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Living through a pandemic is new, yet strangely familiar. In Tanzania, East Africa, where we lived for 12 years, cholera epidemics appeared at times in our village. The market would be closed down with restrictions on wedding and funeral feasts. We worked closely with people living with HIV, a pandemic much less contagious, slower to harm, and yet dangerous too for health workers.
My translation work has been far busier than usual, with urgent deadlines for Swahili factsheets on COVID-19, and then revisions as public information keeps changing. Working out how to translate sanitiser, social distancing and masks was a challenge.
I’ve had two uncomfortable tests for the virus. Both were negative. The first within a week of returning from Indonesia with a rhinovirus, according to the results. The second because of a lingering cough. With the recent slight ease in restrictions, I am glad I can now visit my 93-year-old father in his aged care facility and have our son and his girlfriend over for dinner.
I’d hoped to have more time to do art, but I know the translation work is important as there are very few Swahili translators in Australia. I’ve managed to do collage pieces, some as challenges through The Other Art Show, and a large Self-portrait in the Age of COVID-19 to submit for an online Instagram exhibition with Lane Cove Gallery. I’m enjoying doing an online poetry course with Coursera, and facilitate two regular zoom meetings: a local writing group and a group working on developing our creativity using the book, The Artist’s Way.
I’ve planted garlic, spring onion, mint, carrots and lemon grass in our back yard, mainly using food from the supermarket rather than seeds or seedlings. I think I wanted to affirm life at this time.
My translation work has been far busier than usual, with urgent deadlines for Swahili factsheets on COVID-19, and then revisions as public information keeps changing. Working out how to translate sanitiser, social distancing and masks was a challenge.
I’ve had two uncomfortable tests for the virus. Both were negative. The first within a week of returning from Indonesia with a rhinovirus, according to the results. The second because of a lingering cough. With the recent slight ease in restrictions, I am glad I can now visit my 93-year-old father in his aged care facility and have our son and his girlfriend over for dinner.
I’d hoped to have more time to do art, but I know the translation work is important as there are very few Swahili translators in Australia. I’ve managed to do collage pieces, some as challenges through The Other Art Show, and a large Self-portrait in the Age of COVID-19 to submit for an online Instagram exhibition with Lane Cove Gallery. I’m enjoying doing an online poetry course with Coursera, and facilitate two regular zoom meetings: a local writing group and a group working on developing our creativity using the book, The Artist’s Way.
I’ve planted garlic, spring onion, mint, carrots and lemon grass in our back yard, mainly using food from the supermarket rather than seeds or seedlings. I think I wanted to affirm life at this time.