Global: United By An Invisible Hostage Taker

We’re all in the same boat, irrespective of the distinguishing factors that would normally set us apart. All made equal by an enemy that has been holding us hostage. As we stand united in fear of a host of things that appear in the midst of upsetting upsurges, the common narrative speaks of a simultaneous expression of uncertainty, despair, frustration, hope, resilience and the desire to go on.

As an eery quiet settled on South Africa on the first day of lockdown, we were wondering whether there was anyone out there. Soon we knew we weren't alone. Blessed were those who were fortunate to have their kin close, because when tragedy strikes one often looks inward and turn to your roots.

As the world is slowly returning to quasi-normal, a few world citizens either far from home or at home in their natural habitat were approached to share recollections of their individual experiences in a time of Corona. Working through the perceptions they penned down affirmed that we’re no different from one another. Only separated by geographical location and time zone.

In a phone conversation South Africa’s ambassador in Abu Dabhi in the United Arab Emirates, Sa’ad Cachalia who hails from Limpopo, referred to strict measures in place that have been restricting movement since 19 March in that part of the world. It includes curfews at night when streets are sanitised, the wearing of masks and shoppers above the age of 60 not being allowed in malls. From working remotely and having meetings over online platforms it has become evident how much time and money were being saved not having to physically travel to locations, he pointed out.

Addressing the effects of the pandemic and the lessons learnt, Sa’ad stressed that people should take it serious and stand together. “It’s a killer.” He expressed the view that the current situation has given mankind a wake-up call with regards to being able to live without extravagance and the importance of health, education and values.

Due to lockdown arrangements and logistical limitations he is currently separated from his family in South Africa. He stressed that he remained worried about home and that it

was difficult living far. In the meantime he has acquired a puppy and a parrot to keep him company, he quipped. He has also learnt how to cook, is growing a herb garden, is watching movies for the first time in his life and on that note singled out a documentary on former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, reading more books - among which One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - and keeping updated on the news.

He misses going for long walks on the beach or in the park, which he would want to do once it's all over.

Hanlie Grobbelaar, a floral designer in the United Stares who also works at a kids' clothing boutique and does embroidery for corporate purposes, lived in Polokwane for 9 years before moving to America. Writing from Signal Mountain, Chattanooga in Tennessee, she drops the outsider in the centre of widespread pressure favouring the reopening of businesses as opposed to attractive unemployment benefits causing reluctance for people to return to work again.

During lockdown she has been working due to online and other orders still flowing in, she explained when referring to regulations being more slack than back in South Africa. Wearing a mask was based on personal choice, she said, and only at some stores shoppers got counted. She has never queued at a shop entrance during the period either. “People are less cautious and scared of the virus than expected.” Since last week Americans had increasingly returned to work, but it was as if they appeared to be of the opinion that it was something of the past and things were back to normal, she reckoned. In the same vein she added that a second wave of infections might be witnessed. She further expressed the view that it could’ve had a greater impact on the people of New York than where she lived.

Lockdown hasn’t psychologically affected her, but has made her realise she had to slow down, Hanlie further wrote. During the first week of lockdown she had time to build a puzzle, something she hadn’t done in years. Since then she has slowly engaged in work-related activities again and now, after orders around the Mother’s Day rush, yearns for life at a slower pace.

Anote Afeno, founder of a design agency writing from his base in Baton Rouge in Louisiana, creatively brings people and design closer together. For him and his team adjusting to doing business in the era of Covid-19 wasn't a big challenge because they've efficiently worked remotely for years, he explained.

“The downside, of course, is the restriction from physically meeting people on a regular basis for work and life. Interestingly, we talked about days like these in the past so we strategically positioned ourselves for a rapidly changing world.”

With a number of projects both local and international to attend to, he indicated he has been work-swamped through the pandemic. “From a designer's angle, things got pretty much intense because businesses are now mostly done remotely, so we've been designing more for clients both old and new on different standards ranging long and short terms. Some of our clients are stepping up to e-commerce, and establishing a stronger online presence for their brands like never before. So, keeping up with demand has been the new lifestyle, or like they say...the new fast-paced normal.”

He further wrote that “the ubiquity of Covid-19 has made almost everything very uncertain these days but I’m making the best out of it. I miss people a whole lot but I keep up through phone, video calls, emails, SMS and every communication channel made possible today. Personally, I'm doing my best to stay safe and healthy everyday”.

