You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone... Really

coping wtih the ups and downs of being an expat

Written by Andrea McKenna Brankin

How to Survive Quarantine

With the prospect of being in quarantine for two weeks after a trip outside of Singapore, staying in hotels has taken on a new meaning. As we know, it was hard enough staying in quarantine when the whole city was shut down. And many of us either have traveled or will have to travel to our home countries for family and other obligations. So, we’ve all got these “two weeks” in our heads. With that, here are some tips from Singapore-based travelers on how to get through quarantine.

One AWA member who quarantined at the end of 2020 had a routine that included cleaning her room, making her bed, exercising with bands, walking in place, listening to audio books, putting together puzzles and waiting on meals and the three-timesa-day check-ins. “I watched some TV, but not a lot.” She “FaceTime[d] with family and friends and tried not to think too much about being in a room alone for 14 days,” she said, adding that just thinking positive thoughts and not dwelling on the isolation helped manage the strain of being locked in without a key. (Many have asked for dish soap, so put that on your packing list.) And while many people say alcohol may be a key entertainment, several people I heard from said it was not a huge priority in the end. “We barely drank two bottles of wine!” said one. A hotel balcony is a coveted item for many quarantiners, with one respondent saying it was “a game changer!” She added that it also helps to make the room feel homey, such as having flowers, drawings and even fairy lights. (So, pack those or have them delivered to you!) If you were to ask the Listen Ladies, we’d support the hobby of journaling through your quarantine, as AWA Magazine Editor Tori Nelson did during lockdown. Listen Ladies held a webinar last year about how to try different types of journaling to help you process experiences and document the time. (Add that pen and notebook to your quarantine shopping list.) Netflix has long been a savior for those of us who have been through lockdowns, and quarantines

are not an exception. One friend who quarantined in Canada said she ate a lot but also watched a lot of Netflix. She did, however, say she monitored the amount of news she watched so as not to be focused on the pandemic. Food also seems to be a real treat for quarantiners, so pack a lot of your favorite snacks or have your local friends deliver some, as many AWA ladies have done for each other. Listen Ladies also is stepping up in the Spring by delivering care packages to quarantined AWA members. You can sign up on the Listen Ladies page on the AWASingapore.org website. Even when we’re alone in quarantine, we can help each other feel not alone…really.

Andrea runs the AWA Listen Ladies Group, providing confidential support for members at regular meetings. listenladies@awasingapore.org