Sheltering In Place in a Foreign Country

Welsh mother and daughter, Kate and Beckie, are sheltering in place in Maryland. Listening to them share their observations on living out the Covid-19 pandemic far from their own country but feeling right at home with their new Maryland neighbors, brightened my spirits and reminded me that we are all neighbors, even if divided by an ocean.

Sheltering in Place When You’re Not Home

There are 174,000 Americans living in the UK. And approximately 100,000 Americans are living in France. An estimated 9 million Americans live abroad globally. As someone who lived overseas for the better part of 20 years, I’m not surprised by this, American expats are everywhere, working overseas for reasons as diverse as we are as people. But, what would it be like to shelter in place during a global pandemic in a foreign country?

When a friend of mine told me about her lovely new neighbors, Beckie Chandler, who moved here from Wales in February to be with her husband and her mother Kate, who came over for what was going to be a 3 week visit in early March, I was eager to talk with them about their experience of sheltering place here.

Community and Home are Created Wherever You Open Your Heart.

Beckie and Kate have become an integral part of our community, hanging lights on their porch in our town-wide “lights of hope” project and making grocery runs for neighbors on their block. They’ve worked out how to live in close quarters as adult mother and daughter with spouses, and how to find joy from a bird on the windowsill and a chat over the fence. Beckie and Kate show us that we are all neighbors, wherever we live, and that if we remember that we are really all one human family it will help us get through this global pandemic. Covid-19 is challenging us all but the daily confinement also creates opportunity to grow our relationships with family and community.

A Conversation of Love and Laughter

I interviewed Beckie and Kate for the Save The World Every Day podcast series and I hope you enjoy listening to their positive perspective.

Week 5 and We’re Still Learning

On one hand Covid-19 is a leveler – If we’re among the fortunate, as Kate says, ‘We’re all sitting within four walls’, whether those walls are in a castle or an apartment, it matters less when you’re sitting in a room by yourself. On the other hand, this pandemic is bringing to light disparities and inequalities that make the pandemic much more dangerous for some, and has raised our awareness of the indispensable work of many people in our country who are unfortunately less appreciated during ‘normal’ times.

I heard a doctor in NYC speak on the news the other night; She had tested positive for COVID-19, gotten sick, recovered and was preparing to go back to work in an ICU unit. Her advice was to “Take one day at a time. Some days you’ll feel strong, some days you’ll be more tired than you can imagine. Just keep focused forward.” For me it’s remembering to feel grateful and reaching out to friends that helps the most. Technology makes it possible to reach out in more ways than I can count, so every day I try to send a text, a message or a call to someone I care about.

Stay healthy! And please share your inspirations and write in with your ideas, I would love to hear your tips on taking care of yourself and those around you as we shelter in place.

Wanda