Here, individuals tell their own meaningful stories of growth and positivity during the pandemic and the lockdowns. They share their unique stories hoping to inspire us and encourage you to share your own experience. As you read, you will get to know each individual better and their stories can serve as inspiration for you to grow a garden, cook something new, write a book… The possibilities are endless.
Kate Osman ~ Red Room Freedom to Write Intern 2021
For the past year and a half it’s as if a big pause button was pushed on the world. And like millions of people around the world my life has changed. In 2019 I’d been living in Victoria, BC for three years and working in homeless shelters. I needed a break from that and decided to return to Asia. My time in Victoria was a break from living and teaching for eight years in China. Throughout my life I’ve enjoyed the variety of trying and doing different things. In 2019 nobody knew what was going to happen to the world in 2020. February 26, 2020 I flew to Taipei , Taiwan. By then the virus was a reality but my plans were so set in motion that I wasn’t going to change it. I’ve visited Taiwan many times and spent a lot of time here. I have many friends here and I really love it. I could not have picked a better place to go. Taiwan went through the SARS epidemic in 2003 and they had experience with these things. Right away they jumped into action. When I arrived many people were already wearing masks and they’d launched a program to make one million masks a day. From the very beginning Taiwan began doing everything right.
A few weeks after my arrival they started restricting travel. The spring of 2020 was uncertain for everyone around the world. I arrived on a tourist visa and had some plans to visit Vietnam and mainland China. Those ideas were squashed. But again Taiwan has been wonderful and they extended the visas for people like me. It’s not a good time for anyone to travel.
Since then I’ve been in a kind of limbo/ forced retirement. While working in Victoria I wrote a comic book about homelessness to raise awareness about the issue. Unfortunately there are homeless in Taiwan also. It’s a worldwide problem. Last year I had the book translated into Chinese. And this year I made a version with the English and Chinese in one book. I hope to bring more awareness to this important problem. This has been an interesting challenge and I’m working on more ideas to help the homeless.
I could not be “stranded “ in a better place. For over a year life in Taiwan was almost normal. They had only 10 deaths from the virus. Stores and restaurants were open. Everyone wears masks. There’s no anti maskers here. In May this year that changed. As in many places the virus surged again. The cases shot up and for the first time Taiwan did a lockdown. The peak of cases was May 22 and coincidentally I was tested positive for the virus on that day. I was quite sick and in quarantine for three weeks. You hear from many sufferers that they think they are going to die. I felt like that. But actually I was lucky and not as bad as many. Although I had to endure quarantine I was not even hospitalized. Once again the Taiwanese people were fantastic and took very good care of me. They have universal health care here and didn’t even charge me. I believe they understand that it’s the best thing for them and everyone if people are healthy. It was not only a good thing for me but for everyone.
I gradually got better. When finally I was free to go out again I got an electric bicycle. Seize the day and enjoy life now because none of us know how long we will be here. Riding the bike has been a lot of fun and given me some much needed exercise. I’ve been to parks and bike paths that I never saw before.
2020 and 2021 have been a challenge for everyone. I feel I’m quite lucky. This week I got the made in Taiwan Medigen vaccine. It’s good to have more protection. I’m lucky and very fortunate to be a Canadian in Taiwan.
James (Jim) Lade is the creator and writer of Homeless Harry. Even from an early age he was curious about the universe and life and what is this all about?
He has been a chef, restauranteur, dishwasher, lifeguard, gravedigger, log cabin builder, grass cutter, welfare recipient, English teacher in China, world traveller and homeless shelter outreach worker.
His book ‘Homeless Harry’ is now available on Amazon in English and Mandarin.
You are more than welcome to come forward and share your story with us, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. The only requirement is that it is personal and meaningful to you— just email keeperofthefaith@redroomtaipei.com