COVID-19, Living in Japan While Pregnant

I'm going to start this blog by saying that I am pregnant, living in Japan as the title suggests. I have spent the first half of my pregnancy here. Been having appointments with a Japanese doctor and not once has he even mentioned COVID-19. The state I am in supposedly has the most cases in all of Japan and while none that we know of are in the city we are in, the schools and public spaces are closed here, yet not even my doctor is mentioning the virus or worried about us traveling in Japan and home? So no, I am not worried about it or worried about getting it. Am I taking precautions? Yes. I wash my hands regularly, I eat healthy, I take supplements and I stay home if I'm not feeling 100%. Which only happened twice this entire winter with having a fever only once. I'm more worried about the things in the long story I am about to tell.

January - February

I've been working in the snow sports industry for 14 years.  Every year it's the same, you get travelers from all over, employees from all over the world and you share close corridors in locker rooms etc. You work with kids, you handle snotty noses, puke, peed pants the whole nine yards. Inevitably you'll probably wind up sick and so will your co- workers and if not just once multiple times by the time January reaches you. The holidays are always a breeding ground of sickness that lasts from Christmas through Presidents holiday in February.

This winter we chose to be those employees who went somewhere else in the world to work. We chose Japan. In December the midst of holiday/peak season the COVID-19 outbreak happened. People were still traveling to and from Japan for Chinese New Year and there was no panic. The virus was spreading and we were still business as usual. Some of our visitors stayed weeks longer rather than return to China. Flights were slowly getting canceled and travel restrictions were put in place all over the world. The panic was starting as February drew to a close. Why now? Why two and a half months after the outbreak began is it all of a sudden like a zombie apocalypse is happening?  Then February 28th rolled around and life changed for us all. 

The governor of Japan issued an Alert 2 and told everyone to stay inside over the weekend. Schools were shut and we were told at work to attend a meeting on the 29th. Those of us on longer contracts piled in a room and the managers began telling us of the impending doom. As everyone across the world panics business has dropped to almost nothing. We cannot guarantee you hours and want to give you the chance to think about your situation and what's best for yourselves. On March 15th we will be closing our school at Family Base and relocating to Gondola Base they said. The company is allowing you to break contracts and leases with no repercussions. "So does this mean we (the kids assistants) have our guranteed rosters until March 15th?" One coworker asked. "Yes" the manager replied. "Does this mean for those of us who stay you'll offer cheaper rent?" Another person asked. "At this time the company is not offering any discounts" the managers replied. This went on for some time. Questions if they'd help pay for flight changes as most of us had just booked return trips home that week or if they'd offer discounts on food but the answers to all was not at this moment we will pass on the feedback. We all left feeling very disappointed and not cared for by the parent company that runs us. Big decisions had to be made. 

March

I decided to stay and see it through to the 15th as our flights were already booked for April 18th. Then March 6th I had a day off and I received a call from my supervisor. There was another meeting we were to attend that night but it costs me to much to get there so I wasn't going. My supervisor says he has more bad news. They've decided to shut down our base as of March 8th and all support staff (meaning me) will be laid off that day as well. After I was told I'd have regular hours through the 15th. Needless to say I have been pretty turned off to this season which really stinks. This has been one of the lowest snow years in history, topped with having to switch jobs due to pregnancy and taking a pay cut, now this. It hasn't been easy but we are getting through it and making the most of it. I snowboarded less than I planned, I made less money than expected but I made great friends, went ice climbing for my first time and had a couple really excellent powder days, mixed in with eating some really fantastic food and having a cultural experience to last a lifetime.

Trying to stay positive when everyone else in the world is acting like its ending and we are all going to die is quite trying. Those here in Japan aren't worried about the virus but rather if they can fly to their next destination. Its more sad here than anything. Stresses about money, how to pay rent, how to get home and what to do next.  I've been called ignorant and irresponsible for not freaking out about the virus. I'm pregnant so I should be worried they say. But I'm not. I fear this widespread freak out is going to make it harder for me to get home, I'll have no money and no place to live. That is what I fear.