Well, I have been extremely lame in my blog posting. It is sad because I was doing so well for awhile there. I suppose there is nothing better to prompt me into posting again than the current state of the world. It is crazy times for sure!
I know everyone nearly everywhere is dealing with the outbreak of the Corona virus in their own way. Here in Berlin we are currently practicing "social distancing" and self imposed quarantine of sorts. To back up a bit. Benjamin and I had a very nice trip together to Italy (Naples area) returning to Berlin on February 8th and a whole hell of a lot has changed since then. Just before we left there was word that a few people had died from this new strain of the flu. It wasn't in the southern part of Italy so we didn't think much about it. Within 2
weeks the virus had gone crazy with many deaths and many many more infected. Friends of ours were in Italy on their school break when it happened and when they returned they were not allowed to step foot on their International School campus, just a couple miles from us. The same school that had been subbing at. I thought it was an over reaction at the time.
During this time, Marty leaves for his 2 week trip to Seattle. Half way through his visit, the virus reaches and takes a grip hold on the Washington State, in Kirkland (about 15 miles from our neighborhood) We were worried that he possibly wouldn't make it back to Berlin. But he did, thankfully.
While Marty was in Seattle I finished up my Citizenship class. True to German form, I have to wait 4-6 weeks to get the results. I also started working at the gift shop at the US Embassy and secured an English Teaching job with a governmental agency that helps "older" (40-50s) women who want to transition from their current job into office management. The teaching is set to begin mid April after spring break.
On Wednesday they sent an email home from the kids' school saying that a teacher's aid in the kindergarten class had tested positive for COVID 19. The Elementary school would be closed for one week effective immediately. The high school, strangely enough, was to remain open. We had long talks about whether Josie should go or not. Benjamin was THRILLED that he didn't even have to have the discussion and he could stay home.
Thursday morning Josie does go to school. I stop by the school library to stock up on books for Benjamin for his week of no school. I wished I had known it would end up being 5 weeks + with no school as I would have gotten more books. Thankfully he was only on book #2 of a 13 book series. I grabbed the rest of the series and head home. Meanwhile Marty has been reading the news and decides that we need to "stock up" We only have bikes to transport our groceries and I've spent the past 3 years training myself to only buy or today or tomorrow but not to overbuy.
We ride our bikes to where there is a small minivan type car for rent (car sharing is big here) We end up spending 3 hours and 14 Euro to rent the car and go from store to store. Overwhelming is an understatement. I was already not feeling well. Just a cold but my head was fuzzy and trying to stock up for 2 weeks kind of put me over the edge.
I spent that night and the entire next day in bed with a terrible headache.. NOT Corona. During this time the mayor of Berlin decides to close all schools in the area until April 20th. So officially Saturday was Day One of our Quarantine. And I know this is a marathon and not a sprint but I have to say the first 800 meters or so of this LONG race went pretty well. It helps A LOT that the sun was shining, that we all got along for the most part and that we had plenty of food.
We put up the trampoline and unearthed a bunch of stuff that the old owner left in the house. Josie sent up a small sun shade/tent that she found. We had lunch together outside and the kids jumped and giggled on the trampoline. Josie and I made a lemon meringue pie (making lemon pie out of lemons) and because it was Pi day. I really needed cornstarch which I didn't have (UGH! - who thinks of cornstarch as they are stocking up) so I improvised. It tasted great but a strange texture. We had Yumm bowls for dinner. THANK GOD for Marty's recent purchase of Yumm sauce!!!
So, Day One was pretty good. Only 40-50 or more days to go....
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