Due to covid-19, I’ve not visited home for over 2 years. All visitors to Taiwan need to quarantine at designated hotels for 2 weeks, straight from airport. I leaned upon arrival that you need a local cell number for contact. I had to buy a temporary #/ cell plan though there is phone at hotel and my int’l # works. Moreover, I had to buy a new phone because my cell phone doesn’t take SIM card. A welcome surprise!
For the following 2 week, I stayed in my room, 3 meals and stuffs were delivered to a chair by the door, and I put garbage out after dinner. No contact with anybody but call or text. I measured and recorded body temperature twice everyday and responded to government’s daily text as well as 2 calls about my health condition. One Sunday night, I received a call from police. What’s going on? I had my phone on 24/7 and followed the instruction…
Yet, there is bright side…I received support from my supervisor that I could work during quarantine and saved vacation days for later to be with family. Also, because my team are mostly in Europe and Asia, I’m able to work out the time difference (I adjusted to work in the afternoon and evening). Besides, I can look out from windows and wave to mom and dad (happy to see them yet sad that it’d take them over an hour for a round trip to hotel bringing me fruits for the week and seeing me for a few seconds through the window). Room is spacious that I can walk back ‘n forth after meal and exercise on the floor. I looked forward to daily surprise (what to eat), rotating between vegetarian and not (often fish, my preference over meat) and enjoyed the old fashioned ‘fantuan’ (rice ball), manto with egg, fried dumpling, etc.