Thread: How are you coping in these Covid times

I was looking to see if there was a thread and didn't find one and thought I would just ask.

So how are you coping in these Covid times?

For me, it is all over the place. Some days it seems somewhat normal, then days later its total chaos. I have been in Thailand for most of the pandemic and initially I felt little, to no impact, while the rest of the world seemed to be upside down. I watched the US and all my friends live in total confusion and people dropping like flies. Now I am currently in the states and while many are vaccinated it is still total chaos. As of this morning the states is averaging 100K cases a day and virtually all are antivaxxer folks. However the challenge is that you have no way of knowing who is vaccinated or not and people lie about it so they do not have to wear a mask and yet you cannot ask them to validate it. Parents let their children run around unmasked everywhere which is crazy.

My wife and I are now on the last few weeks here in the states. We were going to stay until near end of September but Singapore airlines called us saying that they want us to change our return trip to no later than Aug 31st. While they didn't state it, I suspect they are cancelling all flights into Thailand. They also noted in the update that they are not allowing international flights into Singapore, you can only be in transit. We will land in Singapore and be escorted to a quarantine area for our layover. Of course upon landing in Thailand we will do a 14 day ASQ even though fully vaccinated. We have our COE approved and ASQ booked.

Its a strange world now, sort of like the 9/11 event but far more inconvenient. Traveling anywhere simply isn't worth it. I will have been Covid tested 8 times from the flight here and the return flight back. I am sick of having swabs crammed up my nose. I sometimes feel like a prisoner. Even though here in the states you can go anywhere, you still see/feel this friction amongst people that are not wearing masks and ones that do. Its a strange dynamic. I know when we finally get back home, we will be in a hard lock down even though vaccinated but at least its stress free. There will be no more travel plans for us for quite some time.

Have been in the states the entire COVID time. In the beginning we wished we were in Thailand. Kinda felt like we were missing out on a unique piece of history. But the tables have turned and we’re glad not to be in Thailand. Might have felt some sense of chaos at times last year but definitely not in the last year. Pretty much feels like things are getting back to normal here where we are. For a very long time now the plan has been to retire next year around May - July and move back to Thailand. Starting to have second thoughts. Might work a little later into the year. Even thinking about waiting for a job in Japan that I know will open in 2023. Really not sure anymore. Haven’t had a cigarette in 6 days so there is some good news … Ha ha ha ha!

As far as COVID and the shot go. None of it interferes with my daily life too much. I wear my mask where needed, I social distance, got the shots … and I know all the shot does is hopefully make it less likely I’ll die or have severe symptoms if I contract it … I’ve done all I can and don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it all.

Got used to it now.

In fact when it's all done and dusted (whenever that is), it's going to feel strange not reaching for the mask...

Been a gas for me, being a bank robber by trade, and a bit of a needle pusher on the side.

Next week I'm starting to build the prototype rocket for my scheduled loony landing in Timbuckfuckingtwo off the proceeds.


Nah, it's been shit. Business gone bust, wife went mental, now it feels like the last 20 years have been flushed down the shitter.

Very confused as to what the fuck is going on.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Have been in the states the entire COVID time. In the beginning we wished we were in Thailand

Yeah SK, Its like a tale of 2 stories. For the longest time, I felt quite fortunate to be in Thailand as I watched many other countries go completely upside down. Now its flipped but one thing for sure, you will not find many antivaxxers in Thailand, they would gladly stand in line to be vaccinated.

But to your point, currently being here in the states while Thailand goes into full lock down is strange. Like you, I wear a mask everywhere I go here in California but its a total mix of people wearing them and not and stores have sign requiring them but people who feel its their right go in without and few say anything in fear that it might lead to a fight.

Honestly, my wife and I look forward to returning home, even in the current conditions but that is driven in part to that fact we are fully vaccinated. Traveling has just become extremely painful dealing with all the differing/rules and behaviors of people. Back home we have our compound and are very well isolated in general and its just easier as everyone wears a mask without question.

I suspect Thailand will continue to struggle until the masses are vaccinated but again at least in Thailand you will not have any issues with antivaxxers and the parents who let their kids run around without them.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

it's going to feel strange not reaching for the mask...

I know HB....I was thinking that the other day. We have masks in packets everywhere, in cars, in pocket, wife has them in her purse. Its a routine to get out of the car and do a "Got your Mask" check. Will be odd when we don't have to do that ( If we ever get there)

I've been surfing Bangkok Twitter lately and its rough. Ppl are at their wits end.


Nick in bangkok

Anyone else is literally hopeless and tired of this never-ending lifestyle? I had enough, I don't see the end, I never thought I would say this but everything that makes Bangkok an amazing city is gone, I don't see no point on living here no more.

Here is Bangkok Phil

Everything that made Bangkok fun including the night life, shopping, food and attractions is a shell of itself right now. People there are fighting to not get sick.
https://twitter.com/Ajarncom/status/...499563525?s=20

Aaron

A significant portion of my social circle here in Bkk is suffering with mental health issues. It's not just being stuck in their room all day. It's financial hardship, loss of healthy social outlets, ability to exercise and live a normal life with no end in sight.

Stickboy

Covid cases in Thailand continue to rise despite over a year of widespread mask wearing, endless closures and a large part of the population hiding at home - even a blind man like me can see these measures aren't working. Bin masks Open the parks & pubs Go outside

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Been a gas for me, being a bank robber by trade, and a bit of a needle pusher on the side.

Next week I'm starting to build the prototype rocket for my scheduled loony landing in Timbuckfuckingtwo off the proceeds.


