We are in our 4th week here in Albania and a new reality has slowly settled in. I swing between frustration and calm, as I navigate a new “normal”. Where usually our routines are dictated by school bells, work meetings and social activities, suddenly our agendas look different and we combine flexibility with schedules to structure our days.
Talking to friends, it’s been interesting to hear how different everyone is organizing their lock down days. Some get up at their normal hour, some like to sleep in late. Some dress to relax whereas others like to impress. Some gather together, as a family, at structured times of the day to eat together, whereas others spread out and keep to themselves as much as possible.
There are a few things I want to share that are making this season manageable for me, and I hope they can help you also.
Here in Albania we have some very strict curfews: shopping is not allowed without receiving permission and with permission, you can go shopping only between 6 am and 1 pm. Also, during the weekend everything is locked down from Saturday 1 pm to 5 am on Monday without any permission to go outside.
With that strict curfews, the vital importance to plan accordingly for our meals for the week or even more. My husband and I, decide in advance what to buy ahead and he does all the shopping for food.
Usually our mornings don’t have a firm structure and everyone decides to do whatever is the necessity for that day. If it’s a “school” day then kids and me, we’re getting ready by dressing something comfortable and fixing our rooms for classes in online learning.
After our on-line meeting with classes, normally we start to clean up the house by dividing chores: David can do vacuum the floors, Vicky helps me with cleaning all of the toilets in the house. Of course, these cleaning tasks are additional to other chores, like setting the table, helping to prepare meals, tidying up, etc.
Then usually, is time for lunch but luckily my husband has taken over the lead in the kitchen. He loves to cook and preparing meals is his passion and I have to admit- he’s good at it. We are so lucky to get some delicious food for lunch and dinner. We help out with the preparation and cleaning of course, but he is the CHEF! Vicky is always in the kitchen observing Giorgio, as cooking is her passion as well. We are joking that after this Coronavirus epidemic, he will be ready to open his restaurant!
After lunch, we do something creative, or we work in our garden or go for a walk. We also bake a lot of cakes and cookies! It’s also time for homework, and then some movies and screen time are allowed.
The the extra time we gained from having no outside activities has translated into some wonderful productivity around the home. These activities are making this quarantine season happy for our family is the opportunity to learn or practice skills.
We’ve started planting a spring garden, tried MANY new recipes, written diaries, cleaned out our travel trailer, and pulled out our knitting (yes!). We have started doing some serious art and crafts and I discovered how children are into it!
We also do yoga and fitness training with kids in the afternoons.
And finally, we bought bikes for all 4 of us, so we go for bike rides around the countryside where nobody lives. I’ve noticed that to get outside with my children every day, has meant all the difference in our attitudes.
It’s hard to focus on the fear carried through the daily news when we are observing the trees in bloom, and the birds singing, and the lake water lapping at the shore.
When we are outside it seems that all is right with the world and we pray that it will be so, and soon it will be all over.
What about you? Do you follow a strict schedule, or do you just take it as it comes? Also, please share your tips and tricks!
xxx – Joanna
