This week I start my self-quarantine at home. My study abroad program recommended that all its students self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving to their destination as a precaution. Just in case we do develop that we don’t infect loved ones. Long story short, self-quarantine sucks!
Ever since I’ve gotten home, I’ve been isolated to my room with limited to interaction with my family members. My mom slides my meals through the crack of the door. I usually enjoy being in my room, and when I’m home that’s where I spend most of my time. But being locked in here against my wishes is a completely different experience. My door stays closed most of the time so I can hear every passing by and having conversations. The worst part about it all is not being able to hug my niece and nephew. Whenever I come home, they’re always so excited to see me. They rush to the door screaming “Tati” (the creole word for aunt). I can hear them asking my mom “why can’t Tati come and play’ and it just breaks my heart.
Being alone in my room, I have so much free time on my hands that I don’t know what to do with it. I haven’t started my online classes yet, so I spend my days catching up on Netflix movies and TV shows, FaceTiming my friends and extended family, and napping.
It is interesting to note the vast differences in news delivery of the Coronavirus. When I was in Denmark, on a local level there wasn’t much talk about Corona, and if there were people didn’t seem to be that worried. Now that I’m back in the United States, I have witnessed first-hand what fear can do. Every day without fail all that’s being discussed is Corona. They way the report about Corona globally is very different than I experienced it. They made it seem like people were falling ill left and right in Europe, but for me, everyday felt like a normal day. With the constant change of information everyday it’s hard to pinpoint what is actually true. I try and steer my parents and family members away from “fake news” because what is being said and what is actually being done are two very different realities. Upon arriving to Florida, I saw on the news that the US government said anyone arriving on an international flight would be tested for any sickness. When I actually landed, that didn’t happen. I walked through passport control and left the airport like it was any other day.
Lots of uncertainty lies ahead, but I’m hopeful things will be sorted out soon.
Adventures Abroad 