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- Mar 5, 2020, 11:44am
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 1,224 ft
- United StatesCaliforniaLos Angeles CountyAltadena34°11’18” N 118°8’40” W
This is not Morocco
March 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
The threat of the corona virus, COVID-19, caused Morocco to close its borders to all incoming flights today—including mine—so I was forced to do what is probably the smartest choice of all at this time: stay put. So, where am I? I left Chiang Mai on March 5, changed planes in Taipei, Taiwan, and landed at Los Angeles International Airport on the afternoon of the same day. From there, I went to my sister’s house in Altadena, California, and that’s where “put” is.
I spent a week with Michelle and Jim, which was tense with increasingly foreboding news about the spread of the virus and the closing down of borders and public life in country after country. It was also a delightful week—with a last splash of public activity: a marmalade-and-bread-making party with Michelle’s writing students from UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), a reading at UCLA of young writers and poets, trips to markets and coffee shops, and visits from friends.
At 3 AM on the morning of March 15th, Morocco shut down its borders, and there went my plans for the next three months. I had been thinking that waiting out the pandemic in Morocco might be interesting, but reality finally gave me the scare I needed to be sensible. So, flights and lodging were cancelled, and I am very lucky to be safe, in a beautiful place, and with my family. The governor of California told all of us who are over 65 to stay at home and cook. (Hmmm...) So now we’re hunkered down together—dog and cat included. I am extremely grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for their kindness.
As luck would have it, a few weeks ago I decided to join the Fluent in Three Months Challenge as a polyglot challenger. From March 16th on, I shall be trying to improve my Thai, French, and Italian—with servings of Spanish and Japanese on the side. Moroccan Arabic will unfortunately have to wait.
I hope all of you are keeping safe. Do stay in touch. If you leave a comment here on this blog, please leave your first name. Love to you all, DoréeRead more
I'm glad you posted this! I've been wondering about you lately, and I'm glad you're safe. —Lorraine
So glad you landed in a place with family- Lynne
Glad to know yo are safe with family. We are very worried, as we come into the extremely high risk categories on all counts. Not only that, but work for free lance musicians will be extremely bleak for Ian, as things close. On a beautiful sunny day it seems almost impossible that things have come to such a pass. I'm in London at the moment getting ready to go for a check up at Guys. Let's hope that there aren't too many of those and I can retreat to Suffolk. Love to you and your family. Keep safe! Rosemary