MCO 3.0

I had my first dose of Astra Zeneca about 2 weeks ago. 

It was such a relief to know that Malaysia is getting more vaccine supplies in the coming months. After living with this pandemic for more than a year we all realized that life has changed. I can't remember how it feels to be sitting with friends in a crowded restaurant having lunch, or going to big book expo, or even participating in a mega Zumba event. 

MCO 3.0 is worse than the first one. This time the number of daily cases are way much higher. We know the virus is everywhere. Entering the mini market feels like entering a battle field. We don't know where the enemies are hiding and we can be shot at anytime. 

Many of my Zumba instructor friends are either doing online classes or started venturing into food business. Gyms and fitness studios will remain closed until further notice. Many studio owners decided to close down their businesses as well. There's no way they can survive. There was no incentive or financial assistance, yet they still have to pay for utility bills and rental. 

School children had only a few months of face-to-face classes with their teachers. Online learning has not been really successful either. Many less fortunate kids can't even join the online classes as they have to help their parents earn money. 

Everyone's hoping that things will get better in the next quarter. When more people get the vaccine, it's possible to achieve herd immunity faster. Only then more businesses can re-open and kids can go to school.

This feels like centuries ago

Miss this playground and the studio floor

My friends from different states in Malaysia

  

COVID-19, MCO, life and the new normal

My family went for umrah and came back about 2 weeks before MCO started in Malaysia. Panic buying started a few days before the announcement. I went to the nearest grocery and bought some meat, chicken, vege and rice. I was thinking, ok we can still go out to get our essentials after this. Don't have to worry so much.
When MCO really started I realized that I didn't want to go out at all. So I stayed at home from 18th March - 14th May 2020. That was even longer than my confinement after child birth. Usually my husband or my eldest son would go out to do groceries and buy other essentials.
Before Ramadhan started, I was cooking 3-4 times daily and during Ramadhan I cooked once for iftar and sahur.
Aidilfitri came and went so smoothly. I didn't cook much for raya this year, only instant nasi himpit, rendang daging and ayam masak merah. We were only allowed to visit close relatives on the first day of Syawal and not allowed to travel cross state. So, I didn't get to see my family in Pahang this year. Hopefully things will get better in July so that we can go back for Aidil Adha.
As I'm writing this, we are in the CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order) phase in Malaysia. Many businesses have started operating, the government is re-opening the economy. However, schools and universities are still closed. My kids are doing e-learning at home. My 2nd son is waiting for his UPU application result, so we have no idea whether he will start his foundation soon or not. New university intakes will have its challenges. Other uni students will continue with e-learning until December 2020.
The saddest part is there's still no news when gyms will re-open. I need to be at the gym to really work out. When I'm at home, I tend to spend more time in the kitchen, and then in front of the TV or my laptop. Getting myself to do some exercise during MCO is such a huge challenge. I need a trainer/instructor to scream at me every few minutes, otherwise I'll just sit around and sip coffee.
So, after 9 weeks of staying at home I finally decided that I should write. I went through some of my old folders transferred from another laptop and found a few chapters of a manuscript that I didn't remember writing. That's funny because I'd usually remember things that I created. So, I just copy pasted the content onto wattpad and continued with the story. Loop holes everywhere but I hope there'll be a decent story. Well, at least I'll feel good when I come up with something during this MCO.
Follow this link if you'd like to read it. The title is MIMPI.  Enjoy!