Stuck in Quarantine (in the “safest” country on earth)

“Here under leave of Brutus, for Brutus is an honourable man, and so they all are, honourable men”- Shakespeare

A little background. Before my trip abroad I knew everything that would happen if I attempted to leave Taiwan, and I had no intention at all. The fact that no one without a residency card is allowed to enter Taiwan; for fear of bringing this “deadly virus” into Taiwan; as well as the fact that upon entry, everyone has to do a mandatory 14 days of quarantine (something I suspect is an attempt to cash in on their current lack of tourism, but hey, that’s just speculation).

I had grown comfortable in my routine of being a teacher and following my pattern of just spending time with my hobbies and close friends. I had no intention of leaving, I reiterate; but life tends to laugh at all of our best made plans.

At the start of Chinese New Year; the 9 day break I had been looking forward to after our non-stop working schedule, I received the news that my mother had fallen very ill and could depart this world soon, and that I had to go to Holland as fast as possible. At first I was hesitant, knowing that it not only had a lot of cases, but of the long process that would follow the visit; but they convinced me to come and assured me that they would help me pay my expenses. So with that, I had to first book a plane ticket before I could go to hospital to pay 200USD to get a PCR test, after which I had to book a quarantine hotel for 14 nights to ensure that I could return to my livelihood (and while booking I discovered that there were two prices: a Taiwanese citizen’s price, and a foreign’s price, which was quite an amount more expensive, but I’m sure they have their reasons right? [other than the old, “well foreigners earn much more than Taiwanese citizens”]).

Of course booking the hotel during Chinese New Year proved to be difficult; most places had been booked out, and only the expensive ones had remained. I finally found a place, and charged it on my credit card. Shortly after, a message on my phone said that my booking had been canceled (no explanation, or complication during the process though), and due to it being Chinese New Year, the credit could not be returned to my card, and now I had exhausted my credit. I was forced to message my uncle in Holland and explain the situation, and he was willing to help me out. This is already off to a great start, I told my girlfriend, who was trying her best to help me stay positive throughout all of my anger and frustration. At last, at 2am, after booking the HSR tickets and printing all of the documents I had to show to the airport, I could rest, in order to wake up at 6 20, to catch the HSR, so that I could fly at 9am.

I was worried during the flight. Worried that my mother would pass away while I was still airborne; trying to bargain with the universe and cash in whatever karma chips I had left to at least give her some more time. I arrived in Holland and soon heard some interesting news. Although prior to my trip, I had read that Holland had as much as 70 000 new cases of COVID 19 a week, (my girlfriend had packed me a bag of more than 50 masks, just for the 6 day trip), my uncle told me that just this week, Holland had eased most of their restrictions! People were not wearing masks outside, only upon entering buildings and in airports and hospitals, and that bars were opening up. I refused to not wear a mask while outside, terrified of what might happen if I contracted COVID and had to complicate my journey back. But the more I walked outside, walking his kids to his school, seeing people walk outside with their children and dogs, all maskless, waving and smiling, I noticed how much I had missed this feeling and not even realized it. 

During our stay in Holland, my uncle showed me around; due to COVID, only 2 family members could visit at 4pm for 1 hour during a day, and I made sure to see my mother and use whatever method I could think of to aid her recovery and bring her positivity in any way I could.

little background. Before my trip abroad I knew everything that would happen if I attempted to leave Taiwan, and I had no intention at all. The fact that no one without a residency card is allowed to enter Taiwan; for fear of bringing this “deadly virus” into Taiwan; as well as the fact that upon entry, everyone has to do a mandatory 14 days of quarantine (something I suspect is an attempt to cash in on their current lack of tourism, but hey, that’s just speculation).

I had grown comfortable in my routine of being a teacher and following my pattern of just spending time with my hobbies and close friends. I had no intention of leaving, I reiterate; but life tends to laugh at all of our best made plans.

At the start of Chinese New Year; the 9 day break I had been looking forward to after our non-stop working schedule, I received the news that my mother had fallen very ill and could depart this world soon, and that I had to go to Holland as fast as possible. At first I was hesitant, knowing that it not only had a lot of cases, but of the long process that would follow the visit; but they convinced me to come and assured me that they would help me pay my expenses. So with that, I had to first book a plane ticket before I could go to hospital to pay 200USD to get a PCR test, after which I had to book a quarantine hotel for 14 nights to ensure that I could return to my livelihood (and while booking I discovered that there were two prices: a Taiwanese citizen’s price, and a foreign’s price, which was quite an amount more expensive, but I’m sure they have their reasons right? [other than the old, “well foreigners earn much more than Taiwanese citizens”]).

