December 1, 2020

Tuesday

I didn’t bother to set an alarm this morning because I knew I had the day off. I almost cheered when I realized I wouldn’t be seeing my monstrous classes this week. I watched some Youtube, listened to the news, and did my morning routine.

I got a text from the lab saying my results were ready around 11am. I logged onto the patient portal and thought I must have misread something. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Positive. I tested positive for COVID-19. I was floored.

A few minutes later the doctor called to confirm. I definitely didn’t misread anything. She asked about my close contacts, my symptoms, and gave me information about quarantine procedures. In France, you only have to quarantine for a week if symptoms don’t persist. You don’t even have to be retested before returning to work.

I wanted to do my part to let me circle know what was going on. I started by sending out a flurry of emails. I informed both of my schools, sending them a copy of my results. I let me landlady know and told her to monitor for symptoms. I called Mme Bodet to give her the news and she ran out to grab me some pain medication (she’s too sweet). Catherine gave me a call when she got out of school and she’s making a run for chicken soup supplies tomorrow.

I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve gotten from my friends over here. I’ll be sure to keep everyone in the US posted as things progress. For now, my symptoms are manageable. However, I do want to stress that this is something that needs to be taken seriously. Not being able to taste your food SUCKS! It’s scary not knowing when (or if) I’ll be able to smell again, or if my sense of smell will be the same. Wearing a mask in public helps protect others and helps limit the spread of COVID-19. If you’re sending your children to school in person, teach them to wear their masks properly so they aren’t getting teachers or fellow students sick. Due to the confinement here, I can say with certainty I was exposed at school. Just because we want our schools to be safe places for our kids, doesn’t mean they are. If your district goes online, take a second to remember that it’s for a good reason.

Remember – wear a mask and wash your hands!

~Things I’d Rather Be Doing Include~