From this moment I’m hyper vigilant about what I’m touching and who I’m near. I’m especially weary of getting my hands anywhere near my face, until I can wash them again at home. For the most part, currently, pretty much everything is available at the market, with the exception of some cleaning products and some paper products (I’m sure you heard about the American obsession to have way too much toilet paper when this all started, that’s still kind of happening. Not sure why…) The store is set up for social distancing, with markers set up on the floor six feet apart at the check out lines, and the aisles are arrowed for one way
THE COVID CHRONICLES
traffic. I shop and try not to buy too much stuff that I know I don’t need. But these are trying times and sometimes you just need potato chips! I usually check out at the self check out lane and pay, I wipe down the screen with my aforementioned disinfectant wipes and I head home. Once home, the crazy continues.. we’re not done yet. This is a new reality and for me, coming home from the market has a few extra steps. I was my hands, I unpack, I lightly wash most of my shopping with soap and water, dry it off and put it away. I’m sure this is overkill, but it hurts no one and why not? I wash the packaging that may have been touched and therefore contaminated. I’m not obsessive about it, but I gotta admit, it makes me feel better that I do it. (And yes, I’m much more of a germaphobe than I used to be!) Then I wash my hands again. And now, finally, its time for a beer and some chips! These days, when possible, I like to go for long walks. All the gyms are closed, so it’s nice to get out and stretch the legs. Working out at home gets kind of boring, so it’s nice to throw in some fresh air and urban hiking in the mix. Again, it’s weird out there. Its quiet, really quiet. Traffic on the roads is very light. Dog walkers and joggers are most of who you see on the streets. And we’re all very rude! Someone comes towards you, you pull your mask up, you move away from them or even cross the street so as not to get near their “droplet cloud” (I believe that’s a term nowadays). I’ll even hold my breath as I walk past. Still, its nice being outside in the fresh air stretching the legs. Socially, life is mostly Zoom happy hours, FaceTime group calls (among other social apps), and of course regular phone calls. Sure you might run into someone on the street and have a socially distanced conversation. Or, you might even meet up at a friends house, stand six feet apart and maybe have a beer and catch up. Of course its weird and this lack of social interaction is difficult. But I understand why it has to be and I’m ok with that. And I think the hard part is going to be when this is over, and we all reintegrate back into groups, crowds and gatherings again. I think the PTSD from this might be an apparent sense of social anxiety. The idea of being in crowds again is not exactly relaxing. Time will tell. As mentioned, bars and restaurants are closed, but many do delivery and pick up. You can get anything delivered these days. The usuals; groceries, prescriptions, booze, but you can also get, well, pretty much anything. And, we have entered the age of “contactless delivery”. The pizza ads stress how once out of the over, your pizza will not be touched by human hands, until it’s in yours. Yeah, I know delivery has been around forever and this is not new. It’s just more apparent now. Plus, it is a nice way to support your local restaurants and bars. This is just a brief snapshot of how life is for me in the middle of this Covid-19 pandemic. I am no one special. I’m doing my part by staying on my couch. I’m a freelance photographer and don’t really have much to offer society in these times (except maybe posting nice pictures on Instagram. That could be a nice distraction perhaps. I’m @sethkap5 if you want to look) I do have close friends who are doctors and nurses and obviously they would write a different story. I have nothing but admiration not only for them, but for all the folks who work at the supermarket, at the beer store, driving the buses, delivering those pizzas… for all those deemed essential workers. Personally, I know we’ll get through this. Maybe it sounds like I have it easy and maybe I do. I don’t know. I’m working some, I’m worrying lots, I’m trying to do my part and keep busy with the other things in life. Now, I kinda think its time for a beer. Cheers… Connecticut Avenue Northwest by the University of the District of Columbia. Normally, where this picture was taken is one of the most congested areas in my neighborhood, for both traffic and pedestrians.