Of course booking the hotel during Chinese New Year proved to be difficult; most places had been booked out, and only the expensive ones had remained. I finally found a place, and charged it on my credit card. Shortly after, a message on my phone said that my booking had been canceled (no explanation, or complication during the process though), and due to it being Chinese New Year, the credit could not be returned to my card, and now I had exhausted my credit. I was forced to message my uncle in Holland and explain the situation, and he was willing to help me out. This is already off to a great start, I told my girlfriend, who was trying her best to help me stay positive throughout all of my anger and frustration. At last, at 2am, after booking the HSR tickets and printing all of the documents I had to show to the airport, I could rest, in order to wake up at 6 20, to catch the HSR, so that I could fly at 9am.

I was worried during the flight. Worried that my mother would pass away while I was still airborne; trying to bargain with the universe and cash in whatever karma chips I had left to at least give her some more time. I arrived in Holland and soon heard some interesting news. Although prior to my trip, I had read that Holland had as much as 70 000 new cases of COVID 19 a week, (my girlfriend had packed me a bag of more than 50 masks, just for the 6 day trip), my uncle told me that just this week, Holland had eased most of their restrictions! People were not wearing masks outside, only upon entering buildings and in airports and hospitals, and that bars were opening up. I refused to not wear a mask while outside, terrified of what might happen if I contracted COVID and had to complicate my journey back. But the more I walked outside, walking his kids to his school, seeing people walk outside with their children and dogs, all mask-less, waving and smiling, I noticed how much I had missed this feeling and not even realized it. 

During our stay in Holland, my uncle showed me around; due to COVID, only 2 family members could visit at 4pm for 1 hour during a day, and I made sure to see my mother and use whatever method I could think of to aid her recovery and bring her positivity in any way I could.

In the meantime though, he told me to explore Leiden; and what a beautiful, small city it is. How interesting it was to experience my people, the Dutch people, after so long of being in a tiny, isolated (geographically and politically) island, where people don’t really know much about the rest of the world, or other countries’ customs, philosophies or academic writings or history. It was refreshing to see a group of people who had their own opinions and who were not so concerned with group-think, or putting the needs of the society ahead of their own, even if it would impede logic, due to the argument of it being more “safe”.

And believe me, Taiwan is the “safest” country in the world. After living here for 6 years I can tell you stories. If a child falls down, 3 parents will rush to tend to its needs and do what they can to treat their fragile baby. Are you feeling sick or have a cold? Then you should go to the hospital right away! Why not? It’s very cheap in Taiwan, don’t you know? They are so safe, even though there have been less than 100 cases in Taiwan, for 2 years now, that we still have level 2 restrictions, where we are required to wear a mask while exercising in a gym and playing sports outside, and that kindergarten aged children have to go to school and have naps while wearing their masks (nevermind the fact that children didn’t need to wear masks in any of the airports I visited). My co-worker says that she suspects they are this strict, so that when COVID is over, the UN would be so proud of Taiwan’s wonderful numbers, that they could upgrade them to be a fully recognized country again (nevermind China’s influence or say).

What confuses me though is, the amount of of “care and safety” they put into stopping the spread of covid, when they have had only “851 confirmed deaths as a result of COVID 19” (https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En) ; yet will not do much to curb the number one cause of death and injury in Taiwan, which is their atrocious driving. “According to statistics, over 3,000 people die and over 500,000 are injured in traffic accidents in Taiwan every year,” and that in 2021 alone: “ a total of 1,709 people died from January to July in traffic accidents in Taiwan, which is four times the COVID death toll for the same period.” (https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4373771)  Not to mention the fact that combating air pollution is a big fight here in Taiwan, in which the power companies always seem to have the upper-hand. (https://international.thenewslens.com/article/90010) 

So to fast forward…my mother made a fast recovery, and I reconnected with my family; I spent a lot of time walking outside, sometimes with mask (in crowded places) and without one in uncrowded places. I went to restaurants and a bar with my family, and everytime I mentioned my impending quarantine; they would all shake their heads and say, “man that’s crazy! Even if you don’t have COVID?” “Yeah I know right.” I would reply. So before I could fly back, I had to get a negative PCR test 48 hours before my flight, which I did, and even had a meal with my brother in the airport before we both flew back to our respective homes the same day.

