We waited nervously for the phone call that hopefully would never come after our COVID PCR test. A phone call from the Ministry of Health and Welfare by the next morning would mean we tested positive, so it was a bit dicey for a day. Thankfully, Ms. Liu told us two days later that we were negative, and we celebrated with our final dinner in quarantine by ordering Din Tai Fung.
We were given a long list of instructions on how to safely exit the quarantine hotel on the morning of our release and dutifully donned our hygienic booties over our shoes even though we didn’t need to take this step when boarding the COVID bus two days prior and that was before they knew we were COVID negative. I know I should stop feeling outraged but I just can’t help myself.
It felt so good just to walk at a normal stride instead of pacing back and forth like a zoo animal. You really can never fully appreciate freedom until it’s taken from you.
We were sooo excited to check in to our Airbnb, a spacious, beautiful 3 bedroom/2 bath duplex with our very own washing machine!
We arrived at the building and the doorman told us that we needed to check our temperatures before heading upstairs. It turns out that all government offices, large public spaces, restaurants (if they ever re-open indoor dining), etc. require a temperature check before entering.
We headed upstairs, wrestled with the digital keypad for half an hour and opened the door to a hot, musty apartment that smelled like old cigarette butts. Cue tears and my first thought, I wonder when we can get the next flight back to New York.
As you can see from the state of the shower stall the apartment was disgusting. I spent the next 1 1/2 hours scrubbing, bleaching, disinfecting and contacted the property manager. He said he couldn’t help me and I would have to reach out to the landlord directly. The landlord gave no apology and offered to send a cleaning person over the next day. This is the part where I tossed my bananas and gave her what for. Long story short, she refunded the cleaning fee.
Jules and I decided to go for a walk around our new neighborhood and let some of the bleach fumes dissipate. We found a sweet little community garden right around the corner.
Freedom feels amazing.
