Quarantine Day 8: Dancing in Empty Rooms

I keep looking up from what I'm doing, searching for Jacques for a split instant before remembering he's back in Durham with my parents. Each time we video chat, he comes into the room and I see his tail going tik-tok-tik-tok, before he starts to 'talk' - a whimpery-moany-singsong - and sometimes, he'll put his paws on the computer desk and start into the camera at me. At night, sometimes I reach over to pat him, or leave my hand hanging off the edge of the bed for him to sniff. 

Pulls at all my heart strings. I miss my buddy. 

Meanwhile, quarantining in a huge, two-floor, five-bedroom house gets old, fast. I creep outside now and then to soak in some sun, or sit in the screened-in upstairs patio to watch tuk-tuks and people go by. 

During the past week, I've followed a daily routine of wake up, a quick workout or stretch, shower, dress for work, WhatsApp the folks, eat breakfast while FaceTime-ing, then log on for work. 

I spend the day on two computers, learning as much as I can about my office and the employees, the issues big and small. Setting up all my accounts takes time, too. 

At noon, I take an hour for lunch and usually read a book or watch Netflix. At 5pm, I log off and either make or order dinner. 

Jet lag is rough this time around. On Thursday the worst seemed past; on Friday it was as though I'd only just arrived. A couple of folks have told me it took them two weeks. Half-way there!

Keeping my eye on this coming Thursday, when I'll get another nostril-swab for COVID, and hopefully get my negative results back quickly enough to move to my permanent apartment, though that may happen Friday instead. 

When I get really bored and antsy, I challenge myself to sing and dance my way through every room of the house. Not only does it get me moving, but the echoes sound pretty good sometimes. I try to go up and down the stairs several times a day, a curved, wide staircase that makes me feel like waving each time I reach the bottom. 

It's an anti-climactic beginning to a new adventure, darkened a little by the absence of my furry friend, lightened a little by daily chats with my family and various friends. Next weekend I'll be out and about, hopefully busy meeting new friends and exploring the neighborhood. 

For today, though, my weekend excitement is cooking, doing laundry, watching movies, and listening to the street sounds: the clang of the construction site across the way, the beep-beep-beep of tuk tuks, the shouts of guys hauling carts and selling their wares, car alarms, dog barks, and once, a really noisy cat yowl. 

Day 2 of Quarantine: Arrival Excitement

After a year of learning to read and speak Khmer, a month of hanging out in Durham, a few tearful goodbyes for Jacques, and a penguin hug (don't ask, it's a family thing!) with my parents... it was time to go! 

The trip took about 26 hours: easy quick flight from Durham to Detroit, then a long, tedious flight (13 hours!) to Seoul, South Korea. Quick layover, and then a last five hour flight to Phnom Penh. I was ready to NOT be sitting or on a plane any more after that!

There were a few of us on the plane that are foreign service officers, and we were met by some Embassy local staff who helped us through customs, local government COVID testing, and then into separate vans to take us each to different residences. The house I'm staying for my mandatory 14-day quarantine is huge, which is nice because it gives me something to explore while recovering from jet-lag. My social sponsors, friends I served with in Bamako, stocked my kitchen and got me set up with internet. 

This morning I woke promptly at 6am, and could not for the life of me get back to sleep. I stepped out onto the screened in balcony on the second floor - an area that could easily fit about a dozen queen beds, to give you an idea of size - and watched the construction workers across the street. They were waiting for the foreman to let them into the site and joking around with each other. One, a young man, seemed to be performing for the others, though I couldn't tell you exactly what he was doing. They were all laughing and shaking their heads. Once in awhile, a man pulling a cart full of coconuts would wander down the street, or a tuk tuk would zip past. 

For breakfast, I had passion fruit, toast, and an egg. For lunch, a salad. I'm pondering whether to cook for dinner, or order out - which is easy to do. Last night, I ordered from Pepe's, a French bistro, and had a lovely burrata salad and truffled risotto. 

The time difference between family and here is going to take getting used to - I keep have to remind myself not to text friends in the middle of my day, because it's the middle of their night. I did yoga this morning, and plan to do some kind of workout this afternoon. And maybe take a nap. 

Work starts tomorrow, even from quarantine: there's training to do, and meeting people via Zoom, and checkin in online with various offices. 

Between the boredom and the jet-lag, I find myself filled with excitement. I'm here! I peek out my windows to see as far down the street as I can, but see nothing beyond the construction and a coffee shop. After my quarantine, there'll be no time to explore the neighborhood, as I'll move into my apartment in a slightly different area. 

Can't wait!

Counting Down, Again

It's that time again... time to move to a new country. I've done this twice before with the State Department, and moved from one U.S. state to six times before that. And every time, I feel panicked in the months leading up to the move; confident in the week leading up to the move; and then calmly wondering what I've forgotten in the last few days leading up to the move. 

This time around has been no different, and I am now in the "last few days before the move" period. 

The pre-move bumps have happened and been, if not resolved, at least accepted. My best friend and companion, Jacques, won't be coming with me right away because I can't find an airline solution to getting him there. That's bump one. Bump two was when the shipping company that was going to send 250lbs of my 'stuff' by air, e-mailed me to say that my shipment had been "lost." I have started the claims process with them and with my insurance company as well; and have been shopping for some of the replaceable items in the meantime. 

Is there a third bump in the road? I hope not. I'm both excited - new job doing work I love; new country that is fascinating and beautiful; new people to meet and food to eat - and anxious - COVID; new responsibilities; being so very far from home. It's a healthy mix... right?!

My pre-travel COVID test is scheduled, my suitcases are ready to be packed, and I'm spending good quality time with my parents and Jacques. I visited both grandmothers and other family, and a few friends in the meantime. 

Now to wait and see what travel bumps and rewards await!