Social (studies) Isolation

I hate making titles for these blog posts. Knowing that 3 people might read the ridiculous heading I choose makes me anxious. I'm solving this problem through my new working at home opportunity - becoming reacquainted with my Vinyl collection. At work I usually walk up the 3 flights of stairs, unlock my classroom, put my stuff down, and then the very first thing I do is turn on my bluetooth speaker and pick out some tunes for the morning. It helps me to focus. So in my new office (still my kitchen table) I've decided to pick out a record to enjoy for the day as a part of my new getting to work routine. Today is Let's Be Still by the Head and the Heart. It pairs well with my Alpine Punch rooibos from David's Tea and the French Revolution papers I've been marking. It felt fitting for our current circumstances. The biggest change I am feeling right now is not being at home - that's not unusual. I did this for 14 months and have actually only been back to ...

I need brain breaks. This is something I've known about myself forever. I can focus and get my work done and do a good job as long as I can also get up and move around for a couple of minutes. So, at work this usually looks like me going down to the water bottle filling fountain by the main office, or running down to the basement to ask an English teacher a quick question instead of sending an email, or having to go to the second floor to get the laptops that I booked, or leaving the classroom for a couple of minutes to check with groups working in breakout spaces. At home it's more like a 5 minute break after a meeting to put some laundry away, a quick tidy up of the toys in the living room, running the compost bin out to the back alley because I'm working in the kitchen and have become acutely aware of the scent of decomposing banana peel from yesterday's breakfast.  This is making it significantly harder to close the activity rings on my apple watch BUT my house wi...

Jack is the kind of friend that’s like family. We grew up together and they have always been a significant person in my life. They are currently living in Montreal and working the front lines by supporting vulnerable and at risk populations. This is a Facebook post that they shared recently with the full disclaimer that this is all other people’s information and ideas, just being shared to be helpful. “a few things i’ve learned in the last couple of days in various zoom calls (they were recorded so i’ll post links in the comments if i can) that made me feel better and might make you feel better too: - the primary way this virus spreads is touching something that has the virus on it and then touching your face. it isn’t airborne— it’s in droplets of spit (this is why you need to keep 2m of distance between you and other people if you go out— to avoid transmission by breathing in droplets they’ve coughed out). if you wash your hands whenever you touch things (from) outside your ...

Just a quick update: March 23, 2020 - San Antonio has experienced their first COVID19-related death, a woman in her 80's with multiple pre-existing conditions. It has really shaken a lot of the folks around here and I think generally younger people are taking it a lot more seriously now. Everyone is still very hopeful around here that the warm weather that spring brings (usually high 20's - low 30's starting about mid-March) will make it harder to spread, but I don't know how much I want to rely on that. Dallas and Waco have both put in orders to shelter-at-home, Austin is expected to put in a similar order tonight or tomorrow morning. It's only a matter of time before San Antonio (or the county) does as well. Staple foods are becoming hard to find, things like beans, rice, and meat. I feel very lucky to have a steady paycheck coming in but there are many in this city who don't and are struggling to feed their families.

I’m feeling much more like myself today.  I’m going to credit it to an early-morning trip to Walmart to pick up diapers. Getting out of the house for a dog walk is not quite the same as going to a store. It’s also maybe because it’s Sunday and Sunday night (which used to be coed soccer) is now when we put the baby to bed a little bit early, get some good snacks, and settle in to watch the new episode of 90 Day Fiancé.  If there is one thing I love, it’s trash reality tv. It’s the last day of spring break so no work talk tonight but tomorrow is really the official start date of this working from home odyssey. I’m excited to have some purpose and routine. 722 065 is the current global total.

