’83, M.S. 鈥�86
Mechanical engineering
As it turns out, COVID-19 has been affecting my life only somewhat marginally鈥攕o far! Just before last Christmas, my wife and I bought a house in South Kingstown, R.I. By sheer luck, I was able to move into our new place before all the troubles and limitations began. Yes, after a 35-year interregnum living around the world, I am now back in the neighborhood!!! Since then, I have been mostly home-bound, busy with a few upgrades to our new house.
So, yes, I miss the happy hours on Friday afternoons; I miss being able to go out for that great Rhode Island seafood; and I miss being able to go to see some movies, hear some music, or enjoy some of the Rhody Rams sport events.
Things are quite different for my daughter, Filipa Serpa 鈥�17. She was in her second year as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique, Eastern Africa. She鈥攁nd all other PCVs around the world鈥攚ere called back home. She ended up being 鈥渟tuck鈥� in Europe on her way here, so that鈥檚 where she still is today. But, then again, it could have been much worse!
Things are even a bit more complicated for my wife, Lucy Tamlyn. She is a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, currently serving in the Central African Republic. Not being allowed to live there with her on a permanent basis (due to the in-country security situation), we have been meeting occasionally, here and there, whenever possible. This spring I was supposed to go to Europe to see her, but in March, her Embassy went into what they call 鈥渙rdered departure,鈥� meaning that all 鈥渘on-essential鈥� staff was evacuated back to the U.S. As a result, she is stuck in Bangui, C.A.R., with minimum staff鈥攖his in an era not very much conducive to international travel. So I am getting psychologically ready to not see her for a few months. That is not so great. Cheers.