May 29, 2020
We are slowly moving towards the new normal here in Valencia and as usual l will have the update. First, l have a conversation with Cheryl, a lifestyle blogger who had to get used to a new normal after her long term marriage dissolved. She found herself suddenly single while her deadbeat ex (her words) got pretty much everything and went into hiding. She talks to me about life as a mature older woman who struggles to find jobs in this youth obsessed culture, and thanks to covid-19 and the border closure, is currently jobless. These are just some of the things we talk about on the latest podcast.
Life In Canada with Cheryl Rhodes:
It is so easy in life to find people who are chronic whiners. Cheryl is not one of those. Instead l find her to be quite pragmatic. I have enjoyed reading her blog for the past two plus years because it is full of good advice. It is a true lifestyle blog because it deals with all aspects of life including saving for retirement, baking ( I have tried a few of her recipes with great success), books, travel, having an emergency fund and dealing with banks as a single woman (not fun).
Cheryl is also an avid horsewoman and dog lover which totally makes me love her sight unseen. I’ve always dreamt of riding, but have to contend with trail riding on holidays. She had three horses, but is down to one now and he’s got a good life on a farm.
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Some of the podcast episode highlights:
- What prompted her to start her blog and how she hopes to help others.
- Finding herself with no financial support
- Her past stint as an au pair in Madrid
- Her fun job driving trucks across the border and losing it due to the border closure and hopes of being able to return if the company can hang tight.
- How life is like in Cloverdale, a suburb of Vancouver during the lockdown.
- The different financial aids she has been able to qualify for and how others can apply for it (requirements).
- Investing the small inheritance from her parents.
- Making do with what she has and being content.
Listen to Life in Canada with Cheryl Episode 9 podcast:
You can find Cheryl Rhodes on these platforms:
If you’re enjoying the podcasts, make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and/or on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher etc. Reviews and ratings are always welcome.
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Other podcasts of interest:
Asia travel during the pandemic
Lovepat – Chile – Austria- Spain
Valencia Covid-19 Update:
Along with all of Andalucia, the whole of Valencia province will move to phase 2 of the deescalation process on Monday. The numbers have stayed consistently good which is amazing and truly a joint effort.
What is included in Phase 2?
- Groups of 15 can now meet. Previously the limit was 10.
- Everyone can walk or exercise at all times except for between 10am-12pm and 7pm-8pm. These spots are reserved for kids and over 70 year old people.
- Shopping centres can open at 40% capacity.
- Restaurants are allowed to have people inside at a 40% capacity. (this is a biggie for a lot of cafes and restaurants who had remained shut because of very limited terrace space).
- Beaches will be open but people are still to keep a distance, up to groups of 15 (not sure how enforceable that will be).
- Churches and other places of worship to expand to 50% capacity.
- Hotel common areas can open to 1/3 capacity.
- Weddings and funerals are back on with a 50 person maximum for indoor affairs and 100 for outdoor ones.
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Our daily life:
The streets are a bit more livelier than previously. As for us, we still do our morning walks early and have ventured out once or twice to visit friends and shop in grocery stores away from our usual one. So far, I have to say l am okay with this being the new normal. A friend mentioned the second coming of her inner hermit, and l sort of feel the same way. I have to find the balance :-).
My Spanish classes are still being conducted via Zoom and will likely be so for the rest of the term which ends the end of June. Funny, now… only 3-4 of the original 16 people attend the classes since being allowed to go out :-). I guess online is not as much fun. I intend to get every cent out of my 25 euro class fee… haha!, plus l want her to remember me next semester (it’s lottery placement but l’m sure she has the power to make your name magically appear on the list for the class).
Spain is supposed to open up tourism to the world by July 1, at which point quarantine will no longer be required. Prior to that, visitors are to self quarantine for 14 days. I haven’t been paying much attention because we are not going anywhere soon, and if we do, it will most likely be via train, and would be to resume our Spain travels to awesome places like we did in January to places such as Burgos and Bilbao.
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My thoughts on what’s happening in the U.S. right now:
I don’t discuss politics on this blog but l have to say that l am disturbed by what is happening in the states. The brazen disregard for the lives of black people is truly shocking, not surprising mind you. The racists are out en masse, and when you have the grand wizard stoking the fires from the office of the one person that is supposed to protect ALL the citizens of the country, it’s become open season.
