We are healthy (maybe a little back pain… and carpal tunnel Syndrom… our home office set up seems not ergonomic friendly enough…).
This week I’d like to take you on a trip around the globe. As so often I got inspired while readying my favorite weekend newspaper this morning. It’s a virtual trip, of course. A trip around the world in corona times. People sharing a small insight of their current life.
Since mid of March people in Greece are only allowed to leave their house for the supermarket or pharmacies. And: they have to send a text message to their government if they do so. Otherwise there’s a fine of €150!
Before the lockdown in NY the city (who usually never sleeps) seemed already empty. Some people still felt in the mood and dressed up to celebrate spring. It’s a weird spring this year. But spring means also hope! The hope that all will turn out good, eventually.
In Iran young people supported distributing disinfectant which is being provided by the government. People were queuing to get their bottles filled up. Most people cannot stay in quarantine. They live from day to day. If they don’t leave the house for work, families cannot afford food!
In China life seems to become „normal“ again. Every day more shops & restaurants are opening up again!
Brasilians President is following a different approach when it comes to lockdown: no lockdown (but people are afraid and stay home anyway). Some of the mayors created their own rules: if streets get disinfected street sellers can continue selling fruits to keep their income. It’s hopeful that mayors take care of their residents.
Adelaide in Australia is focusing on sport. A bicycle ride to the port feels like being at the main station: so many people running, walking, skateboarding, cycling… everybody keeping the 1,5m distance, of course. Using sport to appreciate and value life!
Poland is currently critical from a democracy point of view. That’s why residents bring up private initiatives to support their health system which may collapse otherwise. Producing masks and providing them for free to local hospitals.
Delhi in India. Also here different times: no restaurant visits, no shopping, no talking to others on the streets, instead: playing tennis on top of buildings. With a ball on a string. Most apartments don’t even have a window. Most families share one room. Migrant workers slept on the streets and were sent back home.
In London a family realized that life goes on despite the lockdown. Different. Trying to create routines in the new life. Talking to parents on the face time. Everything and everybody seems to change. But everything continuous. It feels good to sharpen the focus on important things again. We all have to learn to become more patient again. And then we may value and appreciate again how rich our life is with little things.
Moskau in Russia. Also here lockdown. Only grocery shopping is allowed. All streets are video controlled. Soon to follow: facial monitoring. The police controls very strictly with the help of above mentioned devises. Some people escape illegally to the top roofs. It gives them hope. Up here they feel they still can dream. Uncontrolled.
South Africa. Usually hundreds of shacks share one tap. From time to time there’s problems with the water supply. Since a week electricity is falling out. Groceries are rotting (no working fridges). Groceries paid with the last available money. Also the health system is not as good as in other countries. Keeping the distance is not possible. Police cars are announcing the info about Covid by driving through the streets. Generally, access to news is very limited.
Iquitos in Peru can only be accessed via plane or boat. The village is located in the middle of the rainforest. You would think safe from corona… unfortunately not. The houses here don’t have running water. Families are bathing in the river in public. The hope: the whole world is going through the same: Corona virus.
In Leipzig, Germany, people are amazed by how fast people can get used to the different new life. Church services are broadcasted via zoom. Painting classes are offered online. So are yoga & dancing classes. Musicians from around the globe come together to connect us with music. Of course online. Visible for everyone. Around the globe.
The government in Jordan is using public buses to share bread. Thursday’s have been officially announced to distribute cigarettes. Jordan is one of the countries which followed a very strict lockdown from the very beginning. Since infection numbers are low, lockdown has been limited to daily 6pm – 10am. People are allowed to move around in the day time. A local guy says that he enjoyed the special time. Quality time he spent with his 1-year old daughter. Time he usually doesn’t have due to balancing job & family life.
Hiroji from Japan, 80 years old and believing in Buddha, changed his prayers from good luck for the family and the son to health & hope for the whole world.
People in Madrid getting to know their neighbors. Since the lockdown they are seeing each other every day at 8pm on their balconies, clapping together to show how thankful they are for nurses & doctors doing an incredible job these days. Some kids using a broomstick to swing around the Spanish flag, a symbol for the unity of Spain.
A photographer living in Austria started documenting his new life with corona. Last year he collected stamps from entering 71 countries! These days he is noticing that he doesn’t have any impulse to continue this kind of busy life and traveling whenever the worldwide travel restrictions are gone. He learnt to appreciate family time again. And the most important gift: love and being loved.
Paris, another city empty these days… no cars. No people. France is one of the countries with the highest death numbers due to Corona. So many dead bodies that they have to be stored in containers since there’s not enough space in hospitals. All containers are captured by tents so neighbors don’t have to follow the daily tragedy. Still young people are wearing masks for the hope, for solidarity, even not exactly knowing if it helps or not. Hoping for the best even there are days with only little hope.
Hemmingen, Swabia. A family feeling thankful for being able and allowed to work from home. Thankful for having enough food. Enough to share with neighbors. Happy for a government taking care of their residents. Happy for being healthy!
Thanks, SZ for the inspiration of sharing the worlds thoughts.
Stuttgart547 