Covid-19 - Coping

Hi there

I still can't get it into my head that Covid-19 is slithering around the world.    It seems impossible, like some sort of movie-of-the-week.  But it's real life, and people are sick and dying, and it's all so unbelievable, and sad, and disgraceful, and ...  and ...  Nope, can't think of words that are heavy enough to cover what's going on ...

My fave country in the whole world is Italy.  It breaks my heart to read about what the Italian people are going through.  I remember the time I was lost in Rome, and in a panic, and this elderly woman stranger took me over, like a mother hen.  She walked me down the streets, pointed where I should go and when I tried to thank her, she told me that her son was overseas and her wish was that if he got lost, someone would help him.  I was 21 at the time, and even now, whenever I see an obvious lost tourist in New Zealand, I rush to help.

I did return to Italy a few years back.  Beforehand I took a six day 'Tourist Italian" course.   I learnt and understood navigation of streets, shops, menus, transport, hotels, everyday phrases, etc.   For example, I would ask someone (in Italian) where a pharmacy was and when the answer came back, "down two blocks, through the traffic lights, then turn right", I would understand.