+79 in Alberta. 5655 in Canada. 663 740 globally. The political news hasn’t been good today either. Usually when I’m in a mood like this a soccer game would pull me out of my funk. I haven’t been able to play in 3 weeks.  I’m looking forward to our Monday morning virtual staff meeting and hoping for information and clarity about what’s to come. I’m also thinking of the 20k support staff that make learning possible for so many students who found out they were being laid off through a tweet this afternoon. And all of the other people who have been laid off or furloughed.  We have friends that we met through our baby class. They have a son who is exactly 3 hours younger than our daughter and was born in the hospital room right next door. They made the impossible decision to send their son 10 hours away to live with his grandparents until this passes. The mom is an ER nurse.  It’s been tough processing this information all day today. So my gratitude for the day is privilege. ...

Celene is the type of friend you make in your early 20s. We used to not talk all year and then spend every hour of 4 straight days at a music festival together. She’s a marine biologist currently based of Netherlands and is stuck on a vessel at sea. Here’s some of our conversation about her experience.

I’ve lost track of the days in that weird way when a lack of routine causes time to cease existing. But my phone tells me it’s Friday so... I am waiting for April 1. I want the information, the numbers, that will tell us if this is working. I need it. I also want to work. Not just staff meetings and Skype but connecting with my students. April 1 is the day that I get to do that again. I already knew this to be true but I learned whilst on maternity leave that “teacher” is an essential part of my identity. I am a better person when I can teach. It’s an outlet for me creatively and socially and I desperately miss it when it’s not there. I am so looking forward to having that piece of myself back again. The daily update for Alberta just happened. We’ve surpassed 500 cases now. Almost all non-essential businesses have been shuttered. Gatherings will be no more than 15 people (which if we’re being honest feels like a lot). Canada is sitting at 4600 cases at the moment.  Globally we’ll b...

Paulo is family in London. This is what he's seen. " It’s The Happy Donuts in Portobello Road if you remember. It’s near the Makan the Malaysian restaurant under Westway Bridge. First it’s toilet rolls and Pasta now it’s eggs which is hardly available. They closed pubs and gym ( there only 5 of us on my last visit) then urged people to work home. However instead of having themselves quarantined hmmmm it became a family gathering in the park...how ludicrous (we were there too... )"

There are more than 500 000 confirmed cases globally. The United States passed China in case numbers today. My mom also brought over an entire package of toilet paper today.  A colleague shared this video with me. Some perspective on different responses globally...

Allison is a friend from high school. She's living in Singapore right now where she works in early childhood education. Here's her take on how things are currently going. " Most things are running as normal, but we all kind of have this feeling of impending doom. As Singapore is an island without its own food production, and almost all of our goods are imported, the government has stated that at a normal consumption rate, we have about 3 months of everything left. It’s possible they may start to impose rationing and even martial law - but this is in case of emergency. Basically, they are just telling people to only buy and consume what they need so that there is enough for everyone since borders are now pretty much shut down worldwide. My work visa hasn’t come in yet, but schools are still open here and the government is doing studies to determine whether it is actually worthwhile to shut schools, as they don’t seem to be a source of spreading/outbreak at this time. Ho...

Today was wildly unproductive. 2 dog walks and a binge of Tiger King on Netflix.  It’s ending in the massive disappointment of learning the Big Brother Canada is ending early. I feel like Covid 19 has taken so much already and now reality TV?! So instead of that I want to write about something I read in the news today. In Kentucky and Florida parents are throwing Coronavirus Parties with the hopes of infecting themselves and their children in order to build herd immunity. Like, what?! That’s insane. Deliberately exposing yourself and children to a potentially deadly virus willingly. I can’t even understand it. Not only are they putting their own health at risk, but also the health of everyone that they might come in contact with.  It might be due to my husband being immunocompromised, but this is so upsetting to me. We need to be smarter than that to stop the spread to protect everyone else. I started thinking about work again today. I pushed it to the back to take a break for...

