7 April 2020

The news that we will no longer be able to come to South Africa during April is a great disappointment. Zander made long lists of everyone he wanted to see, things he wanted to do and food he wanted to eat. Among other things, he just wanted to eat ProNutro for breakfast again, barbecued meat and boerewors rolls with chutney and tomato sauce for lunch and go to Spur for a Hamburger and chips and Nachos.

More bad news came when we realized that Christo and Michaela could no longer visit during the June holidays, because the Swiss Embassy had informed them that they were closed until mid-June and no visas could be obtained. We are now trying to change our flights so that we can fly to South Africa in June.

Groceries

It is a whole lifestyle change with everything, but grocery stores and pharmacies closed, and people being forced to work from home. Only a few people are allowed in the shops at a time after a security officer has made sure you have disinfected your hands. The people get angry if you move too close to them. With spring in the air, we are very allergic. If you want to go shopping, you must therefore make sure that you have blown your nose and finished all your sneezing before someone wants to throw a sauerkraut bottle at you.

Working from home

Charl works incredibly long hours away from home and is at video meetings all the time. As the rules in the country change and new challenges emerge, business leaders must make new plans all the time. Everyone was forced to set up home offices and there are nowhere more cell phones and computers available in Switzerland. The cell phone and internet networks are under pressure because it was never designed with the heavy use in mind

. In the hospitals, all pre-planned surgeries have been postponed making way for the growing number of Covid patients. The Hirslanden group’s experience is that cyber-attacks have doubled in recent weeks. People have more time on their hands and businesses are more under pressure and vulnerable in uncertain times.

School and socialising with friends

Initially, the changing situation was very traumatic for Zander. He was restless and struggled to sleep. Fortunately, he soon found a new rhythm that works well for him. Every day the school sends work for the day and he and his Mexican buddy do it on the computer at the same time while they talk to each other over the phone. The completed work is sent back to school which is marked by the teachers before the next day.

In the afternoons he plays at our apartment complex with other boys his age. The five, which is the maximum according to the rules, are a mix of Singapore, Pakistan, Germany, the Netherlands and of course South Africa. They all play outside cobs-and-robbers, football and Zander has also taught them to play handball tennis which they played during breaks at Welgemoed. He comes home tired at night and seems to be enjoying his new routine.

Appreciating nature

The weather is getting nicer and we can go for a walk every night. Early in the morning the birds chirp unaware of Corona. Everywhere people walk and ride bikes with their dogs and children. It is especially young parents with toddlers on scooters who dominate the picture. Parents’ creativity in keeping the little ones busy as well as their patience is tested. We are thankful that we have not yet been banned from leaving our apartments and houses like the people in Italy and Spain.

Corona virus situation fortunately created an opportunity for us. Churches are now making their services available on YouTube. We miss church services in our mother tongue and the many services available in Afrikaans create for us a sense of togetherness.

I am convinced that Corona is going to help us look at things and relationships differently. We will be tired of technology, want to spend more time outdoors and spend more time with precious people and relationships. With the huge economic impact that the situation is going to have on many organizations and individuals, I suspect that people are going to be economically forced to live simpler lives.

Kind regards

Emsia