“Although I'm deeply saddened to see the pain and steady loss of lives around the world right now, I’m equally optimistic this will pass soon... but yes, the high death toll is very sad.”

With regards to change, he said the challenges of the present day have further strengthened his resolve in everything he did.

On going into the future, he remarked: “Life is precious. Life is beautiful. Keep living it to the fullest. I want to keep doing life a hundred and one percent of the time. I've lived a life of giving, loving and service. For me, this is the highest level of success and living. So I can only look forward to serving humanity in greater capacities wherever and whenever.”

Mai Thi Thanh Tran, an office manager at an educational organisation in Hanoi in Vietnam, explained that the news of the virus was received shortly before their Tet holiday or Lunar New Year, a significant occasion in the country. Panic and concern prevailed amid hope that the outbreak would be short-lived as was the case with the SARS virus outbreak in 2003, she indicated.

Her work schedule remained the same as the company she works for still operated during the time of social distancing, she explained and stressed that they worked harder to add more value to people’s lives. She enjoyed riding motorbike to work while the streets were deserted in comparison to the usual chaotic traffic in Hanoi. The air was not polluted either.

To a question what emotional impact the loss of lives and infection rate had on her, she said it had upset her gravely. Her American friends living in Vietnam were worried for their families, and while witnessing their tears and anxiety she comforted, encouraged and prayed for them.

She alluded to sometimes getting overwhelmed by emotion, feeling confused in what seemed to be a hopeless situation. “My day was passing with no direction but then I was so thankful for what my country has done. We were all aware of how this issue affected us so we all agreed with the government guiding us.” She referred to the people and government working together to protect everyone, standing united “to fight this destruction”. She recalled how they prayed, discussed and encouraged each other in the belief that the crisis was the start of new things.

Now Vietnam was healing with things getting back to normal again, she indicated. They have discovered how to protect themselves and people have changed their hygiene habits, which she regarded as a positive.

Most of all she wanted to visit her family once the period was over, after living in fear that she couldn’t reach them if something happened while in quarantine.

Her colleague, Lydia Joelle also shared her views, stating that the Covid season has been rather tough in the country with businesses and new start-ups having had to close.

Many people have lost their jobs and the poor are struggling even more. She mentioned food donation efforts by companies, organisations and their government. She alluded to the situation having given birth to creative ideas and other initiatives such as auto rice dispensing booths, apps to help citizens to monitor the locations of Covid patients and supermarkets giving out coupons for free food shopping. Vietnam was seen to be rapidly and effectively responding to Covid-19 and experienced no death count, she stressed. The period has somewhat restored respect for the country among the citizenry, according to her.

She was of the opinion that God has been using Covid-19 as a tool to shake people up “from the slumber of business and shallowness of walk”. Having had to stop and be still has been a very humbling experience to many. It took humility to learn God's grace, she emphasised. On the same note she observed that during this time God wanted to redirect Vietnamese Christians back to their families, which she described as a truth many Vietnamese were running away from.

She concluded stating that she would rather name the Covid outbreak ‘The awakening of the souls’.

Mari Lambrechts, who resides near Wimbledon in South London, mentioned going into self-isolation a week before lockdown in the United Kingdom after her partner had started displaying mild symptoms. She, too, had very mild symptoms of what she could only assume to have been Covid-19, she said and added that fortunately they didn't have to be hospitalised. “We are both health professionals, but in the private sector, and testing was not available for us at the time, which was quite frustrating,” said Mari.

“It all felt rather peculiar, being at home and not being able to go out at all. Especially since we had beautiful sunny weather those two weeks. I used to open the kitchen window and breathe the fresh air,” she remarked.

“I have been lucky that only a few people I know have contracted the virus. Some have had mild symptoms and others more severe, but all have survived. Friends of friends have not, and listening to friends on the front line and the harrowing experiences they have in the NHS.... it is so sad. I applaud all the healthcare workers and other key workers, which had to keep going in these difficult times. Every Thursday evening at 20:00, the whole of the UK is out on their front steps or hanging out windows to applaud the NHS and thank them for their selfless service.”

In the beginning it was quite surreal being on the streets in London, she indicated. Having had to drive into work a couple of times was something she would never normally do due to traffic congestion. The situation has not lasted and it has certainly started being more busy in the past few weeks, according to her. “Going to the shops, queuing outside and seeing people with masks have become the new normal.”

On having formed strong bonds with their neighbours, she expressed the thought that communities had truly come together to assist each other in the crisis, with volunteers and friends helping where they can. “I do hope that this community spirit will last.”

