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Monday night, March 9, 2020, we got the call—the emergency call—from our boys’ school.
School is closed for two weeks! Two whole weeks, maybe longer, depending on how things evolve in our city.
I don’t know about you and your part of the world, but things are getting messy and chaotic here in Spain.
It’s been slowly crawling and creeping towards us, and it’s here.
Here in Spain, we are facing a new reality.
Coronavirus—Close to Home!
The Coronavirus outbreak has been steadily moving towards us. It is starting to hit close to home. Today, the number of “known” cases in Spain reached 2,262 with 54 deaths. It’s almost tied with France with 2,281 cases and 48 deaths.
Close to home.
Last week, my friend’s son who lives in the next town over came home sick from school. His symptoms? Cough, sore throat, fever, aches. Hmmmm . . . A few days later, his younger sister started having the same symptoms.
Yes, it’s hitting close to home.
Last night, we got the call—the emergency call—from our boys’ school.
Schools are closed—for TWO weeks. The doors are cerrado! (“closed” in Spanish)
Homeschooling?
The school gave us instructions to come to school between 8:45-9:15 a.m. the next morning in order to pick up our boys’ books. We were informed that the schools would have a virtual, online learning platform available
Our family got up early and headed out the door. Upon entering the school, everyone seemed to have the same look in their eyes. It was as if they were saying, “The students are happy to not go to school for two weeks . . . but . . . we have to design an entire online platform for our students . . . the responsibility for “homeschooling” our children falls on us (the parents) . . . the kids are going to be stuck at the house and bored . . . this Coronavirus thing is getting really serious.”
Pierre’s first-grade teacher told us that all of the teachers were at school until late Monday night trying to make copies and prepare lesson plans for the students’ home packets.
Yesterday, teachers and school administration met all day to figure out the virtual, online school program. It’s every school director’s nightmare!
Unexpected chaos. Unexpected contingency plans.
So, as of yesterday, we are now homeschooling our two youngest children. We will certainly have to adjust our schedules to work online from home. We will have to be patient with our bored and energetic kids who are bouncing off the walls. (I was very close to buying a giant trampoline on amazon.es today!)
I couldn’t believe it! No school for two weeks!
Looking on the Bright Side
Suddenly, I saw the “bright side” of this messy situation.
No early mornings!
No rushed mornings!
No morning school runs!
No afternoon school runs!
No late evening homework!
Then, I thought about it some more . . . the best part?
Oh yes, I don’t have to pack lunches for several weeks! Hallelujah!
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
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How is the Coronavirus outbreak affecting your life and causing disruption?
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Praying for you and the family during this difficult time . No virus! So far Somerset hasn’t been hit. Only eastern PA. Take care.
Thank you for your prayers! We certainly need them here in Spain!