Kia Ora to Aotearoa (Welcome to New Zealand)

 Aloha from the 13th floor in a hotel in the middle of Christchurch, New Zealand.

One thing is for certain traveling in Covid season is not for the faint of heart.  There are many hurtles to jump through and plenty of waiting in lines.  Lots of flight worldwide have been cancelled and traveling internationally is difficult.  The only way my whole cohort was able to get to New Zealand was to charter a flight from San Fransisco to Christchurch.  It was a new experience being on a long flight with no kids and everyone traveling for the same purpose and destination.  After 13 hours of flying we still had to wait on the tarmac because they were only taking people off the plane in groups of 15.  Then you entered into the New Zealand arrivals gauntlet.  

I respect New Zealand because they have done their due diligence to protect their country.  By implementing a strict shut down in March the country is now Covid-free.  Life is normal.  When we were traveling to our hotel kids were going to school, there were groups gathered in the parks and not a mask in sight. 

One of the factors that has helped keep Covid at bay is the government’s managed isolation process which yours truly is experiencing now.  Just to get off the plane and into a bus to the hotel you have to: replace your mask with one provided from the New Zealand government, get your temperature checked, go through customs, have your luggage checked for any invasive species and pass by the canine patrol.  

Once at our home away from home we waited outside in the parking lot because they only wanted us to enter the hotel in groups of 5.  We filled out a questionnaire about our experience with Covid-19, had our passports double checked, talked to a nurse about our health needs and got assigned our rooms.  I lucked out because I got a room with a balcony.  There is even a table and two chairs so I can go outside, enjoy my meals, read a book and watch the sunset. Truly a luxury when you have to spend 14 days in your hotel room. 

What does a day look like in managed isolation? Every day we get meals dropped outside our room 3 times a day.  We get phone calls daily from the nurses on site checking in to see how we are feeling.  During our two weeks here we will undergo two more Covid test.  Outside in the parking lot is an area where we can walk.  It is not really picturesque but at least it is outside in the sun.  The rest of the time can be used to read, watch TV, workout, take a class, talk to friends, sleep…the list goes on. This is my third time doing 14 day isolation in the past three months and each time has been in a different country.  I am trying to set a record this year for most time spent in quarantine without getting Covid :).  I am grateful that I am an introvert, love reading and have had projects set aside of each time in quarantine.  The key is to set up a schedule and stick to it.  

One of the highlights when getting to the hotel was receiving my ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) Gear.  Once I put on the parka that was embellished with my name I realized that this adventure was really happening.  I am actually going to Antartica.  

Lots of Joy, Gillian