The Short Back Story.
Okay, here's the how I got into self-isolation three days early.
Sunday 22 March
My friend messaged me at 9 pm Sunday night with the information that Taiwan was closing their boarders at midnight on Tuesday 25 March for all foreigners, including transit people. Within 20 minutes I had another flight booked that left 14 hours later. From their out it's a whirlwind of emotion and chaos.
Monday 23 March
6:00 am: Find a temporary home for Chmaachi until I can get back to Cambodia or get him to the States. Luckily I was able to leave him with an Australian friend who stayed in Cambodia to continue her work at the NGO she is at (hers cannot close during all of this as it works with a vulnerable population of young people).
7:30 am: Make multiple trips down the 7 flights of stairs with rubbish and suitcases. So much sweat. So very much (it's the start of the hot season so it's normal to be sweating before even leaving my apartment but seriously this was a bit too much!)
8:30 am: Tell my Khmer coworkers that I had to leave two days early and that I would actually only be at the office for an hour. HOWEVER I was able to reassure them that I had just gotten back my passport from the government and I had a year long visa (yes, that morning I got it back and yes, I had been slightly nervous about that!) and that my apartment was still there (I arranged with my landlord to pay a small rental fee to hold it for 6 months, it was a huge blessing!) and that my cat was still in Cambodia so obviously I would be back and I did all of that in Khmer. I wanted them to know I love them and this wasn't a forever goodbye but more of a "See ya after my crazy holiday in America" kind of goodbye.
9:45 am: Head off to the airport for my noon flight, not yet convinced that it would all work out. Stress eat my last Nutty Buddy in the tuk tuk because, heck no I wasn't going to let it go to waste and no one else would appreciate it as much if I gave it away.
12-Noon: After getting through all the stuff, get a large coffee from Starbucks to support the businesses since they are all temporarily closed in California. Wait with everyone else to board my plane late while also distancing ourselves 6 feet apart. We got on late because they had to take everyone's temperature before getting on the plane-no complaints here! They took it again on the flight.
Hour??: Transit- wear my mask at all times. Wait in line an hour to get my foreigner health screening. They took my temperature again and I filed out a lot of forms. Then I was personally escorted through the VERY empty airport to wait in my small holding zone for those in transit. I didn't complain about that all, safety first! The even had free Coke or Sprite and cookies for me.
Departure: While giving them my ticket my temperature was taken again. As I was getting on the plane I asked if perhaps I could get a free upgrade to first class on the VERY empty plane. The nice lady informed me that I was already the only one in my zone and when I realized what zone I was I was very okay with that--I was in Premium Economy! I could sit cross legged in my seat! I could stretch my arm all the way out and still not touch the screen! I know it's a horrible time but let me enjoy the small joys of life! PREMIUM ECONOMY!
I slept a bit in the middle of the flight, watched movies and enjoyed eating all my food, the first meal I had had since before finding out about my flight changes. I had to kept my mask on the whole time except when eating or drinking (for obvious reasons and again, not complaining! Safety first!)
7:00 pm: Before landing they came around and took my temperature again. I could see that the city was a lot quieter as I landed. My heart went out to all those families and people whose world was even scary and more chaotic than my had been for the last three weeks. It was sobering to say the least.
7:15 pm: Disembark the plane once they made sure I had all the correct papers filled out. As I walked up the tunnel I could feel the stress starting to sluff off after the last three weeks. When a wonderful American at the end of the tunnel informed me in AMERICAN ENGLISH that she was going to take my temperature I started welling up with tears. She then directed me to person #4 who would take my forms and I tried to blink the tears in. By the time she had taken my form and given me a card telling me what to do should I get sick I was really blinking back the tears. As I walked down the incredibly quiet and empty hallway towards customs I couldn't hold it in anymore. It was just everything at once; the relief of having made it back home, the comfort of understanding what was going on, not having to worry about work, hurting for all the people sick or who have lost loved ones and the enormity of this whole thing. The entire customs area was empty of people except all the US Customs and Boarder Protection officers. As I went went through and handed my documentation over I was still crying. I had taken off my mask for identification purposes and because it was wet with tears and snot, not pleasant. I must have looked awful because the officer asked if I was alright and I just said, "It's good to be home" and then I sniffed some more and tried to stop crying. I went through easily enough and went directly to the bathroom to pull myself together. Once I saw myself in the mirror I wasn't surprised he asked if I was okay, I was a hot mess. My hair was wonky, my eyes were incredibly red and I was sniffing to hold it all together.
Midnight: I pulled into the place where I'm self-isolating for the next 14 days. I have people who are helping me to get food and warm clothing so I don't freeze in this non-SouthEast Asian country!
I'll keep you updated on the life of a Sonya in Self-Isolation. I plan on walking around the yard and making up fun events for myself. Party of 1?! Yes please! If you have any suggestions or ideas on what to do please send them over!
Thanks for the prayers, love and support.
