Right now there is chaos in the world. Not just your normal chaos but the COVID-19 kind.
America is a mess! It is a disaster even.
But here at Yokota, our own little haven in Japan, life isn't half bad. In fact, it's pretty great.
When Japan's COVID infected numbers went up the base would close. Allowing people only to leave for food and necessities. Allowing only the workers and American military who live off base to come on base.
This helped prevent the virus from making it's way into our little community. More precautions were set up "stay 6 feet away from people when it public, don't gather in groups larger than 20 people, wear your mask in all public buildings and when near strangers, make notes of the people you do come in social contact with so that if you get the virus you know who to warn."
The Youth Center and the Teen Center closed in the Spring and still have not opened back up. The swim centers however have remained open this whole time...as well as the movie theater.
School closed early in the Spring and we had to do virtual at home learning that the teachers were not prepared for.
But last month schools opened back up! Some families chose this school year to do at home virtual learning instead of on campus. Thankfully we had the choice and my kids are back at the schools.
The kids are so happy about this as well as Ster and I!
So far it's going great. The kids have to wear their masks all day at school and they have gotten use to it now. At recess they wear their masks and play on the playground together. If they get tired of their masks they can sit down, off the playground, away from other children and remove their masks. All children are required to bring water bottles and have to take them to recess because the drinking fountains are not allowed to be drank from.
Children line up when going from one class or place to another but they are trying to stay six feet apart as they go. This is tricky and they are not very good at it.
The first week of school, I heard, a couple children did pass out on the playground because it was so hot and they didn't rest enough or drink enough water. But they soon got the new ways and are doing well. I have enlisted volunteers to attend recess and help watch the kids...to make sure they rest , drink water, keep their masks on and stay safe. We now have spray bottles we mist the children with when they want us to. That's fun and helps keep them safe.
I am not only a parent of school children but the PTO President at Mendel and I am on the COVID Communication Team. I met virtually with teachers, the principle, other parents and medical professionals to discuss how we can best keep the kids safe and prevent the spread of the virus at the school.
I know it's only a matter of time before a child bring the virus onto the base. And when we know it's there we will have to probably shut down the school for two weeks and have everyone self isolate to make sure they don't have the symptoms.
We are still restricted from going far from base but we were able to take the kids to the beach just before the school year began. And we are not restricted from going to Tama Hills if we ever want to book a cabin and plan for that.
The kids can play together in our neighborhood. And Ster and I set up an obstacle course playset inbetween our trees. It gives our kids and their friends something fun to do in our yard. It's awesome!
People who fly in to Yokota (moving here or coming from a trip) have to self isolate for two weeks. So Ster brings people meals and snacks...people from his squadron he is to help take care of.
A family I know was on their way to a daytrip in Japan when they got a call saying someone they had contact with might have the virus. That meant the day trip was cancelled and they had to go home right away to self isolate until that person was cleared of the virus suspicion. Most of the time it turns out they don't have the virus. But this is normal life now. You can get a call at any time of the day to say you have to self isolate for one reason or another. It hasn't happened to us yet.
Things are pretty amazing here. I feel bad for the rest of the Boren and Roundy families. I pray they are always safe and that life can be joyous and fun even during this time.
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