We’d all like to have nothing to do with awful situation that has turned the entire world upside down, sowing chaos and misinformation.

For those of us who are away from their “home” countries, the disruption is particularly disturbing. Although South Africa is technically my home, the fact is that the majority of my friends and family are not here and with flights being cancelled, airports closed, social isolation and quarantines topping the news, I can feel a bit of panic setting in, being stuck here. Even though I hadn’t really thought about leaving until late May/early June.

And I could be in a worse place. It’s not snowing and cold; I have a cute little flat; the exchange rate (for me) is amazing. But I have some major concerns that don’t seem to make it into the news very much.

Last night, the SA president outlined what is going to happen here, which included shutting airports etc. What wasn’t spoken about was what will happen to the masses?

I’m not being racist here and I don’t have the figures to support my thoughts and observations.

But…

I’d say at least 75% of the population live in situations that border on, and are in areas that often don’t even have running water. They live on pennies a day, with their kids relying on that one school meal to survive. Now the schools are closing and I haven’t heard anything about feeding plans. And with the kids being out of school, who takes care of them? Mothers miss work, reducing income even more. Businesses close and what few jobs they provide disappear, pushing more people into further poverty. (South African unemployment is at almost 40%.)

Then the poverty leads to more violence, with car jackings and smash and grabs, burglaries and home invasions.

And the escalations would keep rolling on.

So these scenarios are what scare me, not the coronavirus.

But On A Happier Note

I had such a fun weekend with Mick and Debbie. Her cousin is out visiting from the UK and hasn’t been back here for more than 10 years. So she wanted to see the sites!

Shongweni Market was definitely on the list and I don’t need any incentive to go! It was as as wonderful as ever, with amazing food and crafts. But it wasn’t very crowded, a sure sign of the economic downturn here and probably the virus scare, although the restrictions weren’t announced until last night.

Of course, she was shocked and dismayed at the filth and decline in Durban, just as I am. I didn’t go with them on that part of jaunt, as I have seen and experienced it a few times.

Yesterday, we went to Piggly Wiggly, which is a popular stop on the Midlands Meander, a tourist route in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. This particular stop has food stands, a wine cellar and numerous craft and art stores, for the people who don’t have a couple of days to drive the entire Meander!

My favorite store is ZuluLulu which has a variety of beautiful arts and crafts, including The Dlamini, the Raku-fired ceramic figurines that are so popular. Plus dozens of paintings from various artists. I was particularly taken by those done by Justin Mashora. African animals and one of the African Painted Dog that I would love to have when I win the lottery.

It was a Promote Local Schools day, so there were dozens of school kids there, all dressed in uniforms, something you don’t see in the States, unless it’s a Catholic school. There was also a woman who was set up to teach fencing! Something I always thought would be a fun sport. The kids were dressed in full fencing outfits and parried back and forth, which Mick and I watched for a bit while the others were shopping!

And then lunch across the road at the Boma, a thatched open building which serves craft beer and other pub food. We sat out on the veranda and enjoyed the peace and view over the dam to the wetlands. Up on the hill, a distance away but part of the property, a herd of zebra grazed. Idyllic location - and good beer, too!

But the beer was very sleep-making so we had to stop at VT Coffee Cafe, where I stopped before with Evelyn and went into the gallery on The Platform. But even though he enjoyed the art gallery, Mick was much more enthralled with the old car resting outside and serving as a planter!

One more stop at Dragonfire Beads, where Barbara gave us a quick demonstration of her glass bead-making skills, which includes using Sapphire and Tanqueray gin bottles to make earrings! The ultimate upcycling.

Back home at the granny flat, I watched the Pres give his speech and went into panic mode. But now I am over that and settling in for the long-haul.