Inspiring Women SUMMER 2020

What was the first step you took to get involved
in the COVID-19 response? The first steps to
prepare for a potentially long term of selfisolation
involved the AWCL board swinging
into action to help cancel, postpone or move
activities and events to virtual meetups. Over
the last few weeks our activity leaders have
stepped up to the challenge and have hosted
countless online activities, including weekly
coffees, trivia, crafting, wine nights and more.
Since COVID-19 started, tell us about a typical
day for you. The first three weeks were a bit of a
blur of emotions with no real schedule. The
passing of time felt somewhat like that cosmic
vortex between Christmas and New Year’s Eve,
only replace the excitement and joy with
bewilderment and anxious uncertainty.
Becoming club President more recently has
given me the focus and drive to find solutions to
the current challenges. My body clock has set
to an unwanted 5:30 a.m. wake-up call. I tend to get up for a couple of hours to get some work
done or work out. I’ll take a nap, if needed. I’ll do some chores or organize one space in our
home, such as a drawer, bookshelf or cupboard. I usually have an online activity/meetup, as
well as club business and social phone calls.
What has surprised you most about life dealing with COVID-19? What has surprised me most is
how little I am reading and how I cannot do any creative writing. I am in a weekly writing
critique group that has gone on hold since the lockdown. We tried to do an online meetup, but
everyone is finding it hard to write at this time. Another surprise is I how much more connected I
am with friends and family overseas and nearby. We are all checking in with each other much
more now – not just scrolling through social media, but with calls and online hangouts.
What is the most important thing you have discovered about yourself and others through COVID-
19? The most important thing I’ve discovered about myself is that I am stronger than I thought.
The introvert in me can handle this. The extrovert is planning virtual meetups and future events.
The most important thing I’ve discovered about others is how much we rely on our fellow expat
community, wherever we are based. I cannot thank our members and Board enough for their
strength and support during this crisis.
What do you do to keep on top of your
own stress and mental health during
COVID-19? The first step I took to keep on
top of my own mental health and stress
was to move sessions with my therapist to
video calls. I’ve started to get back into a
fitness routine and am learning to play the
ukulele. I also like doing digital puzzles on
my iPad and listening to podcasts or
audiobooks when I’m doing housework. I
listen to BBC Radio One while I work, and I
love to find online outlets for theatre and
music too.
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Whitney and her husband