Here’s my personal recount of my experience during COVID-19. I write this so I can look back on it in the future and think wow, that sh*t was cray. I am so, so pleased it never happened again.
Well, it’s been a while so I thought I’d write an update**
We moved to Level 2 a few weeks ago which meant everything could open up, provided social distancing restrictions etc were met.
Honestly, I haven’t left the house much. I visited Makoura Lodge the first weekend where I hosted a workshop and went horse trekking (awesome spot to visit), with friends. The next weekend I visited my friend Kim in Masterton and we went out for dinner to Saint Sebastian and took a bakery lunch to Castle Point. I have been in twice for a massage and a handful of times to stores – but mainly I still stay home. Oh and I had dumplings!!
Why do I mainly stay at home? Well, a few reasons. It’s not because I feel uncomfortable getting out. We live in the country so heading to town takes time. 20mins to Feilding or 40 to Palmerston North once you park and stroll to wherever you need to go. I don’t love that to go to a yoga class I have to spend 80minutes in the transit. Takes about three hours out of my day by the time I do a 90-minute class. Also, I don’t know as many people in the area anymore so there are fewer people to catch up with.
In NZ the gov has launched an app that allows you to keep track of where you’ve been in the case of a COVID outbreak. You simply scan the QR code and you’re away. Otherwise, you need to sign in with contact details to stores/restaurants etc.
I’ve decided to stick around a while. I launched my business here and have partnered with Regional Business Partners as a supplier to provide grants in NZ. I love the work I am doing and I’m hoping to establish a reasonable business here so I can work when I come back quarterly to visit. And be able to write off my flights haha.
When I head back to Australia is still a huge unknown. And one that often plays on my mind. I’m ideally waiting until the Trans-Tasman bubbles comes in – no idea when that will be at this point.
At the least, I would like to avoid military hotel lockdown. In Aus and NZ when you arrive internationally, you are currently put on a bus and taken to a military-run hotel. You get 10-30mins each day to exercise outside and the food is apparently quite average. I think it would do my head in, being stuck in there for 14 days.
So at this stage, I’m aiming for early August – depending on all those factors. Thankfully as NZ has opened up for travel and only has one (or maybe none now) active COVID cases, I intend to take advantage of tripping around. I’m going to visit Napier, Wellington, Auckland and Queenstown and anywhere else that takes my fancy. I intend to be away most weekends and see as much as I can and make great memories with my friends and family here.
** I wrote this two weeks ago (I’ve backdated it), so really I am due for another one!
Please note; I am incredibly grateful to the essential workers and front-liners who have kept our nations going. This is a tough time for so many people and I aim to cause no offense, this is a personal recount to look back on when COVID-19 is something kids learn about in history.