Nah, it's been shit. Business gone bust, wife went mental, now it feels like the last 20 years have been flushed down the shitter.

Very confused as to what the fuck is going on.

Sorry to hear that buddy

Originally Posted by Backspin

I've been surfing Bangkok Twitter lately and its rough. Ppl are at their wits end.

Yeah BS, BKK is really upside down. Many of the Thai folks I work with live in BKK and commute down to Chonburi to the other factory then return home on the weekend to be in full quarantine. They all basically live on Grab delivery and never go out. I chat with 4 or 5 every day. They send me real time pics of their current lives. I doubt I could ever do BKK in those conditions. Glad I live up north.

Originally Posted by happynz

Nick in Bangkok and the others probably don't read poetry beyond what is scratched onto shithouse walls, but maybe they should read Rudyard Kipling's poem "If".

An excerpt...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it...

Complete poem at If— by Rudyard Kipling - Poems | Academy of American Poets

Do you know of any of these guys ? Bkk Phil is an Ajarm guy apparently

life is just bloody peachy for me, had to shut a guesthouse and a restaurant/bar down due to lack of tourists, i bailed out last August and returned to Perth, Australia and am now in process of dumping everything in Thailand and bringing the missus over here to work.
on that note, anybody want some dogs ?
cannot see Thailand recovering for a year or two the only good thing was landlord has allowed us to store our belongings in guesthouse rent free for two years as he knows it is unprintable and i will return.

anybody want 3 dogs ?

Rob

Originally Posted by moose65

cannot see Thailand recovering for a year or two

Agree. The October opening of Thailand the gov claims may be true for Oct 2022 if all goes well.

Originally Posted by Norton

If you are now considering returning to Thailand, suggest you don't.

Honestly Norton returning fully vaccinated isn't such a bad thing and being in a Yellow Zone isn't that tough. I will admit being here right now is easier in the bigger picture, its not our home anymore. We could stay much longer however we left the house and property in the trusting hands of my Niece and FIL. They are doing a great job and the zoo animals are still alive. But we like being at our compound and I will enjoy my work conference calls being during the day versus super early morning or very late at night.

That said, I absolutely wouldn't consider any leisure travel to Thailand. It's just not worth the cost and stress and with lock downs everywhere, what would people do.

Originally Posted by moose65

had to shut a guesthouse and a restaurant/bar down due to lack of tourists

sorry to hear. It's a pretty common situation for many sadly and your assessment of a few years until some normalcy is probably a safe and fair one.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

and your assessment of a few years until some normalcy

I suspect quite a few years too...

Originally Posted by JPPR2

its not our home anymore

Completely understand. I would feel same if in the US.
However, as you note, coming here for a visit or to resume a job really should be put off.

life is great, Pattaya muchly imporved without all the annoying tourists.

Work is going gang busters, crazy crazy busy.

All in all, am loving it !!

I hav very few complaints from a personal perspective, just very sad to see the local tourism industry collapse. It has been like dominoes falling in slow motion. Many locals just carried on as normal. The big chain hotel groups can absorb so much loss of customers, but for how long?

The local Indonesian owned and staffed SMEs have been the hardest hit, with loss of customers, followed by loss of income, and staff with no job, no money and no home, migrating back to home villages.

From 3 July restrictions on contact and work were enforced on a near national basis. With hindsight, this should probably have been implemented 18 months ago. Having struggled on with small businesses, the locals are reluctant to let go of what’s left now, and some are simply refusing to close, on the principle of no business, no food for family.

The vaccine situation here was given priority due to the importance of tourism to the local economy. I got AZ x 2 earlier this year for free. As of now, 25% of Bali population has both vaccines, a 50/50 mix of AZ and Sinovac.
The rest of the country has been getting Sinovac, but free stuff from the west is starting to arrive in significant numbers. Pfizer, Moderna etc either direct from donation or via the WHO Covax scheme.

The big issue is third world infrastructure in everything from recording, reporting and testing, making it impossible to track the source of infections across a huge archipelago, with a massive population.

That aside, I am ok. Decent weather, decent food, mostly self prepared or delivered. Nice digs and not too expensive.
Hopefully, by this time next year, the travel options might be better to return to UK, but for now, all is hunky dory for me.

I've been in Mongolia since the pandemic started, at first it was odd- for many months zero cases thanks to a very strict border closure apart from Mongolians coming home- 3 weeks hotel quarantine then 2 weeks more at home. Then there was an issue at one of the hotels, and it broke out into the community. Schools have pretty much been closed for the whole pandemic, even when Mongolia had zero cases. The economy is in free fall and people are understandably quite angry now as a lot of aid given to Mongolia has just vanished. Schools are set to reopen on September 1st, but I wonder how long it will last. I fear these 2 years of school closures will haunt Mongolia for decades, most state schools don't have internet-rural Mongolia as essentially gone without education for 2 years and people are pissed.

Myself? I guess I have done okay, not gone crazy and online school gave a sense of routine, even if I do kinda hate it compared to in person teaching.I did my PGCEi in the first year and helped mentor a teacher on that Teach Now platform the second year, so I've been busy and purposefully distracting myself from the reality of it I guess. Less concerned about myself, and more concerned about the mental well-being of my family back home. The mental effect on my dad and brother seems to have been quite bad-mum just misses having a social life. Hopefully I will get to see them next year.

I'm a bit concerned about this winter and what it will mean for new cases. Debating moving on from Mongolia after this-work is cool but the years of lockdown make me want to think about moving somewhere that struck more of a balance.