Now here comes the twist. First in Singapore, due to COVID restrictions, all passengers traveling from European countries had to be isolated, and transported to the end of the airport via a shuttle, and held there until 20 minutes before their gate could open. After waiting, they said I could go, and informed me that I would have to walk all the way to the other side of the airport, which would take me 20 minutes, and that the shuttle wasn’t available. (hahahaha) So I huffed and I puffed and walked all the way to the other side where I came from. (don’t worry, I got there on time, all sweaty and out of breathe; finally ready to get back to Taiwan and complete my 14 days in isolation).

Then, as soon as I arrived in Taipei airport, all of the passengers had to be tested, and lo and behold! I was the only one who had tested positive for COVID-19! “How was it possible?” I thought to myself, but now I had other things to worry about…

First they all approached me in full hazmat suits, and had me wait outside the airport to get my luggage, which they wrapped in plastic, to do my airport passport checks. Then I had to wait there for an ambulance to transport me to a government COVID hotel, seeing as I wasn’t really showing a lot of symptoms. I was put in an ambulance wrapped in plastic, transported to the basement of a hotel, where more people in hazmat suits and face screens, took my temperature and blood pressure, gave me a file to do my own measuring while in the hotel. Led me upstairs, gave me chat groups to talk to and the rules and left me here.

It’s been 4 days now. I get served 3 meals a day, and thankfully I was easily able to refund my previously booked hotel and get my uncle his credit back, and left to my own devices to recover.

It has now been four days. The positives…the food is all right, they listened to my dietary specifications, and have been diligent in giving me what was required. Blood tests, PCR tests, water whenever I need, toilet paper, toothbrush, WIFI. 

Things to improve upon: A washing machine, or allow me to wash my clothes. Fresh towels without me having to pay extra for it. The fact that I can only get packages (including UberEats) delivered to me three times a day, and all of the packages have to be inspected for illegal things such as: knives, scissors, lighters, raw food) and disinfected before being brought to me. More fruit would be a good thing, because hey, vitamins. Also for a country that likes to boast about how they aim to be Bilingual with English by 2030; I feel like the government’s communication can improve a lot, (especially if you’re charging the foreigners extra…or is that not polite to say?).

But I understand the situation, we don’t want this “deadly virus” (851 deaths so far) to spread. After all I’m not stupid, I can hear the sirens going mental outside my window as soon as the temperature drops. The citizens are not that strong or capable of handling a disease of this nature; and I am of course thankful that I can decrease my sentence from 14 days to hopefully 10 days and not pay for it (the lesson here is: it is better to get COVID on the airplane than not to). All I am saying is that there are things that we really need to analyze here as a society, especially one trying so bloody hard to be accepted by the UN as a modern and functioning country. Having just come from Holland, I think there are many things that Taiwan can learn from Europe; freedom being one of them, especially since Taiwan is also trying very hard to separate themselves from being associated with China!

I am saying, good job at stopping the spread at COVID; you have all done a wonderful job of following the rules, and getting the majority of citizens to follow them in fear of getting fined (I for example would be fined 35 000 USD for walking outside of my hotel). But think about the long term effects of a society that grows so used to not seeing each other’s faces; especially children during their formative years of development. (https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/1209/1265803-school-children-masks-psychological-impact-emotional-recognition/#:~:text=Unsurprisingly%2C%20children%20are%20better%20able,solely%20based%20on%20facial%20expression.) 

It is here where I am reminded not only of Brutus being an honourable man, killing Caesar for the good of the people, but also of Animal Farm, and a certain honey loving bear that shall remain unnamed, who all profess that they “ would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?” Perhaps as the rest of the world has noticed that COVID is something that can, and perhaps should be just lived with, and that perhaps it is time to move on and start opening up, especially considering that Taiwan is now 73.8% double vaxxed. (https://covidvax.live/location/twn) (think of the tourism guys!)

Because at what point do we cross over from being overly “safe” into being overly absurd? But who am I? I am just a statistic, doing time in a government funded COVID hotel, waiting for my time so I can go back to being a cog in the machine of society; but at least I still have an opinion, which isn’t illegal just yet. Here’s hoping that after (at some point) we go back down to level 0, and remove these masks, that we can impose these same strict measures into combating the real number one cause of death and injury in Taiwan, namely, terrible terrible driving.

Happy year of the Tiger and all that.