Student, MaryJae Ardos Shares Her Quarantine Experience

/

Have you been quarantined as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? We’d like to hear about your experience. Pleas follow the link for some questions: Quarantine Experience.

We had the privilege of interviewing Maryjae Ardos from Pohnpei. She shared with us her experience of being quarantined in Pohnpei.

The following interview was conducted in March 24, 2020.

TFB = The Fourth Branch Micronesia
MA = Maryjae Ardos

TFB: Please tell us about yourself.
MA: My name is Maryjae Ardos. I’m from the Island of Pohnpei. I am one of the seniors that were supposed to graduate in May, from Xavier High School Class of 2020. For many reasons, we didn’t get to have our graduation ceremony but we are considered graduates.

TFB: How long have you been in quarantine, where are you quarantined, and where did you fly in from?
MA: Right after the announcement of our school closing down for the meantime, I departed Chuuk on Monday, March 16. I arrived in Pohnpei and I was brought to quarantine right away. Along with me, I have a couple of Xavier High School students with me.

On a bus, they brought us to Yvonne’s Hotel. Others were brought to China Star Hotel and Misko beach. We were supposed to be held in quarantine for 14 days. However after a day of examining us, they let us go. According to the doctor, they will not hold us back because we don’t have any sickness at all. If we have fever or cough, and if we traveled from a country with confirmed cases, then they will hold us back for 14 days. For my case, my results are good and I traveled from Chuuk, so I got out after a day of quarantine.

TFB: Can you describe the process from when you landed?
MA: As soon as I stepped off the plane, the task-force stopped me in front of the clearance building. They checked my temperature and made me fill out a health form. Then after getting my stuff, we got on a bus and they brought us to Yvonne’s hotel. The airport was on a lock-down, so we got out from the back door, not the usual exit. Arriving at the hotel, they fill us in with how things work in the quarantine zone. The rules, and how we can protect ourselves from getting the virus. Then they sent us to our rooms. Sharing rooms is our choice. For us students, we are close to each other so we decided to share rooms.

TFB: Describe a day in quarantine from the time you wake up to when you go to sleep.
MA: I woke up and breakfast was already delivered to our room. We weren’t allowed to step outside so we stayed in using our phones and watching TV. Before lunch, the doctors went and checked on us. After the check-up, the doctor informed us that our families can pick us up. We don’t have fever or cough so we can go home. They delivered our lunch and right after that our families picked us up.

TFB: What is the best thing about being quarantined? What is the worst thing about being quarantined?
MA: In my opinion, I liked it because I feel protected and safe. It was also fun and relaxing. I did not see or experience anything bad about quarantine.

TFB: What advice would you give to those who are about to be quarantined?
MA: My advice would be: Be a survivor. I said this because while I was being in quarantine, there are times where my classmates and I would need this and that but we weren’t being helped right away. It was not because the task-force and medics are not doing their job. They are attending to more than 50 people in the hotel and they would help us but not right away. Even though we are students, we didn’t depend on them. We took care of ourselves as independent children while we can. Plus, in time of a crisis like this, things are not bound to be easy. Another advice, Be a open-minded and considerate human being.