COVID and culture shock

Here's an interesting and encouraging video I was forwarded this week: "Culture shock: Why everyone's feeling it, and how to cope."

An important part of missionary training is understanding the causes and symptoms of culture shock and how to cope with it.There are a number of parallels between this and the current global situation with COVID-19:
- a sudden culture change: differences in how we live, communicate, greet others, work etc.
- disconnections between our expectations and reality (e.g. being able to buy what we want from the supermarket)
- feeling incompetent about navigating the new world
- a sense of grief at things we have lost from our 'old life'

Things we can do to help ourselves cope:
- Be realistic about your expectations. Navigating a new world is exhausting. Most people in culture shock might only be able to function at 60% of their 'normal' capacity. Tell yourself it's ok if you don't get as much done today as you were hoping to.
- Realise that everyone is in the same situation and extend grace to them.
- Keep some sense of normalcy, e.g. meal times, family activities.
- Maintain a daily rhythm, e.g. if working from home, start and stop at the same time, get dressed, set aside a work space. Set aside time for prayer and Bible reading, exercise.
- Don't feel bad about withdrawing to a place that feels normal e.g. watching a favourite movie.
- Be aware that it won't be the big things that get to you, but the little things.
- Think of things you can be thankful for.
- Remember that with time, you will adjust. You will feel more competent and resilient.
- Remember that all disasters come to an end eventually.

Bare Hill rock art (Bunda Dibandji)

I was keen to go for a walk today, so headed to Davies Creek national park to do the Turtle Rock circuit. However the track starts and ends at the upper campsites, which are currently closed because of COVID-19 restrictions. I'm not sure if the closure only applies to camping, or to day walks as well, but I decided to obey the signage and not go up - Turtle Rock will still be there in the future.

On my way back out I passed the mountain bike park (which is open), and directly opposite was a 4wd track that I'd seen before when I did the Kahlpahlim Rock track. It had a sign saying 'Rock art site 5.2 km'. I wasn't about to take my car on the track, but figured I was here and 5.2 km wasn't too far to walk. I hadn't heard of any rock art sites near Mareeba, so it sounded like something different to go and explore.

After the 5.2 km along the 4wd track there was an information board and a sign for a walking track that goes up to the galleries. All up it took me about 1.5 hrs each way; I had lunch at the galleries.

The parks service had recently done a controlled burn

Steps up to the rock art galleries

Rock art

The track runs next to Bridle Creek for some distance

Hidden gems

Yesterday I went for a short* 1 hr drive to do a couple of shorter and lesser known walks between Atherton and Ravenshoe**:
- Big Millstream Falls
- Little Millstream Falls
- Mt Hypipamee crater (actually a diatreme)

* Keeping local, you see... but it's all relative in FNQ!
** Pronounced 'Ray-vens-ho' (not 'Ray-ven-shoo')

Big Millstream Falls. Apparently the widest single-drop waterfall in Australia.

The Hitchins 'happened' to be walking at the same time

Little Millstream Falls, viewed from above

Little Millstream Falls - a hidden gem!

The Hitchins having fun with a rope swing over the deep water hole

Mt Hypipamee crater - 60 m across, 58 m straight down, 73 m deep, and very impressive!

Part of Dinner Falls, also at Mt Hypipamee

Mareeba safari

Today I went for a walk from my house, which is at the southern end of Mareeba, all the way to the golf course, which is at the northern end. A bit of a safari, if you will! Here are some pictures of some interesting things I saw on the way.

Bringing back memories... this is the church where my cousin
got married in 1995, which was our first family visit to Mareeba.

Rail bridge across Granite Creek

New spelling for 'distancing'

Resident kangaroos at the Mareeba golf course

Geese at the Bicentennial Lakes

Turtle at the Bicentennial Lakes

Getting outdoors

Last weekend I went for a day walk at Speewah - retracing the steps of one of the first walks I did upon moving to Mareeba almost exactly a year ago.

I had arranged to go with the Hitchins, but given the current government restrictions on gatherings of more than two people due to COVID-19, we went separately... but at the same time.

Maintaining 'social distancing' at our Stoney Creek lunch stop...

... and at the Glacier Rock lookout

A blue tiger butterfly

Golden orb web spider - we saw about 11 of these across the track!
Before this I had only seen one, at the lower part of Stoney Creek.