July 9th (2020)

 

9th July

Day 117

I am awake at 2am.

Somewhere, someone has left their phone alarm on. Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz…

To tired to write, too awake to sleep, I'd better read for a while.

I try to sleep at just after 4am.

I re-awaken at 8am.

This is the news which greets me from Malaysia's 'Expat Magazine'...

"It’s still quite cumbersome for expats to return to Malaysia, and it certainly seems the government is sending a signal that they are not welcome here. We find it somewhat concerning that they are now discussing allowing foreign tourists from selected countries to visit Malaysia while still imposing significant obstacles for resident expats with valid visas to return."

Malaysia's un-elected government does not want Expats, and (white) foreigners in general, in the country it seems. Even those with valid, and paid for, long term visas are unwelcome while returning Malaysians are welcome even at the risk of them not self quarantining.

It is difficult to be denied access to your home, to have to rely on the charity of others, to reduce your life to a fraction of what it was, in a foreign location. You never really understand how a refugee feels until you get just a small taste of this yourself.

Nothing, I say again, nothing replaces home. If you are lucky enough to be at home, to have stayed at home during this current crisis among those people and memories which compound your notion of home, be grateful.

Om Mani Padme Hum

I decide to forgo lunch and have an early dinner instead, probably tomato and mayo sandwiches as there is less washing up. I didn't want to go out today.

It's 4.20pm, so I'll wait until 6.30pm for a meal. Cuppa tea meanwhile.

As if by magic, it's Friday yet again tomorrow. It's the beginning of my four working days - English, English, Cooking, Art History. I am considering making tomato rice on Sunday, with yogurt chicken, a sort of faux tandoori chicken. We'll see.