Semi-lockdown limits gatherings, slows pace of life

 Our semi-lockdown continues in Vietnam where we've had a very slight increase in the number of coronavirus cases. We're getting about 10 new cases a day and we have about 135 total. I say "about" because the situation is obviously fluid and changing by the minute. The government appears to be doing a good job dealing with outbreak here. I call this a semi-lockdown because restaurants are open but they can not have more than 30 patrons inside at the same time. I believe the same restrictions apply to coffee shops. People seem to adhere to these policies. You're supposed to wear a mask in public, but a lot of folks ignore this mandate. A lot of people don't wear helmets when riding their motorbikes, either. I wear the mask, but I don't like it because it's hot and steams up my glasses. My daughter Joanna wears it but complains a little. My wife Phuong has always worn one. Our family wears helmets as well. My wife and I were discussing how sad it is that the pace of life here is slower, calmer, and somewhat more pleasant because of the coronavirus. Actually, these were my observations and my wife was nice enough to listen. Anyway, the restrictions and shutdowns of massage parlors and little shops have created a seemingly more caring and careful approach to life. Even among strangers. Traffic is reduced and fewer people are driving recklessly and selfishly. There appears to be a sense of concern for others that wasn't as obvious before the virus. The human toll is tragic and overwhelming, especially in China, Europe, and now the U.S. Maybe we'll learn from the adversity we are facing as we move forward. Hopefully, we can move forward at the appropriate time, and we always appreciate what we have. These are remarkably challenging times, but people find a way to meet these challenges.

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I'm not a real political person. For example, I'm not interested in trolling for or against President Trump. But I have to say I was perplexed by Trump's tirade at reporter Peter Alexander. The two engaged in a back-and-forth over the merits of a malaria drug for the treatment of coronavirus. The exchange was a little testy, but I thought Trump did pretty well explaining his stance on the drug until Alexander asked the president what he would say to nervous and frightened Americans to reassure them in light of the number of infections and deaths. Trump snapped at Alexander and responded in a way that was terrible ... I thought it was a nasty response, very nasty, given that he was being relatively reasonable up to that point during the questioning.Whatever.

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I've gone four years without a cigarette (March 23) and nearly four months without a drink. I haven't cursed in four hours, but at least that slippage wasn't in front of my daughter, and raw language is a rarity in our house. I'm trying to play a solid end game.

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Maybe a lockdown, even a partial one, isn't such a trauma here because it's 97-98 degrees F every day with serious humidity. People go out early morning and early evening for a spell -- the same as in Peru -- for walks and such. Before coronavirus, motorbike traffic was relentless throughout the day. Now it's turned into a rush hour thing as folks hunker down during the heat of the day.

Coronavirus may have entered our neighborhood

I woke up to a new world on Tuesday. And the coronavirus seems to be threatening our neighborhood as well. Police came to a neighbor's house -- he lives five houses down from us in our cluster of row homes -- and told him he has to stay in his house for two weeks. The man recently returned from a business trip to Switzerland. His wife chose to stay in quarantine with him, but his kids were sent to a relative's house; the mom now regrets the decision because she won't see her children for two weeks. A similar situation occurred on the street behind us. A couple from Japan is now under quarantine due to recent travels. In yet another nearby incident, an ambulance came to a house about a half-mile from our house and took two people away, most likely for testing. Those folks live two houses down from a daycare center. If they test positive, I was told the street goes on lockdown. The number of cases in Vietnam has gone from 18 to 61 in a little more than a week, according to reports from the government.

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The government sent out online notices over the weekend requesting that everyone wear masks when they go outside starting Monday, March 16. Most businesses have come to a standstill here. Only a couple of coffee shops have customers, and there's countless coffee shops. The big mall in town is eerily quiet. Most of the people in Bien Hoa -- and Vietnam -- are good about following rules. They are now more focused on hygiene ... and it's about time. But there will always be those who flaunt their civil disobedience by not following new rules and regulations they deem intrusive or insufficient. And some people are too poor and/or ignorant to worry or care about healthcare, hygiene and a pandemic like coronavirus.

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My daughter, who is a little more than 3 1/2 years old (44 months), doesn't understand the gravity of the situation and gets upset when we don't take her to the local market as much as we used to. We go out for necessities, like coffee and groceries. Rarely are the trips only for fun and entertainment. The heat contributes a little to this since the temperature is the mid-90s. But the coronavirus is the overwhelming factor, deterrent and topic in town ... and everywhere else, for that matter.

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I sent in my overseas absentee ballot on Monday via Federal Express because I wanted my vote to count in Tuesday's Democratic primaries in Ohio. It was a bit of a scramble. Then I saw Tuesday morning (Vietnam time) that voting may be postponed in the Ohio primaries until June.

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Since I'm Joanna's primary caregiver most of the day, I've bought puzzles, downloaded "educational videos", alphabet pages and coloring pages, and increased the amount of reading we do every day. Joanna has begun speaking in a British accent because she watches a lot of Peppa Pig, which even I find entertaining. She has become rather tall lately, and the growth spurt may have contributed to her moodiness. Or maybe that's just her age, or the fact she's stuck inside so much with her dad and misses her mom time. Or maybe it's her personality. Regardless, I'm humbled and inspired by the leeway Phuong has given me as I take care of Joanna. Phuong is rather limited in her activities due to her difficult pregnancy and to make matters worse, she's had relentless back pain the past few weeks. Nonetheless, we plod along in disturbing and frightening  times.