Stay warm and stay safe.
Sunday 22 March
My friend messaged me at 9 pm Sunday night with the information that Taiwan was closing their boarders at midnight on Tuesday 25 March for all foreigners, including transit people. Within 20 minutes I had another flight booked that left 14 hours later. From their out it's a whirlwind of emotion and chaos.
Monday 23 March
6:00 am: Find a temporary home for Chmaachi until I can get back to Cambodia or get him to the States. Luckily I was able to leave him with an Australian friend who stayed in Cambodia to continue her work at the NGO she is at (hers cannot close during all of this as it works with a vulnerable population of young people).
7:30 am: Make multiple trips down the 7 flights of stairs with rubbish and suitcases. So much sweat. So very much (it's the start of the hot season so it's normal to be sweating before even leaving my apartment but seriously this was a bit too much!)
8:30 am: Tell my Khmer coworkers that I had to leave two days early and that I would actually only be at the office for an hour. HOWEVER I was able to reassure them that I had just gotten back my passport from the government and I had a year long visa (yes, that morning I got it back and yes, I had been slightly nervous about that!) and that my apartment was still there (I arranged with my landlord to pay a small rental fee to hold it for 6 months, it was a huge blessing!) and that my cat was still in Cambodia so obviously I would be back and I did all of that in Khmer. I wanted them to know I love them and this wasn't a forever goodbye but more of a "See ya after my crazy holiday in America" kind of goodbye.
9:45 am: Head off to the airport for my noon flight, not yet convinced that it would all work out. Stress eat my last Nutty Buddy in the tuk tuk because, heck no I wasn't going to let it go to waste and no one else would appreciate it as much if I gave it away.
12-Noon: After getting through all the stuff, get a large coffee from Starbucks to support the businesses since they are all temporarily closed in California. Wait with everyone else to board my plane late while also distancing ourselves 6 feet apart. We got on late because they had to take everyone's temperature before getting on the plane-no complaints here! They took it again on the flight.
Hour??: Transit- wear my mask at all times. Wait in line an hour to get my foreigner health screening. They took my temperature again and I filed out a lot of forms. Then I was personally escorted through the VERY empty airport to wait in my small holding zone for those in transit. I didn't complain about that all, safety first! The even had free Coke or Sprite and cookies for me.
Departure: While giving them my ticket my temperature was taken again. As I was getting on the plane I asked if perhaps I could get a free upgrade to first class on the VERY empty plane. The nice lady informed me that I was already the only one in my zone and when I realized what zone I was I was very okay with that--I was in Premium Economy! I could sit cross legged in my seat! I could stretch my arm all the way out and still not touch the screen! I know it's a horrible time but let me enjoy the small joys of life! PREMIUM ECONOMY!
I slept a bit in the middle of the flight, watched movies and enjoyed eating all my food, the first meal I had had since before finding out about my flight changes. I had to kept my mask on the whole time except when eating or drinking (for obvious reasons and again, not complaining! Safety first!)
7:00 pm: Before landing they came around and took my temperature again. I could see that the city was a lot quieter as I landed. My heart went out to all those families and people whose world was even scary and more chaotic than my had been for the last three weeks. It was sobering to say the least.
7:15 pm: Disembark the plane once they made sure I had all the correct papers filled out. As I walked up the tunnel I could feel the stress starting to sluff off after the last three weeks. When a wonderful American at the end of the tunnel informed me in AMERICAN ENGLISH that she was going to take my temperature I started welling up with tears. She then directed me to person #4 who would take my forms and I tried to blink the tears in. By the time she had taken my form and given me a card telling me what to do should I get sick I was really blinking back the tears. As I walked down the incredibly quiet and empty hallway towards customs I couldn't hold it in anymore. It was just everything at once; the relief of having made it back home, the comfort of understanding what was going on, not having to worry about work, hurting for all the people sick or who have lost loved ones and the enormity of this whole thing. The entire customs area was empty of people except all the US Customs and Boarder Protection officers. As I went went through and handed my documentation over I was still crying. I had taken off my mask for identification purposes and because it was wet with tears and snot, not pleasant. I must have looked awful because the officer asked if I was alright and I just said, "It's good to be home" and then I sniffed some more and tried to stop crying. I went through easily enough and went directly to the bathroom to pull myself together. Once I saw myself in the mirror I wasn't surprised he asked if I was okay, I was a hot mess. My hair was wonky, my eyes were incredibly red and I was sniffing to hold it all together.
Midnight: I pulled into the place where I'm self-isolating for the next 14 days. I have people who are helping me to get food and warm clothing so I don't freeze in this non-SouthEast Asian country!
I'll keep you updated on the life of a Sonya in Self-Isolation. I plan on walking around the yard and making up fun events for myself. Party of 1?! Yes please! If you have any suggestions or ideas on what to do please send them over!
Thanks for the prayers, love and support.
Stay warm and stay safe.
Comments
Love your cousin.