FEAR NOT, EMBRACE THE POST COVID-19 ERA

           YEAH, Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) has started in Malaysia, Wed 10th June - 31st August. Savvy K calls it Relak MCO. During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, we were forced to live life cautiously and to work differently. I am not saying we should now throw caution to the wind and live life dangerously. We, or rather I personally will have to stop wishing and talking about the “good ole’ days.” Those days before Covid-19 of carefree moving around where the term “social distancing” did not exist, just might not return for a long time yet. 
SO, SNAP OUT OF IT SASSY JAM, you have to accept the NEW NORM, 
to EMBRACE LIFE POST COVID-19. 

           The very first baby step is to learn how to go out into our new world (be it groceries, clothes, eating) without feeling pressured. No one is harassing me, it is myself buckling under the fear of getting infected. So, my friends who are in the same generation with me, yes the BABY BOOMERS, here’s a step 1 - 6 guide to leaving the house without anxiety in Malaysia:

  Step 1: DOWN LOAD THE QR/BARCODE SCANNER/READER into your smart phone.

        PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, THIS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. 
 Many of us Baby Boomers will have phones that were produced in the dinosaur era, meaning the QR code reader will not be automatically in the phone apps, unlike the iPhones the Gen X and after are using. The very first time I ventured into the new world, this “amah” (grandmother) choked up the queue as I couldn’t take a picture of the QR code. Thank goodness, Savvy K was with me. She yanked me out of the queue and downloaded the QR code app from Playstore immediately. My friend, Ong Bong, had the same problem (obviously we belong to the same generation), so he just gave his phone to the security guard to figure it out. The guard took a quick look and retorted, “Encik, phone you tak' ada lah, you pergi tulis nama dalam buku.” (Mister, your phone does not have it, go write you name in the book). Ong Bong always wears his age with pride. He just jauntily walked over to the table to manually write his personal particulars. 

So, bear with us Gen X, Millennials and Zoomers, US Baby Boomers are learning.

 Step 2: REMEMBER YOUR MASK. 

          Post-Covid-19, masks are compulsory outdoor wear unless you enjoy being glared at.

        Step 3: QUEUE, SCAN THE QR CODE, FILL UP THE QUESTIONAIRE ONLINE, GET YOUR TEMPERATURE TAKEN. It has been a long time since us Baby Boomers have answered MCQs (multiple-choice questions), but MCQs have return to fashion post Covid-19. Note, there is no answer “None of the above!” like in our school exams, so don’t become "keliru" (confused).

 The queue will start from the car park even before you  enter the shopping mall.

Fill in personal particulars (necessary for contact tracing)

Tick whether you are a shopper, staff , vendor etc. Remember, there is NO "NONE OF THE ABOVE", YOU HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE BELOW!!! Hahaha ...

MCQ 1 and 2 - declare your symptoms and contacts

OK, all MCQs answered truthfully Sassy JAM (my inititals), I can proceed in.

        Step 4: BEFORE YOU ENTER THE STORE OF YOUR CHOICE, SCAN ANOTHER QR CODE and practice social distance in the boxes drawn on the floor while you wait to be allowed in.

        Step 5: GET YOUR HEAD SCANNED AGAIN (MEANING TEMPERATURE), SANITISE YOUR HANDS AND COLLECT YOUR QUEUE NUMBER 

   from the SDO (Social Distance Officer). YES, believe me, a new occupation has emerged post Covid-19. Holding a temperature scanner in one hand and a bottle of spray sanitiser in the other, we have to cooperate with our SDOs.

      Jaya Grocer is the Best, there is a staff who even gives you a pair of plastic gloves before you enter,

and all the plastic bags are already opened. It is difficult to open the bags with gloves on. Just take how many you need. Malaysia must be commended on how strict it is handling the situation to prevent resurgence of the virus.

 Step 5: SHOP QUICKLY. Being “warga mas” (golden/senior citizens above 55 years), we have been given the privilege of going into the shops before the younger generations. Let us not abuse this by taking our time as the young ones need to get their groceries too. The young ones queue in another area from the golden citizens.

We, Baby Boomers have our own priority lanes.

        Step 6. RETURN YOUR QUEUE NUMBER, go home. 

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE EMBRACED THE COVID-19 ERA.