relative happiness

Hello blog, I'm back. I didn't miss you until now... my second quarantine. I even forgot my Wix log in info and how to create a new post!

I'm back to being trapped in a cozy room but this time a hotel room instead of the comfort of my own room. HK has mandated more draconian covid measures aligning with that of China's and it has mandated 0 covid and 2-3 weeks hotel quarantine policy for all inbound travelers.

So here we are.. after almost 2 years of the onset of the pandemic, even after the vaccine that has been administered to many... here we are again trapped in a hotel room.

But by now everyone knows, I love quarantine. I love my me time. I don't know if it's because I am an introvert at heart or because I needed this decompression time, but I like not having any obligations, not having any responsibilities other than myself. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my family time, I thoroughly enjoyed caring for my mom and dad for the past 4 weeks, and God knows they need help due to their age, but I most definitely love my alone time.

I don't have meals delivered to me in a nice lacquer tray by my lovely helper this time. I didn't even bother ordering a meal plan. I eat very little and don't like greasy hotel food much, definitely not 3 meals a day. I fix myself simple yogurt with granola, avocado toast, salads, and once in a while get food delivery from outside. I have had a few warm meal drop offs from my friends but I am quite content with the arrangement. I am in a small but cozy and well-appointed hotel room overlooking half of the Hong Kong island. I have everything I need in this 220 SF space. A small fridge, pantry, water kettle, toaster oven, nice bathroom with a corner view of Tayden's soccer pitch. I even got my desktop and a comfortable desk chair delivered to me.

I remember visiting a college friend on the upperwest side of NY many years ago, and she lived in a studio. By any standard, it was a large studio. But at that time I didn't understand how anyone could live in a studio. Now I get it. I didn't think I could live in a one room space. But I am and it's totally fine. I only wear 3 outfits. 2 Lulu lemons and a tanktop with PJ bottom. I wash my clothes almost everyday. I only have one set of flatwear and dishwear. I wash them after every meal. I had little food when I arrived at the hotel which were small packets of junkfood courtesy of the thoughtful hotel and a few basic things dropped off by hubby. Even though that should have been a cause for panic, I was ok. All of my friends and family know, I have this complex about never having enough food. My fridge and pantry are always bursting at the seams. I don't know if that's handed down from my mom who lived through the scarcity of food post Korean war and the Japanese occupation. Furthermore, I hate food shopping and try my best to not go more than once a week.

Needless to say, the hotel's location in the heart of the downtown Wanchai is perfect because I can get any food I want within 20 minutes. I think I spent the first whole day browsing through the myriad of Deliveroo options around me. I ordered Marks and Spencer basics to feed myself for the next 2 weeks. Fruit, dairy, baked goods, wine and indulgent snacks. while the premium price of the food at M&S is more than I want to pay, its consistent good quality gets me hooked.

So with the bit of help from Deliveroo delivery service, my helper and hubby bringing me the basics and my friends' drop-offs, I am quite content here at the 220 SF Mira Moon New Moon room. Meanwhile, I am reading flurries of rants and complaints about the quarantine policy in HK on the HK quarantine support group FB chat. Yes, it sucks to be stuck in a hotel room for 14-21 days while we could be doing so many other things. And I know that some people are in a very dire situation such as not being able to see their dying loved ones, not being able to attend funerals or being stuck at the hospital due to positive cases or in a terrible hotel because they can't afford a better one. That's incredibly upsetting and sad. I know in Korea they make exceptions for grievance cases but not this country that's aligning their policies with China.

Despite the struggling times, I am thankful to God . Thankful that I could even make the trip now that the travel restriction is even harsher than before due to Omicron. I arrived in HK the day the US changed its covid test policy from 72 hours to 24 hours. Thankful that I got to spend quality time with my parents and that I was able to help my dad start his dialysis process. Thankful that we are all still alive despite my mom's second round of chemo. Thankful for my friends and family who support me through the struggles. Thankful that I can do happy hours with my HK friends and catch up with my friends abroad on video chats. Thankful for the delivery service and the food drop-offs that nurture my stomach everyday. Thankful for the little things that we often take for granted. Happiness is relative. No one can take it away from you. Not even this 21 days quarantine.