Traveling during COVID.
- evangandy
- Sep 20, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2020
One of the greatest opportunities that I have taken advantage over the last few months was being able to travel at a reasonably inexpensive manner. Since the world seemingly shut down in every populous area, I have taken a trip almost every 4 weeks. There’s a million things on why thats a negative, but mentally it has been the sunlight in the overcast of isolation between airport gates. Vancouver, Calgary and Victoria all had their own excitements and journeys attached to them. But right now, the fact that I am in Seattle with my sister is astonishing. Surreal almost. Euphoric?
Reasons to, reasons how and reasons why a trip to Seattle during a global pandemic are seemingly endless. But at the end of the day, absolutely everything fell in place for the opportunity to come about. Through not spending my “free” government money (thanks sugar daddy Trudeau), getting my scholarship, classes being all through Zoom and not having anyone to stay for; made it doable. And really, I don’t feel I will have this chance to take a 2 month “break” like this for many many years. So why not take advantage?
So really, thank you fate for putting everything onto my plate at the same time, clearing it and telling me to act upon what’s next. Not on what has just happened. To be anything but poetic at this point in this chapter would be a disservice to future me.
Isolation is tough. Maybe because I'm special I think that isolation is more difficult for me than most. Toronto but more specifically, me in Toronto has had that effect inwards. Dwelling on what was not, and what I didn’t have pushed the negativity into my mind all too often. Yes, when things opened and I could see other faces again. That helped. It was the little things that kept my brain at ease to see what was great about me, the future and the city I could call home. But at the end of the day, I was waiting for specific texts, specific identifiers to push me into tomorrow. Isolation made me think that I was not what I was, what I am and what I can be. Excuses or not, having a natural state of mellow isn’t the greatest thing when everyone surrounding me were finding joy in the things I couldn’t comprehend to be enough.
So, Seattle disallows the isolation to consume me. Settling into a home with my sister, being substantially closer to the Gandys, and of course being back on the best I mean west coast is all great. It really is great.
I didn’t want myself to think that this trip was because I am weak. Because I can’t handle my own shit across a country the size as ours. But at the end of the day, everyone that I have talked to about going to school in a different city that wasn’t home; they found solace in a friendly face. The NEED for someone, something to continue the journey is a necessity. Timing, life or whatever just didn’t allow the same story to be told. But they’re stronger than I, whether that be through fronts or not, tears rarely came from their eyes as they did from mine thinking about the distance. Not to mention fucking COVID. But maybe thats just a projection of my own thoughts upon another. Which is maybe good? Maybe I’ll be a bigger fish in a bigger pond. We’ll see.
I also know that I have so much gratitude to present forward to those who have made me comfortable enough to take this trip. Thank you Nike first off. Thank you for being understanding of mental health in young humans and letting me take this time off; while having a spot for me when I arrive back. Thank you Ryerson for being ahead of decision making for their students. Whether or not I agree with having $6k video calls, by setting their plans in stone created an ease of mind for the next 6 months. Thank you the LeClairs for giving me a second home, open arms and positive pressure to succeed in Toronto. Not to mention making the last two weeks such a laugh, such a smile and being able to talk sports was such a blessing. Thank you Gia for being an understanding roommate and wanting the best for me, and seeing me as more than just the other person in the apartment. Thank you Jess for letting me into your home, feeding me occasionally and being a voice of positivity and reason. Thank you Simone for the pursuit and drive to finish in Toronto. I don’t know where we’ll be come graduation, but what you’ve given me in the past year especially has allowed growth. Future me will thank you, future you will be proud. Future me will be proud.
I will be back. I will find success in my own struggles. I will overcome what is to be, and see myself where I wish to be. I will continue down the road taking in the scenery as it comes. Reminiscing in the irony of return flights, brands on shoulders and feet. I want to be happy, I want to be Evan again. Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary will allow that. Friends along the way, waiting in the cities and the potential of what’s next gives me hope. Hope, hard work and eyes forward can be the building blocks of the better me.
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