I feel terrible that people are rioting, but it’s a last resort as other methods have consistently failed. It keeps happening over and over again, decades and decades and more decades of the same old. That there are so many people that still think highly of this nonentity, this childish, vindictive great imposter makes me want to puke. We need more white people to speak up because unfortunately no one was listening to the black and brown voices. Be part of the solution. The country was literally built on violence starting with the tea party, so don’t absolve yourself by saying violence solves nothing.
How is life wherever you’re at? I hope everyone is hanging in there through these very trying times.
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Thank you so much for having me on your podcast, Kemkem! So much fun! I love reading your blog and your updates on what’s happening in Valencia. Nice to hear you can spend more time outside and places are slowly reopening. Is that 25 euros for each Spanish class or for a set number of classes? Seems like a good deal if it’s several classes. For one it seems a little steep! I’ll stick with the free classes on Duolingo!
Yikes, maybe I should have ditched the headset and just used the computer’s microphone. I’m so much louder than you.
Unfortunately the land border crossing is still closed, to be reevaluated in another month – June 20. The problem is Canada insisting all people coming in to quarantine for 14 days which is pretty silly if you’re only in Washington for a couple of hours or less. Cautionary because Washington has a much higher outbreak than BC. There’s about 2 million people more in Washington (7 million) than BC (5 million) and you’d think the Covid-19 numbers would be somewhat similar. Washington has had nearly 20,000 cases with over 1,000 deaths. BC has around 2500 cases with 160 deaths. In the last day we’ve had 4 new cases and no deaths. Washington has 307 new cases and 5 deaths, and that’s an improvement for WA.
It’s been a tough week in the states with the racial attacks and deaths and riots on the black lives matter movement. And that stupid woman in NYC who refused to leash her dog in Central Park and called 911 to report her life being threatened by an African American man. I was watching Magnum PI last night – the reboot, not the Tom Selleck one! – on KIRO, a Seattle station, and halfway through they stopped to go live on what was happening in Seattle with people protesting George Floyd’s death (murder). It started off peaceful and then turned destructive, but the police managed to move the crowd along. We’ll see what happens tonight. Rain might keep people home.
It was a whole lot of fun for me too and thanks for taking part. The 25 euros is for the whole nine month long course (September to June)! That’s why there is such a rush to get in. The city has like 15 campuses all over the province and three levels of Spanish classes offered at some of them with a limit of 18 per class. Very hard to get into and l was fourth on the waiting list. I actually joined the class about three weeks after it started. Imagine 25 euros for twice a week classes, 90 minutes each for nine months for so little. I think they do it so immigrants like us can assimilate quicker.
Haha! I think l should have lowered your volume even more than l did. I was focussed more on trying to reduce the noise from the elements (birds etc) since you were outside. The numbers in Spain has been good so far. My only worry is that once the borders open, it will get overwhelmed with people from other places where they had little restrictions and spread silently. Being quarantined for 14 days if you just visited for a short time does indeed seem silly, but when you look at how things have been handled in the U.S., there is cause for concern.
Yes, watching CNN and seeing all that is happening in the U.S. is heartbreaking. Such a useless “leader” who has all but given a blank check to the racists. The riots reminded me of Rodney King in L.A. and being in the thick of things as it spread beyond Compton and made its way towards Hollywood proper. Scary times, and nothing ever changes. People are just tired. Without serious leadership though, this will fester.
Wow I’d sign up for a 9 month course on Zoom or online classes for 25 euros!
I’ve been watching a lot of live coverage in Seattle, mostly because the programs I want to watch are being preempted by the demonstrations. Watching what’s happening in Seattle, LA, and other places, which seems to be more about causing damage and looting than a peaceful protest about what happened to George Floyd. I don’t know why the horseback patrols aren’t in the crowds. You get a horse moving its ass backwards into a crowd, people get out of the way fast!
Now there are demonstrations in Toronto after a 29 year old woman fell from the balcony of her high rise apartment after the police were called. There are suggestions that the police pushed her rather than she was a jumper. Either way it’s a tragic ending, but because of everything else in the news this past week and that she’s a black woman, the police pushed her conspiracy has been widespread. Security footage will hopefully get an answer about what really happened very soon.
