On Friday morning, I received a call from the front desk. The guy working reception didn’t say what it was about, only that I needed to come downstairs to the lobby. I figured it was something about my stay here and someone, likely the police, wanted to do a check.
It wasn’t the police. It was the Health Department or CDC. At least I assume they were from an official department of some kind as they wore masks, walked in a group of five, and carried a pen and spreadsheet.
I sat down and they took my temperature — 35.9 degrees Celsius which I gathered was normal based on their non-reaction. They asked me a few questions including what my phone number was, which country I’m from, and my arrival date in both India and Rishikesh. The rest of the information they got from the copy of my passport they received from the hotel. The lady interviewing me provided a few tips to avoid the spread of the beer-named virus, nothing that hadn’t been drilled into my brain numbingly at this point.
And that was it.
All in all, it took two minutes. But it made me feel good that someone had come to check. Someone was conducting a census and going from place to place giving guidance. It makes the lockdown at the very least feel authentic and enforced, that the country is taking it seriously. What I didn’t know is if they had done the same test on the hotel staff or if it was just for foreigners.
The sun was shining bright in the world outside the lobby that day and, discovering that the grocery stores were still open at 11 am instead of closing at their previous times of a strict 10 am, I headed out into the waking world and bought some supplies, even overhearing that there is a vegetable market not far from my hotel. I couldn’t find it on my way back, but it gave me something to hunt for in the near future. And men, more so than women, like a good hunt. It gives us a target with a set objective that generates intrinsic energy of some kind. Probably some endorphins are also mixed around in the cocktail of our brains.
Gotta love the good-feel brain chemicals.
Fast forward to today after two full days of remaining in my hotel room. It marks the beginning of my second week in lockdown, so I’ve passed the 1/3 mark.
I went out early this morning after a sleepless night to find the town more alive than I’ve seen in a week. Perhaps it’s been like this regularly but I haven’t been out early enough to witness it.
I went to the organic market to get some food supplies and found out that the cafe upstairs is now open in the mornings for takeaway. They have a menu and actual food, not just sweets and whatnot.
Hot food that isn’t ramen with water boiled in my plastic white tea kettle….YAS, QUEEN!
Not only does it give me an upgrade from my poor college kid meal plan, but also an incentive to go out in the mornings and not just stay in my hotel room. Granted I still have to take any food away, but I’m not complaining at all.
I’ve also had some animal interaction today. As I stood in the line for the ATM, which went out of service as soon as it was my turn, a baby cow (sounds better than calf) nuzzled my leg with her slightly larger friend looking on, clearly trying to get food. Later a monkey was at my third floor window wanting food as well. I think I’ll take this as a sign for tomorrow when I go out.
With the way everything is going worldwide I’m thankful to be in India. There are only a couple other places I’d perhaps rather be (the US not being one of them) and depending on what happens at the April 15 mark, I will decide whether to finish the last leg of my India journey and head to Dharamshala or exit the country to someplace else. All of this is contingent on a number of variables but those are my two primary options based on the current state of things.
For now, I’ll take each day as it comes.
WRITING REFLECTIONS
I’m feeling grateful today more so than anything — well, maybe not boredom.
I think what I appreciate most about this lockdown is connecting with people. I’ve talked to more friends on the phone and over video messaging, including my first Zoom chat, than the last three months altogether.
There’s a commonality we collectively feel going through our different versions of the same experience. I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this or I would question its validity along with my sanity.
I am hopeful that whatever realizations and lessons any of us are taking from this experience will help enhance our lives going forward. I will certainly try to do my part in this.
One point that continues to shine in my eyes is the importance of good leadership in the face of adversity. This isn’t just in reflection of our global political leaders with varying degrees of leadership traits and ability, but also how corporations worldwide are choosing to act, as well as those individuals without title or notary who have taken it upon themselves to do something positive with their actions, to lead the way for others.
I am lucky to have some of these latter folk in my circle of friends.
It is inspiring and makes me question if I should be doing something to make things better during this time other than the occasional social media post or words of encouragement over text.
I’m not sure what, I’m not sure where, and I’m not sure who it would be, but I had a passing thought yesterday that the cows perhaps need to be fed. Normally they are given food by the shops or they eat the scraps and trash left outside. Certainly not the healthiest diet, but sustenance of any kind is better than a vacant belly.
I saw today that they are in fact being fed via large piles of grain poured on the ground. I also talked to a girl while standing in line at the ATM who mentioned she was volunteering to cook food today for people in need. Both of these examples were heartwarming to see and hear.
When I go out tomorrow to get a freshly-cooked meal from the newly-opened cafe, I will keep my eyes open. Maybe something will present itself. Maybe not.
Either way, it will be good to get out of my hotel room again and see what tomorrow will bring. Hopefully more sun, smiles and a bit of luck, but if I’m met with rain, frowns and misfortune, I’ll try to remain grateful for the experience of that as well.
I hope your day is filled with witty memes and plans for the future when we can all collectively go outside again, appreciative of the time we had to spend at home with loved ones and our passions.
Finally, before I go, today is my mom’s birthday. She passed when I was but 18, and I’m grateful that I have special days like this to remember her on because I don’t think of her as often as I wish. The step forward in life and the passage of time are no friend to memory.
So without further ado —
Happy birthday, Mom!