CORONAVIRUS - thoughts from American in Italy

WHERE you are born and HOW you are brought up, may be a factor whether you live or die in this new situation. This thought came to mind when just now I was thinking about New Zealand, because one of my daughters is now there. We were there long ago, and to tell you the truth, after several weeks there I was sometimes missing the confusion and the imperfection of Italy! Everything is so well organized, and people are so polite and things work beautifully. In a place like that, I am almost sure that they will be able to get people to STAY AT HOME and not to socialize even if their don't force people to do so.
Here in Italy there is just too much "I don't care" as a common attitude. Just the fact that people cut into line, or throw paper out of the windows, or get rid of their dogs thinking others will pick them up and take them home, THESE ATTITUDES are now being shown here. And not only here in Italy. I do believe that where people are very free, and if those free people are also egotistic, then we and they have a HUGE PROBLEM THAT COULD COST THEM THEIR OWN LIFE AND THOSE OF OTHERS.
How does that work? For those who don't know, I will tell you (remember I AM NO EXPERT, JUST AN AMERICAN LIVING IN ITALY).
1. You go to a party
2. At the party someone has no symptoms but they have the virus
3. You speak with that person, you are close to them. You get these microscopic droplets into your system.
4. You go home and for the next two weeks you feel fine. You have NO SYMPTOMS. BUT....who knows how many people you have infected!! You would not even be able to keep count!
5. Let's say one of these people, like one of your parents get this virus from you. They end up in the hospital. Now, YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE YOURSELF, ALONE LIKE A DOG AND.....
GET IN TOUCH WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT YOU WERE WITH DURING THAT TIME.. At their homes, at the office, at the bank, in a bar, at a gym, at the market, at a party, at a concert, on the bus, on the metro, on the sidewalk waiting for a film, in the movies, at a coffee shop, at the post office, at your relative's house, at an old-age home, and the list goes on. YOU HAVE INFECTED ALL OF THESE PEOPLE!!! YES YOU!!

IF you are lucky enough to understand that you don't have to be born in a Comunist country where there are enforced laws and if you don't follow them you could be in deep trouble, then maybe you will be able to understand the above. YOUR ACTIONS, AND YOUR CHILDREN'S ACTIONS, COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!
And what about on the beach? We are seeing this NOW, TODAY, IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. IS THAT OK? READ UP ABOUT IT!!!!!|!! IT IS NOT OK!
You put on sunscreen and another person uses the bottle, touches their face and eyes and mouth, and they have the virus from someone who didn't know they were contagious. This bottle and germs is being passed around, or drinks are being shared, cellphones and selfies. Towels, icecream, and holding hands and kisses. All these things now, yes, have to stop. IT IS NOT THE TIME!!!! READ UP ABOUT IT! PEOPLE ARE D Y I N G.
AND THEY ARE NOT ALL OLD!!!
For some reason, probably also because they are so busy filling up hospitals and trying to save lives, are not telling us exactly the number of people who are young and dying. They are there.
We see plenty of posts about people online. Check it out, do your homework.
And shopping??? Once every two weeks for us is enough. We have a medium fridge, but those American fridges can hold enough for more than a month, or maybe two. If you don't have a lemon, or whatever, be without. It may cose you your life to go out! CHECK THE FACTS, AND CHECK THE SCIENTISTS.
Getting back to my beginning theme, about where one is born, I do think, some countries are more respectful of rules and regulations. Maybe lots of Americans are used to having police around, and lists of rules posted in gyms, schools, doctor offices. But, it has more to do with all sorts of things, and the big one is respect, RESPECT. Right now, RESPECT is going to save you, and me, and everyone. Hospitals are filling up so fast that they can't take everyone who needs them. They will fill up less if people do what the doctors are asking them to do, STAY AT HOME and this way less people will be contaged with the virus. IT IS SO SIMPLE, PLEASE, TRY TO UNDERSTAND!!

Coronavirus -- Some Viewpoints from American mother in Italy, daughter in China

It has been a while since I have written here. I feel it is my duty to do so now.
Being an American who has lived in Italy for 45 years, and having a daughter who has been in Beijing, China  for five years, definitely our latest experience of the Coronavirus has changed our phonecall conversations, and has definitely made it more useful for me to talk with my daughter more often.
She gives me excellent advice, and I listen.
I thought I would share some of it here with you now.

She tells me to be very careful in some situations that we do not especially hear about now in Italy. Let's say, these hints are more specific, and can be easy to do and useful.

One things my daughter suggested is to avoid elevators. She suggests using a mask whenever you are in places where people might be, and now, crowds should be totally avoided as we have been doing here in Italy for weeks. But, today she mentioned this. When one walks into a building, where you must go into someone's home (for example, going to visit your mother or relative who you are assisting), immediately before getting into the building, you should put a mask on. Once in the apartment of the building you can take it off.
The reason for this is that you don't know who was in that building a few minutes before you, perhaps someone sneezed or coughed. The virus is not totally known, and extremely contagious. So, this extra precaution is useful.

Another interesting concept is that fruit and veggies, when possible, should be cooked as a preference.
IF you eat them raw, she suggested to peel them with ONE knife, and then when you are eating, use ANOTHER knife, not the same one. In Italy we shop and chose our produce with a plastic glove supplied by the store. But, if you chose and pick, and people are doing the same, this sounds like a logical idea to me.

You don't want to just bite into an apple in these times. Best to peel fruit. Here in Italy I know that sometimes people have the habit of washing their fruit first, and then peeling. But apples and pears are always peeled.

My daughter also told me that at her last apartment they had a large sign with rules to work by, during these times. If a person worked alone, they were told what kind of rules to go by. If they worked with others, there were other things to respect. It is extremely organized in China, and people do go by the rules.

Speaking of rules, it is so necessary now to isolate, and not to socialize. You just do not know for sure who might have this virus, even without having symptoms. That is the tricky part.

It might be interesting to see what the radio station CRI (China Radio International) has to say and what they post, also regarding rules to follow during this time. This is the Italian link. Definitely all other languages exist also, just Google them. I remember seeing an excellent video made by the Chinese regarding hand washing, but I am sure they have many others.

A smart thing, I believe, is to take the experiences of who has or is going through this before you. Read the experts, I am not one, but being here in Italy I have had a few days more experience than friends in the States. And I listen to my daughter who had even more experience, being in China.

As time goes on, each day passes, our worlds are getting smaller and smaller, we are more limited each day with what we can do outside of our four walls. Actually, lots of good is coming from this, along with the inconveniences. Look for the good, it exists, even in this situation.

Good luck and stay safe!!

In China with my daughter

Here's the Chinese Radio link
http://italian.cri.cn/