Effects of coronavirus are being strongly felt here

I’ve been dealing with personal issues so I put my blog on hold. Because the issues are personal, I'll say no more. You could ask my therapist, but he won't say anything, either. I'm trying to be a better person as I begin the end game at age 65. No alcohol since Dec. 1, no more plastic bags (a difficult task here) and no more cursing (a difficult task anywhere). My daughter Joanna copies everything I say and do. I’ve been taking care of Joanna nearly around the clock -- except when I teach English -- because my wife Phuong is expecting our second child and she's having a very difficult pregnancy. I'm doing my best to step up. All that said, I’ll get back to writing my blog, which I’ve been told can be therapeutic. It's the process of writing that can be therapeutic, not my blog per se.
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The impact of cornonavirus is quite profound in Vietnam. There are only 17 reported cases here even though Vietnam is one of China’s southern neighbors. Schools have been closed more than three weeks to be cleaned and disinfected, and presumably to keep large groups from congregating. Three villages in northern Vietnam consisting of 10,000 people were under quarantine, meaning people must lay low for two weeks. At least two cases of the virus reportedly were diagnosed in Bien Hoa,  both relatively close to our house. But that's hearsay, meaning that's just what I hear people say. Masks are strongly encouraged and the streets, businesses and coffee shops are considerably quieter now than they were before Tet holiday and the coronavirus outbreak. Joanna did have a persistent fever a few weeks ago, one of the signs of coronavirus, but she seems fine now, insisting on Peppa Pig and dinosaur videos. She writes the dot-to-dot alphabet and politely listens to me read My First Little House Books to her so she can earn Peppa Pig and dinosaur video time. When we go out, I’m militant about people not touching Joanna. Strangers, who are trying to be nice, attempt to stroke Joanna’s face. Hygiene and personal space can be issues here. I have a hands-off policy. I usually just pull Joanna away from any contact with strangers; I had to “jokingly” use my walking stick as a barrier on three occasions. We’re especially concerned and careful because of Phuong’s pregnancy. When schools get back in full swing, we're planning on enrolling Joanna in preschool. 
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Air travel has changed in terms of cost and availability because of the coronavirus — of course, we know it hasn’t been convenient for a long time. I don’t want to jinx my air travel in any way, but my ANA flights to the U.S. and back have been splendid. No waiting, nice seats with adequate room, nice enough seat mates (no guarantees there), and an adequate movie selection. I absolutely enjoyed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood even though I’m sometimes lukewarm on Quentin Tarantino. I was totally absorbed in The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, a documentary chronicling the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos, which made a bogus health screening device that was supposed to require only one drop of blood. Flight attendants are friendly enough and the flights are smooth. I’m considering a trip to the U.S. real soon … again, for personal reasons. I’ll be happy to have my temperature taken, but I don’t want to be quarantined in Dubai or Tokyo for 14 days, which is the supposed incubation period for coronavirus. I will say the cost of a round-trip ticket is quite reasonable, which is understandable given the world’s circumstances.
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Since getting books shipped to Vietnam is prohibitively expensive, I’ve downloaded Kindle on my iPhone. It’s not like holding a book, but I’ve downloaded a bunch of Jack Vance books to my iPhone, and I enjoy them almost as much as I enjoy paper versions; buying and shipping two Jack Vance books to Vietnam would possibly cost me $50. I’ve downloaded 10 books or so for a cost of about $50. I don’t even want to think how much it would cost to have 10 Jack Vance books shipped to Vietnam.
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A very belated thanks to my wonderful hosts and hostesses during my last visit in the U.S.: Robyn, who always provides perfect gifts for my daughter Joanna; Ron, a great friend who happens to be a great salmon and turkey chef as well; Andy and Jane with their warm welcome, wonderful house and even more wonderful generosity and kindness; John, who treated me to an awesome concert/show by Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band with guests J.D. Wilkes and Dom Flemons, and a very comfortable futon; and my brother and his wife, who opened their house to me. My brother was a great listener, and helped me find gifts for my wife and books for my daughter. Thanks to all. I’ll forever be indebted.
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Phuong and I took Joanna to a public pool and a boy about 7 or 8 years old -- much older than 3-year-old Joanna -- tried to kick her. Not sure why. Then he sort of grabbed her, and Joanna gave the kid a left hand to the face in retaliation. After all, she’s a lefty and has displayed a fierce temper of late. Then, she bounced away as the boy tried to splash her. This occurred at Buu Long Tourist Park, where we had a wonderful time even though Joanna had to “stick and move.”
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I do yoga stretches now since my back rejects tai chi. I’ve abandoned acupuncture after coronavirus  — hygiene is a big concern for me and my family, and there was a very communal atmosphere where I was getting treatments. I don’t want to put anyone at risk.