Penny’s Bay diary: evergreen survival tips, questions from readers and some of the serious issues around being cooped up in quarantine
- Be ready to distract yourself with books, movies and – if possible – work, but don’t hesitate to ask for counselling help if it all gets to be too much
- Our managing editor, meanwhile, tackles reader questions for the first time. And no, you cannot smoke by the window
Now into a fifth day in the close confines of Hong Kong’s government quarantine centre, and – cheeky columns about snacks and heart-covered bedsheets aside – there is a bitter reality we all face.
The impact of confinement can be significant in that uncertain space between your ears.
Some can no doubt shrug it off, but for others, getting through it requires some resolve, some routine and some distractions. In this instalment, and I’m no expert, I’ll share what I know or have done some research on.
First, on a serious note, if you are feeling distressed or depressed, contact the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre and the management can arrange counselling. The toll on mental health has been amplified by a pandemic that has lasted nearly two years, periodically locking us down, separating us from friends, families, colleagues and support networks. And all this time, a tiny pathogen has been stalking and trying to kill us.
In your own room, ensure you have distractions. I brought books. They “allow you to borrow a person’s brain,” as an American novelist is credited with saying. I’ve been borrowing John Le Carre’s brain in The Honourable Schoolboy and vicariously negotiating the crowded streets of Hong Kong, drinking in the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, and riding a treacherous sampan off Po Toi island while avoiding the Khmer Rouge and the end of the Vietnam war. Here’s hoping I don’t feel too much like Westerby when it’s over.
Music and movies break up the boredom, and the mobile phone network and hotspot helps keep one mercifully connected to streaming services. A portable speaker allows the opportunity to annoy the neighbours, but bring headphones or earbuds to spare others, especially in the wee jet-lagged hours.
Work is of major assistance in surviving quarantine and – if your employer will allow – spend as much time in the office remotely as possible. There are 15 days or more of potential work in any 21-day quarantine stretch and it does help run out the clock. My hotspot has miraculously started working on my office laptop, so I’m back in business.
Keep connected with your friends – call or message them when you can, but keep in mind weekends can be tougher and longer as everyone is out and about and forgets you are in the pen. Message and binge-watch Succession or Call My Agent! in the quiet times.
Note: I am a solo traveller and empty nester – I can’t speak to what it’s like to be penned up with extended family or children. The option is available for couples to choose separate rooms, which, given the small room size, might be worth considering, unless of course, you both can agree you are fantastically happy together in a small confined space that you cannot leave for a week.
Learn to count down and reframe the problem. In a previous quarantine, I kept repeating “21 days quarantine” over and over to myself. It felt like a long time and wasn’t getting shorter. Then I recalled growing up around the military in Germany and how every soldier knew how “short” they were, or exactly how long it was until their tour of duty ended and they would be headed back to the United States – eg “134 days and a wake-up!”.
After five days, I’ve only got 16 days and a wake-up.
And now for some questions from readers:
Vinod M. – Interesting article. How’s the bathroom?
It’s compact, about 4 by 4 feet including a sink, toilet, a clothesline and a water heater with a mind of its own. It is serviceable, though if you drop anything, take care to avoid your head connecting with that heater when you stand up. The experience is brutal and produces colourful vocabulary. If you need, order bath towels from the hotline immediately on arrival as they take some hours to appear.
Andrew W – Can friends deliver food and (more important) wine from outside? How about books?
Yes, deliveries of food, books and other sundries are allowed. Make arrangements to receive them with the centre in advance. However, shipping in alcohol is forbidden.
Penny’s Bay diary: a stint in Hong Kong quarantine
Lauren D. – What’s the food like? Who is the caterer?
Ng T. – Can windows be opened at PB?
Yes, they can be cracked and it provides some nice ventilation, but for protection against transmission, always wear a mask when windows are open. Also, the centre asks you to mask up and close the rear window before opening the delivery window to protect their workers.
Amalia C. – Can smokers smoke at the window?
I asked and the centre says there is no smoking at the Penny’s Bay centre. Cold turkey in seven days.
Next up: Nearly out of the one-week Penny’s Bay Quarantine frying pan and into the two-week hotel quarantine fire.
