I’ve sat down to write this blog entry multiple times over the last month. Motivation is hard to muster these days, and words are hard to find. There’s so much to say but not a lot to talk about. There’s this huge, world-altering, catastrophic event going on around us but our day-to-day life has become a bit like the movie Groundhog Day: the same thing over and over. It’s hard to know what to write.
New Zealand just spent 5 weeks in a Level 4 lockdown, which means we haven’t been allowed to leave our “bubble” (i.e. our home/neighbourhood) except for essential services (which were strictly defined as mostly just health care and groceries) for over a month. We’re now at Level 3, which means restaurants can provide take-away and things like construction work can start back up, but we’re still expected to stay mostly within our bubble for the next while. I (Leslie) work in an essential service, and while I’ve been able to work partially from home (which takes so much longer with a 3-year-old “assistant” around!), I do still go in to work a few times per week. I also do the grocery shopping about once per week, and that’s it. The rest of the time, we’re at home, waiting for this all to end. We know we’re among the most fortunate – we live in a country where the virus is getting under control, we have a secure income, access to all the food and supplies we need, a decent-sized home and a small outdoor space to spend time in. Many people aren’t so fortunate. Knowing that kind of brings on a sense of guilt to add to all the other lockdown emotions.
I’m an introvert, so on a certain level, being forced to stay home is a relief – there’s no pressure to socialize, no one coming to our door, and no invitations to gatherings. But I’m living with two extroverts who are starved for interaction, so they want to talk and do things and it can get pretty overwhelming some days.
This whole situation is overwhelming.
Being expats, we’re used to keeping in touch remotely with our loved ones, so not much has changed there, and that’s one advantage we have. But we also don’t know when we’ll see our family again, which adds an extra level of anxiety. We have many beloved family members who aren’t getting any younger or healthier, and the longer the travel restrictions are in place, the higher the risk of not seeing them again. It’s gut-wrenching to think about.
I keep wondering what the world will be like when this is all over. I can’t imagine everything will go back to normal – the old ‘normal’ can’t exist any more. But one thing I do know is that the world will survive, and if we’re lucky, evolve into something even better. How do I know this? Because Christchurch has shown it can be done.
Christchurch, New Zealand has had its share of tragedy, most notably the 2011 earthquake that wiped out most of the central city and killed 185 people, and most recently the March 2019 mosque terrorist attacks where 51 innocent people were murdered. Both times, this city that we now call home rose up and not only began to repair the damage – both physical and psychological – but managed to evolve into something better. Christchurch is a beacon of hope for the rest of the world, an example of how tragedy and hardship can become something positive. Reminders of this resilience are all over the city in the form of modern architecture juxtaposed with historical buildings, uplifting street art, and even earthquake-destroyed areas becoming new ecosystems.
The strength of Christchurch is palpable and contagious. Being here has made us feel reasonably secure and hopeful during a scary and uncertain time. We are grateful for our new home and are trying to appreciate what we have as we move forward into a new, and hopefully better, world.
Stay safe and healthy everyone. Kia kaha (stay strong)!
How are you coping with the lockdown? What are you doing to stay sane? Connect with us!
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