We made it. Through the self-quarantine, that is. We reached day 14 with our physical health intact. We would not have been able to do it without the incredibly generous help of our dear friends and neighbors, who kept our fridge and pantry stocked and even responded to unusual requests. (Strawberry milkshake flavor Pop-tarts may have been involved). Seriously, I am so grateful for the care that our friends showed us. You shopped for us. You all delivered trays of homemade food, crafting kits, and bags and bags of groceries. You looked out for us and checked in to see how we were doing. A few brave souls and kid-souls even hung out with us on FaceTime or Zoom so everyone had a little bit of normalcy in the midst of our quarantine.
- How can you survive a self-quarantine?
- I don’t have any shocking tips.
- Mostly try to stay connected to your community any way you can.
- Accept offers of help. You’ll pay it forward, and it feels good to be cared for when you can’t leave the house.
- Do keep a daily schedule for weekdays even if it goes out the window half the time.
- Don’t expect to work more than 4 non-consecutive hours a day, and if you’re an academic, you may only be able to write 1-2 hours a week.
- Set the bar low. Then lower it.
- Cry when you need to.
- Buy another pair of sweatpants. Oh, and some comfy pajamas that you don’t hate. Wear them a lot.
Adventures of a US Historian on a Fulbright in Rome 