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| Family Zoom Time - Our Norm Now |
So.... just as we re-adapted back to life supposedly post-Covid and believed that Myanmar was truly blessed to have scraped through almost unscathed then BOOM - it hits you square centre. As we speak right now, still hitting away with the latest figures as of 15.09.2020 8am at 3,299 with 32 deaths. That's a huge jump in just a short 3 weeks from 300+ cases to now 3000+.
Work-wise, we had even gone back to full time office days and working on business recovery plans. We've gone back to swimming (and getting my tan on finally!!) We've gone back to dining in restaurants and meeting with friends occasionally. And then BOOM! Out of nowhere, we've had to re-adapt again.
If ever anything were to go down in history for me - 2020 would be the year where I've had to change, adapt, re-adapt and repeat many, many times. To those who know me well, would know that I'm a stickler for routines. I have planned menus worked out for everyday of the week. I have planned attires worked out for everyday of the week. I have very fixed timing and schedules for everything that I do. So, yeah, the one thing I learnt is my ability to adapt amidst the uncertainties. And damn, do I hate uncertainties.
I was at least pretty smart about it the last time. I did not fully moved back to gym training, choosing to still continue half the week with workouts from home and another half the week at the gym where I can get my pool time. So, having to move back to full home training hasn't been as bad. We've both still got our home offices in order (I have my normal work table as I am used to WFH, Covid or no Covid but MOH gets the ironing board as his office table because well, the "Ironman" surely deserves a kick-ass ironing board to work on! 😂😂😂)
So, I would say, this time around, it hasn't been that bad re-adjusting. I really just do the adapting as fast as possible to minimize the disruption. Cos in the times of such uncertainties, the more I feel the need to have somethings within my control - like my routine and schedules. Yes, I am strange this way.
Disruption aside, this time around, the coronavirus seems to be hitting Myanmar a little hard with almost a daily 3-digit case numbers reported. And also this time, we've had cases at work, so it's been a field day for communications! It is all pretty unnerving, yet we know the show must go on. One of the most unnerving for me was prepping the 'in case of death' communications. Because this time around, it is really coming for us 😖😖😖 (The last round, we've actually pretty much breezed through with no reported cases within both our organizations!)
We are both bracing ourselves for more of the mayhem unfolding around us in Myanmar. With the sudden BOOM hitting us from all sides, the authorities seem to have very little control over the situation as well. It seemed to be that different townships having different regulations and SOPs surrounding the so-called "lockdown" and quarantine processes and this even sparked a social media meme of township flags as a mockery of each township being its own country with its own laws. So, we are from the Union of Bahan. There's United States of Ahlone, Yakinia, and so on, so forth. Well, at least there's humour in the mayhem. Some townships have decided to lock people in and out of streets, curbing movements and even delivery. I saw a video where even an ambulance could not gain entry into the "lockdowned" street. What is that all about?? Been also reading and hearing tales of those who've been herded to quarantine centers and no proper admittance procedures and the long waiting hours only to be told that there's no space and they've gotta re-wait all over again at another possible centre. Patients are boarding these ambulances whose driver has no idea where to take them to exactly. Speaking of ambulances, they do make a grand show and tell of it - when they line up like 5 - 8 ambulances in a row when they go to collect a positive or suspected patient - with sirens blaring. The sound of the sirens are in itself unnerving! I'm not sure if any other country does that. Do they?
With the elections coming up, the campaigning has started and this is driving supporters out in droves by the thousands, donning colours of their parties. But it begs me to question - how is that safe in "flattening the curve" ?? (The first time round, there was no curve to be flattened except that of my carb-loaded tummy). Some are not even wearing masks! I urge the political leaders to seriously reconsider this. But then again, who am I to do so. Don't got a voice in Malaysia. Definitely don't got a voice here in Myanmar 😝😝😝 And also - I thought the regulation was no gathering of more than 5 people??? This is exactly what I mean by the advisories are all very vague and contradicting here. Enigmatic surely. But then again - look at Trump 🤦🤦🤦
It is what it is here and the best we could do is stay safe, stay home, and check-in on our friends, families as much as possible. I'm on the edge sometimes. We know the hospitals and the frontline healthcare heroes here are all overwhelmed working in a largely under-supported environment. As the death toll rises, these heroes have been scrambling to help patients. Sometimes, I don't even want to know about these news cos it really sets me on the edge. A student of mine felt dizzy and I was like "OMG, that's a Covid-19 symptom!!" and I nagged her to take action on it. And when I cough, I be like "WTF - do I have Covid-19???? Can I still smell MOH's farts?? Ok can. I'm ok! I'm ok!" Alright, so I'm not on the edge just sometimes. All the time. LOL! And I darn it dislike going to do my grocery shopping and some idiot decides not to social distance. When social distancing was introduced first time around, seemed I was a little "over-sensitive" for demanding my space when Myanmar was like "blessed to be Covid-free". But this time around - I would glare at the person like they're some kind of unwanted fungus and if they don't get my glare, I will raise my voice. So those who see me at the grocery aisles - JUST AVOID ME. People spitting on the roads have gotten their fair share of shouting from me too. The next move I would make is that I will whip out my phone and video people who spit (or at least pretend to be video-ing them) Anddddddd this is why I take up MMA training. Just in case they retaliate 😁😁😁
The only that that really suck is another long-drawn out wait to go home to see my family. Before, it was like - Yay! We're on the road to recovery. Give it 6 more months and we can go home! Ad now, BOOM. F**k. Was having this discussion with a friend the other day - the longer the uncertainty and the longer this draws out, the greater the pull to just drop everything and go home. A Malaysian colleague of mine recently lost his father and I cannot imagine the turmoil! Not being able to fly home on the first flight out to be with family during the times of loss! It gave me anxiety attacks for several nights after I heard the news. My Mama and Papa are like "Nothing doing! No coming back for 2 years! We're absolutely fine and taking really good care of ourselves! Why worry???!" My Papa - he even pranks me and annoys me over WhatsApp all the time, tryna give me heart attacks. What do I do with these 2 old folks? #SMH
I believe human beings are very resilient creatures. And one day, we will definitely celebrate over champagne physically and speak about this historical moment where we were all apart together. I would like to try to keep a positive frame of mind and find the humour in all of these - just as my parents have. I would like to count my blessings that my lockdown includes a bed, a roof, proper working tables and a well-stocked pantry (of a very rigidly planned daily menu LOLOL!!). There are those who are worse off than us and as I have always said before - if we can - help one another out, support each other and be kind to one another. My Mobile Soup Movement is still on-going and every month, plenty of volunteers are taking up these care packages and helping to deploy these to the vulnerable communities. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the distribution.
And lastly - whilst I've introduced alcohol every Friday nights, I'm still gonna live my life fit and eat healthy. If I'm gonna go out when the world ends, I wanna make sure I go out looking good 😂😂😂
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