Covid Crowds? No problem

Our old neighbors from when we first moved here had the twin girls, remember? I chronicled one of them getting married, and I posted about all the different parties we went to. First the engagement. Next, the "casual" reception in a prom dress. And then finally, the fancy reception where they left together. Feel free to go back and look at them. They are quite fascinating.

This is the other twins' engagement. Since we left the country shortly after this, we didn't get to attend the other parties.

If you remember, there are knocks on the door, and then she enters in a room where only men are, including her future spouse and a religious leader. Her aunt also went in with her.

They do whatever it is they do inside that room, and then, this time, instead of staying inside (I'm guessing because of Covid), we all went outside.

I can't say that there was any social distancing or any masks for that matter.

I couldn't believe the number of people!

During this time, parties like this were prohibited, but we were told it would be a "small" affair.

This is one of the relatives of the groom getting the gold ready. This is part of her dowry, given to her.

And here he is putting it on her. Earrings, belt, and necklace.

You can see how big the necklace is in the last picture.

We left WAY before it was over, but we just felt like it wasn't the safest place to be, and we were still wanting to fly to America.

 

However, we took a picture with the bride and groom before we left, and then a sweet friend sent this on her phone to me once we were in America.

Lockdown...One More Time

2020 continued...

We needed to re-stock a bit for the lockdown, but we decided to walk, and it's a good thing we did.

I wish you could have heard the honking and craziness of what this picture represents.

People went kind of crazy (again) the day before this lockdown started.

This is what one taxi driver gave Doug to use as a mask.

Yes, that's a paper towel.

This sign was at the airport as a notice for people to stay healthy while traveling:

*Eat only well cooked food

*Avoid spitting in public

*Avoid close contact and travel with animals that are sick

And this posting...I don't know what the punishment was, but it was a big deal around here for a while that people were saying the corona virus was fake.

 

The End of Life as We Know It

February 20, 2020, was Keira's last day in a brick and mortar school until February 2021!

Keira's school was the first to tell its students not to come back, but that is because they had a natural holiday break starting the 20th. The rest of the country shut down its schools on February 26th.

We felt so blessed that the city didn't go on lockdown until March 14th because we were able to renew our visas on time (February 24), and the girls were able to get their braces off (March 8).

This sign (and others like it) was the beginning of the government taking notice and trying to make the people aware.

Anti-bacterial soap was the first item for sale as I walked into this grocery store.

And this man's basket was filled with sanitizing items.

February 26, 2020

I actually thought people were going a little overboard, but at this time, the death rate was very small, and I wasn't seeing how it was going to reach our country.

So, we continued on with life for a very short while.

On the 18th, some friends of mine and one of their mothers had breakfast together and then went shopping at a bazaar.

February 18, 2020

And Kylie and Karis taught their last ballet class on February 29.

February 29, 2020