People Stories

(The UAC “Guarding with Love” people stories series continues: #NotOnlyAMask)

As told by Ms. Sylvia Huang (Lo Shu-hua)

I hadn’t seen my eldest son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson for two years. My eldest son had lived and worked in Hong Kong for many years and had just been transferred to Singapore. I got my first Moderna shot in early February and my second at the end of February. In early March I heard that my eldest son was unwell, and I immediately began preparing to visit him in Singapore.

The pandemic was still severe in the US, and the Singapore government had completely stopped issuing visitor visas to travelers from Europe and America. With the help of my niece, AMD CEO Lisa Su, a special application was made to the Singapore immigration authority, which approved my entry visa. Even though I had completed the two vaccine doses required by the US government, that wasn’t accepted. I had to complete the complicated online pre-departure COVID test and health declarations, book a quarantine hotel in Singapore for fifteen days, and buy a business-class ticket on Singapore Airlines’ 18-hour nonstop flight from New York to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines had launched its New York–Singapore nonstop route – at 18 hours, the longest in the world – only early this year, just as the pandemic hit Europe and America hard. The whole luxurious plane carried only ten passengers; there were more cabin crew than passengers. I had the entire business-class cabin to myself, with the crew attending to me. Their warm care, the fine food, music, movies and free WiFi left me feeling quite spoiled.

After clearing Singapore immigration, I was taken straight to the arrivals hall for another COVID test, then put on a dedicated quarantine shuttle to my assigned quarantine hotel, the Regent Singapore. After checking in, I chose three meals a day for fifteen days. I was told I could not leave my room for 15 days – if I stepped out, I would not be allowed back in. Daily meals, cleaning supplies and toiletries were left by staff on a chair outside the door for me to collect, and used items were left at the door to be swapped. The immigration authority phoned at random times to confirm I was where I was supposed to be.

The 15 days in the quarantine hotel felt like being locked up, my freedom gone. I couldn’t move around freely; day after day I stayed in a luxurious suite with a balcony and living room, yet I couldn’t relax and enjoy it. Day and night blurred together; I kept the TV and lights on, dozing and waking, waking and dozing, not knowing where I was. I had little appetite. My daughter-in-law brought some food and fruit, but she could only leave it in the lobby; we couldn’t meet face to face. My only contact with the outside world was online each day. I truly felt lonely and helpless.

When the 15 days of quarantine were over, I was taken for yet another COVID test, specially arranged by immigration at the hotel, and only after the result came back clear could I check out. Going downstairs, I finally saw the Regent Singapore’s luxurious facilities. Staff briefly showed me around the hotel’s amenities, took a souvenir photo, and welcomed me back to enjoy its food and entertainment some day. I had no interest in lingering and left right away to see my son and his family.

The whole city of Singapore is well planned, clean and green, with fresh air, calm and pleasant to the eye, and free of COVID. People wear masks and follow the rules. The climate is hot and humid, with a downpour every afternoon.

My eldest son gradually recovered. I missed my own home, my own way of life, my own food. I had no wish to stay abroad long, so I decided to return to New York. Once again I took a pre-departure COVID test and filled in the health form required by New York State. I flew business class on Singapore Airlines again, with only 11 passengers on board, and enjoyed the crew’s attentive service all the way. Back in my own sweet, comfortable home, I felt much more relaxed.

I am writing down this unforgettable experience of quarantine travel to Singapore. My advice to everyone: unless quarantine rules are fully lifted, stay home during the pandemic and don’t go abroad – it’s such an ordeal. Two vaccine doses, four COVID tests, two health declarations and a strictly controlled fifteen-day hotel quarantine: the process is so complicated and tedious, and the strain and expense it brings are truly frustrating and hard to bear.

The helplessness of quarantine is above all about longing for our loved ones. When family members live far away and the pandemic keeps us apart for so long, the worry outweighs even the missing. Thank you to my brother-in-law, my eldest sister, Lisa and their family for helping me make this deeply memorable journey during the pandemic, and thank you all for your care and love.

Note: Ms. Sylvia Huang (Lo Shu-hua), president of the Eastern US Public Affairs Advisory Association, previously gave a UAC online talk, “The mental stress caused by COVID-19, and how to care for your own and your family’s mental health“. In her humble, approachable way she helped Chinese-American audiences understand how to deal with the psychological problems arising during the pandemic. This piece recounts her trip to Singapore to see her eldest son during the pandemic; between the lines are the helplessness of social isolation and the hope that the pandemic will end soon. That is a hope we all share. Please take good care of yourselves and your families, get vaccinated, and let’s reach herd immunity soon and get back to normal life.