In the main the freedom of being able to do what she wanted when she wanted, to meet up with friends in person, go to a restaurant and being able to sit down in a coffee shop were what she missed most.

To her the future seemed uncertain and she didn’t foresee things changing soon, she wrote. “But imagine this happening 30 years ago, with no internet or cheap phone calls abroad. I left South Africa 20 years ago and communication was not easy at that stage.

We are very fortunate to live in this digital age and be in contact with friends and family on a regular basis, even though it is virtual.”

Michelle Lim, who is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Make The Change in Singapore, finds comfort in the quote "Your elevation may require your isolation." To her it speaks of her gratitude on Covid-19. “Indeed, Covid-19 could be the world's first crisis that united all nations on one common challenge with an important realisation: all of us are closely connected economically, emotionally, digitally and physically. Beyond any political power and manipulation, it is humbly spreading from a human to another, unknowingly beyond any available intelligence and medical advancement. It caused the world to stop, but it also caused the earth to breathe again.” In Singapore, busyness at work has become the perfect excuse for many who have been neglecting their kinship and families. “I was equally justified just like others with a compartmental life,” she stressed. “At the beginning of the lockdown (which Singapore called a Circuit Breaker) on 7 April, I thought it would just be a temporal change from offline to online, from meeting rooms to Zooms. With high confidence in the most effective government in the world, there was no fear. I watched how the Covid-19 was arrogantly spreading among the people, community, migrant workers, exploded unexpectedly, yet I was able to distance myself like an audience from another planet, seeing life made of flesh and blood (diminished) to a number on the chart. “At home, sharing the same space with my son, we have been rotating seamlessly between his online lessons and my Zooms. I never felt so closely connected to him… what a simple yet profound realisation.” As the lockdown was extended from 4 May until 2 June, she came to realise that her adjustment wasn't so much on externals such as the way of working and communicating with others.

She continued saying that Covid-19 has awakened her soul and consciousness to relook into her most valuable gifts from God: time and talent. “It also unveiled my blindness and foolishness for investing in the wrong things that equate materialistic success as a form of purpose in life.” “Despite the dominion position we had on earth as Homo sapiens, no one can excuse from the mere fact that we are just as fragile as any living creatures on earth. Stripped off all the titles and gains in this world, what we truly seek are highly desirable basics: love, joy and peace. “As many lives are lost in this pandemic, I also witness many lives saved by this pandemic. Unlearn to relearn, to become a human being who loves one another and cares for one another.”

From New Zealand secondary school teacher Dalene Potgieter who relocated from South Africa in January 2019, described the current period as a challenging time for the whole world and something to make one stop and think.

Adopting online teaching during the current period has required a mind shift but turned out to be a good experience, she said. She enjoyed being at home, as she isn’t a very social person and therefore it was not that much of a negative experience for her. “At times it felt as if I needed to get out of the house and luckily we could go for walks. Actually it was recommended that we go for walks as long as we stayed in our ‘bubbles’. We could go shopping for food and it was strange at first but we got used to it quickly. It is astonishing how quickly we get used to something.” On the day she wrote the piece, the country had moved to level 2 of lockdown regulations and she perceived that they could basically go back to life as normal along with a few restrictions.

To the question related to the loss of life occurring due to the outbreak, she said it was shocking how many people have died, but added that a lot of people still died of other causes. “I think because our numbers are so low it helped to not feel it directly and there is not anyone close to us or even in our town who got infected. I think there is an unhealthy media hype that is going on. Economies are stopped for less people dying than people that die of other diseases and yes, people argue that it is more infectious, but some people had it and do not even realise they had it. The numbers are therefore questionable.”

She said that in the beginning she read everything possible about the situation but later on stopped in the midst of articles and information everywhere. All the different theories about what, how and who also became overwhelming. Then I realised that I cannot do anything about it and decided to take every day at a time and enjoy the time with my family.

“This global crisis has been an experience in which I realised how quick life as we know it can change. We should not take anything for granted. In a matter of days our whole world changed. We adapted but I am not sure if our economy will survive and what will happen in the long run. Only time will tell.”

She described it being difficult having a lot of her family and friends in South Africa where numbers are still rising. “I just believe that they will be fine and will get through this. I feel grateful that I can be here and that I have a job and my husband has a job. A lot of people have lost their jobs and income.”

To conclude with her remark: “I think normalcy is what I look forward to the most.”

*Photos: Supplied