14-day Self-isolation in Korea
I returned to Korea in mid February do my retreat and visit my family. At that time, there were no cases of COVID-19 in Korea, but people began to fear the spread of the virus, so when I arrived at Incheon Airport, I had to go through a number of procedures before I was allowed to leave, such as taking temperature, submitting my address and telephone number, keeping a health record etc.
Because there were many nuns in the convent and because my mother is old and weak, even though I was not a COVID-19 carrier, to play safe, I decided to isolate myself for 14 days. Fortunately, my family had a vacant cottage in the countryside, where my mother used to live, so I went there to do my self-isolation.
I have two sisters who are older than me. My eldest
sister was worried about my being all alone in the
countryside and decided to accompany me. She was
very thoughtful and had packed boxes of food such as
rice, kimchi, fruit, snacks before driving down to our
cottage.
In the cottage, I took my temperature every morning and
recorded it on the online form, and together with various
information such as whether I had a cough, sent it to government agencies.
COVID-19 broke out in South Korea at the end of February. It is really sad to hear that the number of infections rising every day and there was nothing we could do. Every day, the government reported how many died, how many infected and how many cured. Many Koreans volunteered to help in the hospital, and some expressed their respect and care for the medical staff by preparing lunch boxes for them.
Apart from participating in online Masses, praying, reading and doing exercises, I did a lot of housework. Because no one had lived in the cottage for a long time, there was a lot of cleaning to do.
From Seoul to Hong Kong
After fourteen days of self-isolation, I returned to the convent in Seoul. The convent felt very different. It was like an abbey. The sisters did not get together and seldom talked because of we had to practise social distancing. It seemed that every one was doing a retreat. We all put on a mask. Our Mother Superior had made 200 masks for us. I was going to participate in an eight-day retreat elsewhere, but it was cancelled, so I did it in the convent instead.
I was to return to Hong Kong on March 23, but the travel agent informed me that the plane was cancelled and there might not be any plane flying to Hong Kong in April. What should I do in the meantime? I decided to go home and visit my mother.
I wanted to go back to Hong Kong very much especially when I heard that the situation in Hong Kong was getting worse. When I knew that there was a flight flying to Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 31st, I immediately bought a ticket. There were only about 20 passengers on the plane that day, and there were many vacant seats in the cabin.
Fourteen days in the countryside seemed long, but with the spring flowers everywhere, I felt relaxed and at peace. These photos were taken near our cottage and I would like to share them with you. Wish you all a happy Easter and take heart in these difficult times.
Have you thought about entering the convent?
“I am the way and the truth and the life” John 14:6
「我是道路、真理、生命」若14:6
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