Yep! 25 bucks only for 9 months of classes. That’s why it stuns me that people drop out. I definitely hope she can sneak me in to the next class if my name doesn’t get picked in the lottery. It’s too much of a good deal, and the lockdown really helped as l studied daily on my own and am so much better and confident. I am now having slow conversations with the neighbors and street cleaners daily. Makes me feel even more at home.
That’s horrible about the woman falling. I honestly hope it doesn’t turn into a fiasco. I also hope that things change for the better. The horrible thing is that all these assholes that are racists are using this as an excuse to incite more violence. What a mess! 2020 is going to be one for the history books!
“My thoughts on what’s happening in the U.S. right now”
Agree with you completely.
We just want out! Definitely will be in the States for another month, perhaps more. We watch and read constantly to keep abreast of the developing situation in Spain/Italy/Portugal–being the most likely countries for earliest escape. Too bad we cannot spend this interim in Canada. After visitors are allowed to fly in we will continue to wait a few weeks to see if any new, negative results develop.
Last evening I did find a great fare into Madrid in late July. Then it is an easy train ride to Valencia.
Hope to get there soon.
Thanks for keeping us all advised of the ‘on the ground’ situation and for the great interviews with others.
I can appreciate your wanting to get out of what is basically a toxic relationship. It is so sad that the country in such a short time under one leadership has come to this, not that it wasn’t festering before, but to see it at this level is simply shocking.
Things are definitely easing up here even though l think people from the U.S are not being allowed in for a while. I think Portugal is letting U.S travellers in but l am not positive. There is a list of 29 countries, interestingly Spain is not one of them. Check carefully as they are sending back people.
I hope things work out well and soon enough. Valencia awaits :-). I’m glad you’re enjoying the interviews and updates.
Joseph – you’d want to be in Western Canada! Eastern Canada has had a much higher outbreak of the coronavirus. Back in March, just around the time borders were closing, the news focused on a woman from Bellingham, WA, about 30 miles south of the border, who had planned to go home to grab clothes and her laptop, and then come back to BC to self isolate with her boyfriend or maybe husband. They told her she could go back into the states, but she wouldn’t be able to re-enter Canada. She decided to turn her car around and head back to where she’s staying up here. Hope her guy bought her some new clothes and a computer! I’m still seeing cars around her with Washington plates, so many probably decided to wait out the pandemic with friends or relatives up here.
Loved meeting Cheryl and learning about her blog. You do a great job of bringing in a variety of people. 🙂 I lived in Montana for several years and kick myself now that the only place I visited in Canada during that time was Calgary. There is so much more of that country to explore! My housemates are a Canadian couple and we often compare the differences between the US and Canadian governments. Not only do ALL Canadians have universal healthcare, they also have a compassionate government that has pitched in to keep their citizens afloat which in turn helps to shore up the economy. Sadly, in the great divided States, with 40 million people who are unemployed and have lost their health insurance, it’s a very different story as more and more citizens sink into poverty without a safety new while the economy collapses. Sure the US had problems before #45 but it had effective leadership as well which would have made all the difference in preventing thousands of deaths and assisting it’s people as they deal with with the loss of loved ones and the disappearance of their jobs. And how can you NOT mention the systemic racism that runs throughout our country? I’m heartsick and disillusioned but, as an eternal optimist, I’m also heartened by stories of the sheriff in Flint, Michigan (true irony there!) who joined the protesters in his community and the police in NYC and Oklahoma city who took a knee to show their solidarity with those voicing their dissent. Sad times Kemi but hopefully some of these protests will help bring some positive changes and (fingers crossed) November will rid the US of the madman whose ignorance, ineptitude and corruption have only added to the chaos and stripped away as much decency and empathy as possible from our nation’s government. Enough said for now …
Thanks Anita. I’m loving listening to the podcasts too. Listening to different people how their lives have changed and what’s happening in their part of the world is fascinating. Eye opening that can either make you appreciate where you are or wish you were somewhere else in the world right now!