THE COVID CHRONICLES
The Irish community here in Japan have been showing great support and comfort to each other during these difficult times. All but a few of the St Patrick day parades across the country were cancelled. Tokyo’s parade, which is the biggest in Asia, is run by the Irish Network Japan (which I am the chairperson of), a not for profit volunteer organization run by the Irish community in Japan and their Japanese friends. It aims to promote Irish culture within Japan and to provide a support network for many of the Irish who find themselves in Japan on permanent or temporary basis. While many Irish pubs and restaurants are doing it tough, it is good to see that the Kyojin Stew House (The Giants’ Stew House) run by Irish man Alan Fisher is still going strong here in Tokyo. For those who do not know of The Giants’ Stew House, they make amazing Irish stews, all from Alan’s mothers’ recipes, along with fresh soda bread, Kerrygold butter and Maggies Leap craft beer, just to name a few things on offer. As of last week Alan has managed to change his whole business around – from a sit in restaurant to now offering take away. It’s great to see the Irish and Japanese community get behind Alan, supporting his restaurant with the orders flooding in (www.kyojinstewhouse.com). The Japan GAA are not playing any games or holding any practices but they are still training at home and supporting their community on social media. Before I go any further, I’ve solved the mystery of who and where the shortage of toilet paper and tissues around the world originated from. It was reported here in Japan by the news that the toilet paper and tissue hoarding started here in Tokyo on February 27th. It was the day Prime Minster Shinzo Abe asked all schools to close from Monday March 1st. The person who caused the hoarding thought everything was made in China, and with my children off school for a whole month they thought, I must get as much toilet paper and tissues as I can because the supply from China might dry up. While this person was loading her shopping cart with only toilet paper and tissues, other people in the shop saw this, panicked and started doing the same. Which started the herding mentality. What the person who started this did not realize was that toilet paper and tissues are made 100% made in Japan and it is not imported from China. When the officials asked the nation to stop hoarding theses items people were still scared and continued to do it. I believe it took about three to four weeks for tissue and toilet paper supply to go back to normal. Unfortunately, the world did not learn from Japan’s lesson. The hoarding of these items happened around the world. So that is the mystery of the origin of where the toilet rolls and tissue hoarding started, right here in Tokyo. Things here are tough as they are around the world and Japan is dealing with it in its own way. Currently the whole of Japan is in lockdown as of this weekend. All essential services are still running, for example: banks, public transport, drugstores (chemist), Konichiwa from the land of the rising sun
AS EXPERIENCED BY EMMETT BOWEN IN TOKYO, JAPAN
Above: Emmett Bowen at the Irish ambassadors residence in Tokyo. Above: Tokyo Skytree, an area that is normally very busy at night.
THE COVID CHRONICLES
doctor’s clinic, hospitals and supermarkets to name a few. Everything else is closed until May 6th when the government reviews the situation, much the same as you have in Australia. The difference here is, the government have asked people to stay home and for companies to allow their employees to work from home. However, there is no police fining people for going to parks, travelling to see friends and family etc. That might sound shocking when you compare what is going on in Australia but the thinking in Japan is about the collective good of the community, not individuals. So, with that been said, companies that have been asked to close and don’t will be named and shamed, which will be enough to make sure they follow the rules. People in general are listening and are staying at home. Things are tough all over the world right now. With that been said there are super heroes among us during these crazy and difficult times we and currently living in. No, I am not talking about Iron Man, Spider Man, Wonder Women or even Deadpool. It’s our health care workers around the world that are doing amazing lifesaving work. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart and to keep up the good fight against this horrible virus. We need to do our bit also by staying at home, remaining positive and washing your hands. Till next time, sayonara from Tokyo!
I have never seen such a light blue and clear sky here in Milano, or maybe… I have; perhaps only a few times the day after a heavy raining day or a tough wind in Autumn. The grey clouds which used to wrap naturally the town have faded away. Birds are singing any hour freely, not only just before the always proud and busy financial city wakes up. Is its identity still so clear? Is Milano still there? An unusual and strange air envelopes my rare walks: I cannot see or even touch it but I can feel it, it’s like a pressing stone on my heart. Catching a glimpse of a few people walking or queuing outside the few shops opened, almost no cars passing. All around a breathable and stunning silence. Piazza Duomo, Piazza Cordusio, Piazza Affari have been abandoned by the charming and impeccable well-dressed men and women with a briefcase in their hand, as well as the fashion districts, no longer crowded with colourful wealthy, curious or foreign people. On restaurants windows, a pen written scrap of paper with a rainbow telling “We will open soon, everything will be fine”. The “Navigli”, the bright canals in the center of Milanese nightlife seem to sleep, lulled by the calm waters around them. I wonder again: Milano is it you? Are you still alive? The long high-pitched sound of the sirens occasionally interrupts this unusual quiet. A sudden dull shiver runs through my body but I am ready to push it away, I don’t even raise my eyes while I am sweeping out the cloudy shadows inside my mind. What I do not want, I do not like is now behind my back, behind my steps which are getting quicker and quicker on my way home. The 6 p.m. daily bulletin, too much stuffed with figures: survived, infected... really kicks down my energy which I need now more than ever. A finger shuts the tv-screen down. Better now... quiet again... at home... but it’s a warm quietness, sweet and peaceful. I am lucky, I am lucky today too, I am grateful for every minute of my precious life, I feel more free now than ever. Milano has not answered yet but it will, I am sure. THoughts in Milano