Cathy is my Dad’s cousin in Winnipeg. Here’s what she’s seeing in her community. Andrew, Bryan, and Jill are her kids who are around my age. “ Hi Claire, there are more walkers, less car traffic, more shoppers as of 2 days ago, (Bryan and Jill are shopping for us now), not much toilet paper available. Many stores most businesses have closed due to reduction in customers . Jill’s -Brandon and (Andrew’s  Regina)uni classes are online. Chris is rehabbing a double knee replacement from 2 wks ago. I am teaching in a support position from home. My work will be helping the gr 4 team with feedback to their students online on the Seesaw app and also developing a solids, liquids and Gases unit with the gr 2 team. Bryan (paramedic) said he and partner have had to wear full protective gear when picking up people with symptoms or travel history. One was a little girl with high temp and respiratory symptoms. She must have been scared of them in their gear! Grandpa is in quarantine in his ass...

It’s been exactly one week since I came home from work for the last time. That feels a little surreal. I’ve been sick today. Not covid-sick, just generally not feeling well. There’s been a handful of times today that I’ve thought I’ll just quickly run out to the drug store to get something and then had to remind myself I can’t. I’m starting to realize how much we take for granted living with so many services that are immediately accessible.  How do you plan for food and medical needs long term when you don’t actually know what they will be?  We’re currently tackling this question as we prepare a click and collect grocery order. The next available pickup slot is April 6. We’re going to have to make-do with what we have until then, maybe stop at Sobeys once or twice for essentials like milk and bananas. Another thing I’ve become painfully aware of is that our, what I previously thought was very expensive, childcare could charge us double and I’d think it was ...

Gibran is my friend from University, we met playing soccer together. He recently moved back to Mexico with his Canadian wife and their 2 young daughters. This is their experience in Puerto Vallarta so far. "Here in Puerto Vallarta México are OK. In general México has taken a passive approach. We don't know if is the right one. People are confused. One side tells you it's OK just continue ur life, the other side outside Mexico says stay home and avoid social gatherings. What is true is that its hot here and virus usually tend to be weaker on warmer weather ( less spread). Bunch of Americans and Canadians are fleeing the country to go back home. It's a chaos at the airport in the picture."

Today was a good day. I ventured over to Sobeys to pick up some more of my husband’s medication. He’s immunocompromised so I’ll be making all those trips for the time being. It was busy again. There was no toilet paper again. I grossly underestimated the weight of the stuff I was going to buy and had to walk all the way back home with extremely heavy bags.  I miss my family and my friends. The social piece of this is starting to feel harder. The reality is that we will see my parents again soon, we need them to help with childcare starting next week. But it’s still hard right now. 42 new cases in Alberta today.  10 000 in the USA. It’s worrying what’s happening over the border and is responsible for about 70% of my current anxiety. Science and numbers make me feel better though and I saved a series of graphs published by the Globe and Mail today. Some perspective for why we’re doing this.

Shawna is a high school friend of my brother. She is currently living in San Antonio, Texas with her husband and shared this about their experience. " Checking in from San Antonio, Texas, population approximately double that of Calgary (~ 3 million) with 220 confirmed cases in the state, 39 in our county (Bexar) and 25 in the San Antonio area. Our city’s mayor announced just Wednesday March 18 th that a city public health emergency was being declared, effective until April 19, 2020 (about a month) that requires non-essential businesses to close (including bars, movie theatres, gyms and bowling alleys) and only allows restaurants to offer take-out, drive-thru or delivery orders. The Texas Governer Greg Abbot made a statewide order that put almost identical rules in place across Texas, however it only lasts until April 3 (unless an extension is announced in the coming weeks). This order also limits gatherings to 10 people. Most school boards have closed their schools vo...

Normally we would have gone to the mall or the library today. Or maybe swimming at the YMCA or to the zoo. Instead I’ve watched this too many times and read The Gruffalo even more. Just a short update for today but I wanted to add that yesterday I mentioned a possible drug combination for treatment. This morning I was disappointed to learn that it actually hasn’t been proven to be effective yet and could be a potential lethal combination for some. As if pandemic wasn’t enough, it can be quite exhausting verifying the accuracy of the media right now.

