„Let’s hope for a better future!“ – Karine Napol über die Situation auf Martinique

Palmen, weicher Sand und klares Wasser – die Karibik gilt nicht zu Unrecht als ein Paradies auf Erden. Doch auch dort dreht sich alles im Moment um das Corona-Virus, wie Karine Napol berichtet. Sie ist Lehrerin am Lycée de Bellevue in Fort-de-France auf Martinique, einer Partnerschule des Max (hier einige Eindrücke der Begegnungen der letzten Jahre: Austausch mit Martinique), mit der das Gymnasium seit 2014 kooperiert.

„We heard about the birth of coronavirus in Wuhan and never suspected in our wildest dreams that the virus would land one day on our Island, Martinique. Absolutely,  it didn’t seem to be a source of worries especially as prominent French doctors and politicians were referring to it as less serious than flu. Life was going on as usual, crowds of people parading and jumping up and down streets during carnival, people kissing, shaking hands as we do everyday, at least 20 times, with everybody we know. People urged to vote for the sake of democracy despite the approaching tornado…

It all seemed strange to be so confident while Italy was so dramatically hit. We must have missed something. Surely…

France woke up just after the municipal elections and now all is calm and quiet. Not a soul in the street or at the beach. Guess why? To go out, we need to print and fill in an official authorisation. Everyday, a restriction is added. Only food and medicine. No walking or driving within more than one kilometre from home. Transgressors are fined and repeat offenders can be jailed. Would you leave your home?

“We are at war”, our President repeated six times in his speech. Everybody understands that the enemy is outside. It is invisible, odourless and can’t be touched. There is danger outside for ourselves and for our loved ones and for anybody. We love our older generations and want them to stay with us as long as possible. We have become extremely disciplined and there is no more panic food shopping.

In my seaside neighbourhood, all is calm. Only the clapping of hands can be heard every evening et 8 to thank nurses and doctors for the great job they are doing with the little means they have. Mind you, they had been asking the government to maintain the health sector in shape. Nobody heard.

The number of people infected is progressing everyday. Tonight, it reached 87 but doctors say we should multiply this number by 100 because most people have few or no symptoms. But they carry the virus.

Teachers are doing online teaching. Parents are helping their children as best as they can. Some parents say teachers should be paid a thousand times more, have a special place in Heaven because they are true heroes for looking after their children. By the sound of it, all of us teachers will be millionaires and saints when this is over.

The day after coronavirus will definitely be a new one. We will look at people in a different way, appreciate more the privilege of visiting one another, kissing our family members, friends and colleagues. Nature will also surely be different. Everything happens for a reason whether we know it or not.

If we listen to the silence of nature, we will hear its cry of despair… but also relief. When all goes back to normal, let us respect the planet and care more for one another.“