The unknown is the scariest: waiting to fly home to Canada

Two reminders of Canada greeted us after we got off the bus in Buenos Aires, and I took them as good omens that our journey home to Canada will be successful.

To get to the Sheraton, near the bus station, we cut through a park where we were surprised and delighted to see a huge totem pole.

“That looks Canadian,” we said, almost together. Sure enough, it was carved and painted by a Kwakiutl First Nations man from Vancouver Island.

After another block, we saw a Canadian flag fluttering among others in front of the Sheraton. That brought me comfort as we checked in, assured the reception desk clerk we had not been on a cruise, and heard the long list of rules and guidelines for doing our part to contain COVID-19, aka coronavirus. Since we had been in the country more than 14 days, we were not confined to our room.

At least for that first day. We’re now under mandatory quarantine, along with the rest of Argentina, awaiting our Air Canada flight home to Canada on Sunday March 22.

Having a plan and the confidence that it will come to pass is comforting. Once we’d decided to return home to Canada and booked our flights, it would be easy, right? Nope. We’ve already learned that every day brings new challenges as the rules of the game continue to change mid-play. It’s the unknown and the uncertainties that are the scariest, most stressful part of this whole new world we’re living in – for us and everyone else.

We’re under no illusions that we’re unique. Our challenges are small, paltry, compared with the enormous issues facing the world today. But we thought we’d share our experience.

We’ve jumped over and dodged many hurdles thus far:

• On Tuesday, March 17, the Argentine government stopped all long-distance buses, trains and domestic flights starting on Friday, March 20. Or was it Thursday? As of late Tuesday, the official government website listed both days. We had planned to go back to Buenos Aires from Larroque on the Saturday, so we immediately switched gears. We booked two more nights in the hotel and packed right away, prepared to get on the first bus we could on Wednesday once the bus station opened. Fortunately, the buses were still running Thursday, so we got tickets.
• On Wednesday, March 18, we learned that the nearby town of Gualeguaychu, where we were to catch the bus, had imposed road blockades to prevent anyone from entering the town who didn’t live or work there. Would we be able to catch our bus? After I spent a sleepless night of worrying, Estela (our HelpX host) drove us to Gualeguaychu, leaving early with an extra hour to spare in case we got stopped. We passed two roadblocks but were waved through. Phew! As the bus headed out of town, we passed the roadblocks again and the police were then stopping everyone going into town. At another roadblock mid-way to Buenos Aires, the police waved our bus through while others were stopped.
• On Thursday, March 19, the Argentine government announced a nation-wide mandatory quarantine starting at midnight. People are allowed out of their homes only to buy groceries, medications and cleaning supplies, unless of course they’re essential workers. I figured we could still go out to get groceries, since room service was so expensive and all hotel restaurants were closed.
• On Friday, March 20, we learned we’re not allowed to leave the hotel. I spent the morning worrying about getting food. After some confusion about whether room service would be free, we received a notice under our door that we had to pay – a reduced cost but still expensive; $54 Cdn for two large sandwiches, two lemon tarts and two bottles of water, for example. Fortunately, the food is good.

My entire body ached – from the building stress, not any illness. So far, we have no fever, coughing or shortness of breath that would prevent us going home to Canada.

Still, we’re grateful to be waiting in a country that’s taking COVID-19 seriously and taking many measures to contain it, including this mandatory quarantine.

“In the face of this crisis there is no place for individualistic attitudes: we need to maintain social distancing by avoiding leaving our homes,” President Alberto Fernandez said in a letter to Argentines (translated by Google). “No measure will achieve the impact we desire if the need to comply with the recommendations and this new regulation is not understood. Faced with this threat, we are co-responsible. Our destiny depends on each one. And of all.”

It’s interesting that, in a country where democracy was restored in 1983 after a dictatorship, he felt he needed to point out that his decisions are “strongly democratic,” presumably to head off any speculation that he was being dictatorial.

“It is a democracy that appeals to exceptional measures based on its own legislation for these cases. It is a democracy that unites political, social, union, productive and religious forces. It is a democracy that unites the authorities of all jurisdictions. It is democracy that seeks to reduce damage to the people and save as many lives as possible.”

My list of worries is fortunately getting shorter:

• Will our daughter Rachel and her partner, Coburn, get home to Canada okay from New Zealand? As I write, they are waiting to board their flight and had obtained a government exemption allowing them to transit through Australia. That was a huge relief.
• What if our Air Canada flight is cancelled? Can we get on another?
• What if we happen to cough in line when boarding the plane? If we’re denied boarding, where will we go? Hotels won’t accommodate anyone with symptoms. Will we be quarantined somewhere?
• Will we be allowed to transit through Chile (part of our Air Canada flight plan), which has closed its borders?
• What if we cough in Toronto? Will we be quarantined there?
• How can we help our friends and relatives who are facing lay-offs?

We’re trying not to overdose on news, but it’s hard when you really must keep up with it to see what affects you.

We are reading, playing games, doing yoga, sending emails, watching Netflix, enjoying nice long video calls with friends and admiring the lovely view from our window, day and night. I edited a chapter of my brother Steve’s book and Bill played the small travel guitar he brought along. I asked the hotel for an electric kettle so I could make tea and they brought one up right away. Everything is much better with a cup of tea.

We’re trying to stay positive, so I made a list of all the things we’re grateful for:

• That health-care workers in Canada, including my sisters, are truly devoted to caring for people.
• That we’re waiting, not stranded with no flights even booked, as are so many Canadians.
• A nice, safe, clean hotel room with kind staff members.
• That we have enough money (credit cards) to pay the ridiculous cost of meals, even if we’d rather not.
• That the airlines seem to be working hard to get Canadians home.
• Our friends and family who are worried about us and thinking about us.
• All the information that people are sending to us.
• That our friend Andrea’s case of presumed COVID-19 is mild.
• That we have a safe place in Canada for our 14-day self-isolation.
• That we’re still healthy.
• That Bill has a guitar to play.
• That we have each other.
• Tea.

An orange butterfly, looking much like my beloved monarchs, just flew past our window on the 21^st floor. It seems like a good sign. We can’t wait to get home.