OPINION: How I’m getting through my self-isolation in Italy
Former JFS student Rebecca Stein reveals what it's like to be on lockdown while on her year abroad in Padua
My name is Rebecca Stein and I’m in my third year at The University of Leeds, studying Spanish and Italian. I’m currently on my year out, as part of my Erasmus year, and have been in Padua (or Padova, in Italian), northern Italy, since September.
As a former JFS student and having spent two years at a university renowned for its large Jewish community, it has been interesting being a Reform Jew in Italy, where I have not met any other Jewish students. During Purim, I would normally spend time with my family, dressing up. But these are not normal times and we are in lockdown.
It has been an intriguing experience comparing the reality of our life in Padova
with how we are seeing it portrayed in the
British media.
In Padova, our daily life during the lockdown has changed fairly minimally. Late on Saturday evening, the news of a potential lockdown in 14 regions of northern Italy reached us, just hours before the final train from the red zones – areas placed under quarantine – left to the south of the country.
During Purim, I would normally spend time with my family, dressing up. But these are not normal times and we are in lockdown.
In a fluster, we deliberated about what would be the best response to take, with two of our German housemates deciding to pack up their lives into suitcases and flee in an attempt to make it home before the impending lockdown.
The following morning, we awoke to see that, despite the chaotic news the evening before, flights and trains seemed to be continuing as normal. This left us confused and frustrated, unaware of exactly what lockdown entailed.
The first thing we decided to do was head to our local supermarket after seeing news that many were stockpiling products. To our surprise, we were greeted by the sight of a fully stocked supermarket. Granted, the supermarket was slightly busier than usual, with staff enforcing the one-metre rule between individuals when queuing.
As the day went on and the sun came out, we decided to wander into an open square close to our home. There, we sat for an afternoon spritz among many other natives, celebrating International Women’s Day – another normal day in the city we have come to love.
As the days have gone on, we have begun to relax into the situation and started our university lectures that have been temporarily uploaded online. However, I, along with fellow students from the UK, was surprised to receive many messages and phone calls from home asking if we are able to leave the house or even reach a supermarket to get food.
For us, this situation had never crossed our minds, so we were confused about what others had been hearing in the media.
In light of our first-hand experience of the situation, we prefer to refer to the red zone as a safety zone. This is a term we all feel is more appropriate to describe the current situation.
We all certainly feel safe in this area, especially because, to our knowledge, the city of Padova has no reported cases. Despite concern from universities, family and friends, we have all decided to remain here together as we are hopeful that the situation will improve soon,
as a result of the travel restrictions.
We view the recent implementations as a positive attempt to contain the virus. We hope it does not cause panic or stress among the British public.
Our biggest concern was that, after hours of searching, we were unable to find any hamantashen in our quaint Italian city.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
