When I decided to start this adventure, I couldn’t imagine what the first months would bring. The first month was full of excitement checking out the new home city while the corona was mostly rampaging China. It felt so far away as probably for so many others all over the world. The situation has changed a lot in the last few weeks. Like most countries in the world, also Australia has closed their borders and they don’t even allow citizens and permanent residents to leave the country.
Many have asked that have I thought about terminating this job assignment now and come back to Finland. I haven’t seriously considered that at this point as my life wouldn’t differ much back in Helsinki. I would still mostly be within the four walls of my apartment doing remote working and going for a run or a bike ride. I can do both also here with more chance of warmer weather and to be honest, this scenery behind my laptop just about beats what I have in Helsinki. Physically I would be still distancing from friends and since yesterday I wouldn’t even be able to go to Tampere to see my close relatives (maybe wouldn’t be wise anyway) as they closed the Uusimaa province borders. Because I’m living so far time zone wise, it is of course tough to keep contact but that was the choice when I left here.
What about the day to day life then? First, I’m very fortunate to have managed to get the apartment and getting most of the necessities before situation worsened globally. Our company also started the remote working two weeks ago and as I had a working internet, I had no problem stop going to the office every day. Travelling in the public transportation didn’t appeal much at that point either and they were back then still packed.
Couple of weeks ago the global phenomenon of panic buying also started here. And as you might guess, also here the toilet paper shelves started to empty at speed. First my next-door shop still had them, but also they ran out at some point as the deliveries couldn’t keep up. Living alone one pack goes far but last week I started to wonder that If this panic buying doesn’t cool down, it would run out eventually. Week ago, I was shopping in my local shop and one of the clerks that I had talked with once before, greeted me in the isle. He asked that do I need something specific. I mentioned that toilet paper would be nice before I run out as they didn’t have any on the shelf. He said that they have a few behind the counter and arranged a 2-pack for me. Before that day I didn’t know that getting a toilet paper from a shop would make a man happy. Well today a wonderous sight was revealed when I went shopping in Woolworths (which is like supermarket sized store). They had almost fully packed shelves of toilet paper.
In the last two weeks I have finally started gradually running again as it has been allowed since start of March. The first time consisted a lot of walking during the 5k route but every time since there is clear improvement. I still walk steep downhills and the pace is very easy, but it feels great to be able to start it again. It’s also great way to break the working day with a lunch run. For lunches Uber Eats has become my delivery platform and mostly I have had good experience with it. I also bought a second-hand bike to make trips around easier and at the same time can avoid the trams and trains. In addition, it’s also a great way to exercise the knee and see the neighbouring suburbs.
Today’s statistics for the coronavirus here is 3968 confirmed cases in the whole Australia with 16 deaths and in the state of Victoria 769 confirmed cases with 4 deaths. It’s like they say in the electronic display on the freeway under my windows “Stop the spread. Stay home”.
First run selfie 
Maribyrnong River Trail in Footscray park 
Footscray park
Jone's adventures Down Under 
Hopefully this corona pandemic doesn’t last too long so you could travel around more freely (that is not the only reason of course!), although I’m sure there’s lots to see nearby too. Renting a car is still allowed? But look at the bright side on this; it probably takes the edge off from home sickness when people are keeping distance like here in Finland.
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As far as I know, car rentals are allowed. Not that I would had any use for a car in the near future. But yeah it’s my hope that things cool down towards the end of the year, as my original plan was to use my vacation days more closer to the end of the year. Of course it’s always a possibility to extend my stay here next year. I guess in this situation many are experiencing home sickness, as they are sick of being at home all the time.
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