The main reason to go to Calgary is to see the Stampede – which was obviously cancelled this year. Other than that, the best thing about Calgary is the highway heading out of town!
Thanks for the compliment Anita. I am having so much fun and l’m only sorry that it took me so long to get back into it :-). I’ve only been to Vancouver area myself and enjoyed it tremendously. I have such great memories. There is still so much more to see. One of my nieces just moved to Canada a month ago. I’ll give her some time to settle in.. haha!
I was really amazed at how the government stepped in to help the citizens. Amazing! Imagine if the same thing happened in the states. When she mentioned it, I was really surprised. Such glaring differences at how the same virus was handled. I don’t even want to get started on the health care.
Seems like we have no leadership right now in the states. I just hope people turn out in droves to vote come November, this is no time for apathy. Something’s gotta give and indeed the leaderships that are popping out at the state levels gives me hope. Lets hope that the end results bring about much needed change. I remember being in the thick of Rodney King and here we are so many years later where absolutely nothing has changed. The time is now.
An interesting podcast, as always. It seems that the situation and especially the measures taken by the authorities are more or less the same everywhere, from the containment measures to the more relaxed ones when things seem to be getting better.
Nicely put with the inner hermit thing. 🙂 I think more and more people are starting to (re)discover it 🙂 But hopefully it’s the last time when we’re “encouraged” by the global situation to do this :))
And then comes something like what’s happening in the US right now to prove that, despite the virus, life as we know it (or should I say “problems as we know them”) are still present and they don’t take a break, nor change during a pandemic. I thought that this would make us all be kinder and better people, but apparently some can’t change. Not sure how much the protests will help bring the needed change, but they’re definitely opening some eyes and drawing some alarm signals that should’ve been drawn a long time ago.
That’s very true that you’d think the pandemic would make people kinder and more tolerant of others, but what I’ve seen in the news this past week is just the opposite. Hooligans taking advantage of peaceful protests and turning them into riots and vandalism and attacks. And the other thing is why are all these violating social distancing laws in the middle of a pandemic? I think numbers are going to jump higher next week.
Yeah, the way the virus has been handled in various places is nice to know. The financial aid by the Canadian government astounds me. They get it They don’t seem to be as super locked down as we are in Spain, but it seems to be working for them. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when the border opens up with the U.S..
Haha! I hope that this is the last time we are encouraged to do so as well. Being forced to do it doesn’t feel so good. A friend was telling me today that it would be nice if the world took a month off yearly (like the Europeans do in August) to give earth a chance to recharge. It would never happen in the states of course. People would rebel too much.
Yep, post virus, I am concerned for sure that things will indeed go back to the way they were unfortunately. Consumerism is a way of life. Kinder, gentler people? doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen. I hope peoples eyes get open the right way. Unfortunately there is no leader right now, too busy cowering in the bunker and tweeting to incite. November can’t come soon enough!.
Kemkem, thank you for another great Podcast. I have also enjoyed having a look at Chery’s blog and will explore it further later on. I am glad Valencia is now in phase 2 and the city is slowly opening up for business. Here things are progressing in the right direction, although we are all fearful of the second wave of infections. Fingers crossed people will continue to be sensible and keep to social distance.
I feel sick watching the news and what is happening in the US right now. Racism has no place in any type of society. It is disturbing how some of those cops that caused George Floyd’s death can continue to walk free, it is sickening that they are not facing justice…all of them. Since they are all guilty of murder. There have been Black Lives Matter protests in London, I think it is so important that people continue to speak out. Like you said we all have to be part of the solution.
Thanks for listening Gilda. Cheryl’s blog is quite informative and so much variety. A true lifestyle blog. It feels almost weird to have so many cars on the road again, not full capacity but enough to be jarring. The museums are offering free admission for the next two weeks at 50% capacity and it seems that quite a few of my neighbours are now back to work. I also have my fingers crossed that there will be no second wave. We don’t need it!
I feel like the world really is in a bad movie and we are all clueless. Racism is rampant in the states and has been for as long as its been in existence and nothing ever changes, be it peaceful protest or not. The people that need to care have not cared and unless they care, nothing will change. I am heartened by the fact that other countries have also spoken out and joined the fight. The world is watching these useless “leaders” as well.