Week One: Quarantine

We've finished our first LOONNGG week in Taiwan. It was long because we've been cooped up in our little 8th floor apartment without anything much to do. We literally cannot step outside the door, though we can go out on the small balcony and get some fresh air. I like looking out a window in one of the "bunk bed rooms" where I can watch the ongoing construction of a large building. So far, they have been excavating the basement using a large crane to lift a large bucket filled with dirt and rocks by a front end loaded, though I can't see the filling operation. Pigeons sometime roost on the air conditioning equipment outside the window. Pretty exciting, huh?

Our apartment is quite comfortable. The living/dining area is about 14' x 25' and has a nice big window. The tiny kitchen is just a 8' hallway with a fridge, sink, and cooktop along the side. There is very little room for dishes and food, so we'll keep a small larder. Which is fine, since we plan on eating out a lot. :-)  The mission supplied us with an initial food supply, and kindly added some additional items Debbie though we needed once we arrived. The other appliances include a crock pot, rice maker, microwave oven and a toaster oven. Our dreams of cooking big batches of cookies for the missionaries are not going to come true with that little oven! 

There are three very small bedrooms, too. One holds a bunkbed with little room for much else. The other holds two bunkbeds, with barely enough room to squeeze between them. These beds are intended for missionaries who are staying in Taichung overnight on their way home. We're looking forward to hosting them on their last night in the mission! The other bedroom has a full (not queen) bed, small dressing table, and a small bedside table. The built-in closets are about 3' each, with top and bottom racks and a shelf above. It has it's own bathroom, apart from the second bathroom for the bunk bed rooms.

There is very little storage space, so the first problem was where to store our luggage. We ended up throwing it on top of the wardrobes in the bunk bed rooms. There, it's out of the way.

Every day, we each get a text message and phone call from the local authorities inquiring about our health. Early on, an officer stopped by to present us each with a packet containing a digital thermometer, disposable face masks, and instruction on how to bag our trash (and to remind us, again, not to leave the apartment for any reason). The Covid-19 quarantine program in Taiwan is very strict and also very successful, as they have had very little in the way of Covid cases or deaths since the pandemic began earlier this year.

The big event this week, of course, was CHRISTMAS! Here we are, enjoying our Christmas eve "Mexican" dinner of taco salad (minus tomatoes, guacamole, and salsa). Pretty tasty, considering!

The day itself (and the next, since we're a day ahead of the US) were made most pleasant with many video chats, Marco Polo messages, etc. from the kids. It was so fun to see the grandkids happily opening their presents, playing with toys, and eating Christmas candy! This made Christmas wonderful for we "quarantiners" far from home. We also enjoyed opening our gifts! These included a packet of home-made Christmas cards from the Paul Wells children, which we promptly posted with magnets on either side of our metal front door. Also a MOST delightful photo calendar from Mia. That one, featuring family photos of those most dear to us will go up January 1st. Diane and Gram (Debbie's siser and mom) have also joined us in the virtual world, and it's been fun to see and chat with them. 



We spend our time reading, resting, and internet-ing. One day, we had a mission conference which we viewed via Zoom. It was about how to use Facebook to find and teach new friends (investigators) in our mission. We thought it was very good, and we may even be able to participate some, eventually.

I've had trouble sleeping much, only about 4-5 hours a night. I hope this will improve as I get used to the dramatic time zone change. Debbie enjoys the sound sleep of the guiltless.

Only one more week to go - we'll be free to leave the apartment on January 3rd!

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