Picture this. You’re already away from your family and loved ones for two-and-a-half years.

You fly into the country and must self-quarantine as part of COVID-19 safety measures.

Your self-quarantine is over and in that time, the city you live in is on lockdown and there is no way you can get to your loved ones any sooner.

Frustrating? Yes. Selfish? No

Because that’s what Adi Lamawanaivalu Vesikula’s has to endure for the next few weeks or more while she’s in Suva.

Her journey began way before March 21, as two of her flights scheduled to make the trip home were cancelled.

Her biggest fear was being stuck at an airport during a time the world was shutting down boarders.

“I understood the fear people had of COVID-19, because I was coming from Japan. All I wanted was to get home to Fiji instead of getting stuck at the airport and not knowing what would happen if I couldn’t get home,” Ms Vesikula said.

“So, with that understanding, I made sure I followed precautions when it came to the mandatory guidelines Fiji had set.”

Ms Vesikula fully understood the need to be in isolation. But her journey has not ended yet.

While she has been cleared by the Ministry of Health, most family and loved ones are beyond the checkpoint at Nausori Bridge.

She said people needed to realise the importance of doing the simple things, that would eventually save lives and the nation.

“Even though I have finished my quarantine, there is still a huge danger of the Coronavirus in Suva and the whole of Fiji,” Ms Vesikula said.

“So, I really cannot go anywhere now. I am comfortable being at home. But at the end of the day, it was the support of my family that kept me sane.”

After her return to Suva, she stayed in a hotel. It was not easy being alone and it was a test of mental strength.

“But being able to video call my family and friends kept me sane. Understanding that God is in control of everything,” Ms Vesikula said.

Her message to Fijians, especially to the COV-IDIOTS, is simple, stop being selfish, do the right things and join the fight to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj

*Also read about Roy Krishna’s self-isolation experience by subscribing to the E-Edition*