The date is 8th March 2020 as I write this and the world is going slightly crazy with the spread of the Corona Virus. There are 110, 000 known cases of people infected with it and just under 4000 deaths. This is all very alarming to some but for others it’s all hype and like the previous incarnations like SARS, H1N1, Bird Flue, Swine Flu and the myriad other, possible world ending pandemics; much a flu about nothing.
My feeling on all this is pretty relaxed. I haven’t felt the need to buy tonnes of bog roll as no-one gets diarrhoea from the virus, well, at least to my knowledge. And even if it did give you the poops, I live in a land where there are bum guns as far as the eye can see so it’s no real problem with hosing down and drip drying. However, what we have stocked up on is water; really essential as we do live in a desert her in Riyadh, pulses like chick peas, grains like rice and atta flour and other food that last ages and stores well like couscous, cans of vegetables, cheese and Bugles… they are amazing, especially the sour cream and chive flavour. I’m not fearing a Walking Dead/ Bird Box/ Mad Max scenario but living about 400 km from the nearest port, the supply might be disrupted due to people panic buying or just problems within the food chain.
Will there ever be a rainbow?
Hearing about the craziness going around the world is strange as here in Saudi we hear information but through a filtered lens. People might object and I understand why, but this time it’s quite nice not getting too hyped about the supposed upcoming apocalypse.
Schools have closed across the country but my school has been very pro-active and we have moved to an online learning platform. As the message from the government here came at 9:43pm the night before school started, we teachers have had to work crazy hard to get things done but got it done we have. When planning we have had to modify the learning outcomes so that everyone can access the learning at home with minimal resources or things found around the home. When we got to school on the first day of the closure we edited and altered the plans we had so the children would understand it and be able to complete the task with little teacher support. The children then uploaded their work to Seesaw, a digital portfolio, and we provided feedback, support and corrections to move the learning forward. It’s been a weird couple of days and very tiring as we have put these systems in place as well as keep our own daughters happy and entertained but it’s starting to come together. I’m not going to lie, sitting in front of a screen for 5 to 6 hours planning like crazy and responding to work is not ideal but in this scenario, it’s the best we can do by our students and parent community.
I don’t know what is going to happen, I mean who does? But I’m hoping people keep their heads and just clean their hands. Keep calm and carry on… just not on a cruise though, that’s like a petri-dish of germs and death wish waiting to happen.
LINK- The Further Adventures of Anjum of Arabia in Saudi
LINK- High Tea and High Times in the Riyadh Globe
LINK- Reflecting on Life in Saudi Arabia After 5 Months
LINK- Life in Saudi Arabia 3 Month On