Philip is a friend living in Munich right now. This is his account of how things have been going in Germany. "Well... It's really weird here as well, pretty much all stores are closed, expect for supermarkets and basic supplies and you're not allowed to be outside without a reason.. Last week it was recommended to keep a save distance but it wasn't enforced and people didn't care - weather was nice and people went to beer gardens and threw weird "corona parties" in public parks... So now you aren't allowed to meet anyone not living in your own household and strongly advised to stay at home, so that's tough.. You are allowed to go for a walk though and to get essentials, but you can't meet anyone.. We are all healthy, but I'm scared about the effects of social isolation, especially for my mum - she's all alone in her house and it's empty.. It feels scary right now... We have police patrolling with announcements, that's just ...

It’s Saturday and it feels normal. Normal in that I’m not working and the biggest accomplishment of the day was finishing the laundry. The most normal Saturday would mean that we had tickets to some sporting event tonight (most likely the Roughnecks) but no sports so.... While the baby napped today I spent some time with our golden girl on a 4km walk. It was a beautiful day so there were a lot of other people out - much more than would be normal on even the nicest of days though. I think everyone is feeling a little stir crazy and most people were really good about maintaining distance on the pathways. The daily fresh air is really making this all easier and gives the illusion of not being stuck at home. I'm going to continue making sure that I get out at least once a day.  I reached out to some friends and family in different provinces and countries. I think I’ll share some of their experiences with Covid-19 and the various social/political responses that they’ve...

I start and end my days the same way. A quick check of Twitter and then an anxious scouting of the Alberta Covid information page. I’m extra invested in the flight s page that lists all of the flights with Alberta passengers that have had positive results for the virus. A week ago was not quite like this.  We left on Thursday for a short family trip to Vancouver. We knew about the potential for infection but all the information reassured us that Canada was low-risk and domestic travel would still be safe. The husband and I were going to see a live recording of one of our favourite podcasts, my brother came along to babysit for our night out, and my Aunt came from Vancouver Island to visit. We had tickets to see the Whitecaps play on Saturday and had lots of other plans.  When we got on the plane in Calgary everything was fine. By the time we landed in Vancouver all the professional sports leagues had been cancelled. So much for those tickets. Our podcast was cancelled just a c...

Trying to establish a new routine is hard. It's extra hard when you're trying to balance two full time jobs, a toddler, and a dog all in one place. Being a mom? Easy. Being a teacher? Easy. Being a mom and a teacher at exactly the same time while the dog is barking and the husband is on a conference call and the dishwasher is beeping and somewhere in the house water is running? Actually impossible. So day 2 of life at home has been a challenge. We made it until 10:00 before we signed up for Disney+ and parked the baby (actually toddler but I'm not quite ready to use that word) in front of the TV to watch Ice Age and eat her Cheerios. It's hard to figure out what sacrifices to make right now but giving in on the limited screen time rule while we sort out our new routine seemed like an okay place to bend. As far as the working part of working from home is concerned today has actually been surprisingly productive, all things considered. I attended a staff meeting...

As I write this inaugural post I find myself sitting in my new office, comfortable, warm, welcoming, surprisingly clean. It's also my kitchen. This is our new normal. I intend to keep an ongoing blog of my own experiences in social isolation as Canada locks down to fight off infection and prevent further spread of Covid-19 as much as possible. I will be asking my students to do the same. As a high school social studies teacher it is always convenient when societal issues and events mirror our curriculum - so while everything sucks for a bit, let's take advantage of some opportunities to learn. I'm also a historian. How cool is it that I can now document an event that will surely be marvelled at by future generations? The answer is very. So let's get caught up on the story so far... In early January the World Health Organization (WHO) alerted us all to a novel coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese province of Wuhan. Over the next month we watched as it spread b...