Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200515

locAl Friday 15 May 2020
A31

Arubans living abroad

ORANJESTAD — Aruba Today is connecting to our be-
loved readers abroad who have a special bond with the
island. We launched columns like Aruba to Me … and My
Favorite Hotel Staff where our fans can send pictures and
words that express their love for Aruba and its workers in
the hospitality industry.

In these difficult times we also think about our Aruban
friends living abroad. How they are doing and what is
their life experience right now, we wonder. The first story in
this series was published April 17 and came from Aruban
Arturo Desimone who lives in Spain. April 22 we shared the
wonderful story of Jairo Loefstop who lives in Costa Rica.
April 29 we got a glimpse of the world of Jennifer Maduro
who lives in Montreal, Canada. And today we present to
you: Jacqueline Raven - Hagens living in Dubai.

and because we had just hour of exercise or grocer-
arrived from a layover in ies anytime between 6 am And even though we
New York, they requested and 10 pm. After 10 pm haven’t left the house in
us to do a Covid-19 test there is still a stay at home over three months, except
and isolate until the results order as they still go around for one dinner and the oc-
were in. Thankfully we were to spray. casional groceries (every
negative and it turns out company now does home
our daughter had Influen- Since it can get up to 50 delivery) we are happy
za-B. After a hospital stay, degrees Celsius in the sum- and healthy. My husband’s
some fluids and Tamiflu she mer, most businesses are in- restaurant is in the process
was fine. side of malls. of slowly opening up again
Everyone working in a mall and I am lucky to be well
At that point Dubai imple- has to be tested and visitors taken care of by my com-
mented a stay at home or- below the age of twelve pany.
der. Everything was closed and above the age of 60
and you were not permit- are not permitted to enter. We’re of course worried
ted to leave your house Which means our daughter for our families back home
except for emergencies. doesn’t leave the house in Aruba. They have their
“My name is Jacqueline the end of March when the No exercise, no beach except for the occasional own businesses that were
Raven - Hagens and I am first case of Covid-19 was and groceries only once walk. Masks are still a re- forced to close temporarily
36 years old living in Dubai, announced in Dubai. The per week with permission. quirement once outside and that has a big impact.
United Arab Emirates with government took immedi- They put a permit request and since our daughter is We also fear that a fam-
my husband Albert Raven ate action and decided to system in place where you too small and keeps pull- ily member would get sick,
and 20 month old daugh- massively test anyone with could request a permit to ing it off, we only take her with us being so far and all
ter Shae. We are both from symptoms. As soon as the leave your house, without out around our community. borders being closed, we
Aruba and met each other cases started to increase this you could face a hefty We must say that we feel would have no way of go-
in Amsterdam after which, (also due to the amounts fine. The country imple- quite safe with the way the ing back home in the near
around 6 years ago, we got of tests being conduct- mented a national sanita- country has handled the future.
the opportunity to move to ed) I made the decision tion drive, where they put in situation. They are one of
Abu Dhabi for work. Albert to fly home earlier, just in drones and huge cars went the leading countries in the Hopefully there is light at
is currently head chef at case they would close around all area’s to spray amount of testing being the end of the tunnel!”q
Firelake restaurant, which the borders, and it was a every corner. done, most of it free.
overlooks the iconic Burj good thing we changed
Khalifa in Dubai. And I work our flights, because Dubai After eight weeks of this
as a schedule planner for went in complete lock- order, Dubai has now re-
Apple. down two days after we laxed the rules slightly. Of-
arrived. Which was March fices and restaurants are
Dubai and Covid-19 15th. permitted to open at 30 %
We were on holiday in Aru- capacity, everyone should
ba visiting family and Albert Three days after our arrival, wear a mask outside and
had to go back to Dubai our daughter started get- if possible gloves inside of
earlier for work. Shae and I ting a fever and vomiting. businesses. We are allowed
were supposed to stay until We took her to a hospital to leave the house for one