Denial to Departure in 60 Seconds

A dated account of the emotional whiplash I've endured over the past week amidst this pandemic-induced breakdown of society.

Tuesday, March 10

This was my last day of peace.

Everything was normal. Sure, I had heard mention of the illusive coronavirus in the media, but it was primarily meme-based news and I was confident that the virus would never impact my little world.

What can I say, I'm hopelessly idealistic.

Wednesday, March 11

I was in the break room at the clinic when I received urgent emails from the UW study abroad and IIP offices regarding the suspension of all international programs. They strongly advised that all students abroad return home immediately and stated that they were pulling all support.

I was SHOOK.

I was also adamant that I was NOT leaving under any circumstances. After all, my internship program is 100% independent of the university, and therefore, they couldn't make me do anything. After a couple calls, I confirmed that there was nothing forcing me to leave, and I happily continued on with my daily life, blissfully ignorant of the coming storm.

Thursday, March 12

The U.S. DOS issued a Level 3 Global Health Advisory and advised all U.S. citizens to reconsider any international travel. All of my friends abroad booked flights home immediately and asked when I was coming back. I assumed they were acting rashly and informed everyone I wasn't leaving- New Zealand didn't even have any reported cases yet. Everything was fine.

Friday, March 13

The Europe travel ban was officially enforced, but I didn't really care. I was nowhere near Europe.

Saturday, March 14

The number of cases in New Zealand reached 8, the most recent of which was our first case in Wellington. The Prime Minister decided to take preemptive action, announcing that anyone entering the country (citizen or international) had to strictly self-isolate for 14 days. This mandate effectively cancelled my parents' plan to come visit me the following week. I was of course disappointed, but hey, I was now safer in New Zealand than ever before.

Sunday, March 15

There was news of mass flight cancelations and ever-increasing boarder restrictions, but the bubble of Wellington remained seemingly unaffected. The New Zealand government continued to implement their proactive approach to slow the spread of the virus across the islands, but no major lifestyle changes were enforced and I remained unconcerned.

Wednesday, March 18

Cases in the U.S. continued to skyrocket but I felt so disconnected from it all. That is, until I came home from work to discover that roommate #1 (an American) had suddenly booked a flight home for Friday morning (2 days away). I was shocked.

At the same time, Australia announced that they were tightening border restrictions and suggested a full travel ban, effective at the end of March.

We all went out drinking. Convinced each other not to leave. Planned a trip to the South Island for Easter.

@The Arborist

We got home. The situation escalated further. Roommate #2 (an Australian) booked her flight home for Friday morning (same flight as Roommate #1) after some additional urging and mild threats from her university.

Roommate #3 called her mom. I called mine.

Apparently, Midway airport had just shut down.

Ok so now things weren't looking too great.

It suddenly looked like I was going home.

Thursday, March 19

I went to work and informed my coworkers with a heavy heart that it was my last day. They bought me a cake and we had an impromptu going away party.

I booked my flight home for Sunday, so I could at least have the weekend to wrap up my time here.

Roommate #3 booked her flight home for Friday afternoon.

That night, we got drunk and did our best to cook up all of our food.

WE HAD ALL JUST GROCERY SHOPPED TOO. WE HAD SO MUCH.

Friday, March 20

Roommates #1 and 2 left at 3am.

The Global Health Advisory Issued by the U.S. DOS increased to a level 4.

Trump called all U.S. citizens back to the States, effective immediately.

I moved my flight from Sunday afternoon to Saturday morning.

After a final meal of scrambled eggs and yogurt, Roommate #3 left at 11am.

And I was alone.

I invited all my friends left in Welly to come over and take all of the food and supplies we didn't have time to get rid of.

And to say goodbye.

Midday, I treated myself to a brown sugar bubble tea and took it down to the waterfront, where I took in the view one last time.

And then I cleaned and packed like hell.

Saturday, March 21

After staying up all night, I said my final goodbyes and headed to the airport at 4am, only to find out that Australia had closed its borders to any international transit as of 9pm the previous night.

My flight connected through Sydney.

Quantas airlines informed the helpless crowds that only Australian and New Zealand citizens were allowed to board- all others were left to find another way home, as Quantas airlines was being forced to shut down entirely in light of these new restrictions.

Her name is Mila <3

A fellow stranded American and her kiwi housemates took me home with them and fed me breakfast and wine at 7am as we scrambled to find ourselves a new way back to the States. I curled up with their snuggly kitty and chocolate lab for a mid-morning nap while my parents (my heroes) navigated the minefield that was the United phone lines back home.

While I waited at the home of these friendly kiwi strangers that I was blindly trusting, the Prime Minister announced a Level 2 Health Advisory in NZ, and further travel and social restrictions were put in place.

A new flight that avoided Australia and connected me directly to LAX was found and booked, and my new AMAZING friends drove me back to the airport (not 12 hours after the first trip) and stayed with me as I (finally)successfully checked in.

I boarded my flight to Auckland and enjoyed an empty middle seat next to me, due to the freshly enforced social distancing on Air New Zealand planes. This was, unfortunately, at the cost of several travelers that were turned away at the gate.

I arrived in Auckland and walked through the deserted, seemingly post-apocalyptic airport, listening to the repeated warnings of social distancing and hygienic habits announced over loud speakers to the empty terminal.

Empty security checkpoint in the middle of the day

Creepy.

I arrived at my packed gate (pretty much everyone in the airport was on this single flight to the U.S.) only for the airline employees to request that anyone who booked within last 24 hours come forward so they could check our boarding passes.

EVERYONE moved towards the service desk.

While in line, I witnessed several people get turned away, told that they will unfortunately not be able to fly tonight.

WHAT.

Thankfully, I was in the clear, most likely due to my parents' tireless efforts to get in contact with the airline, instead of booking through an agency.

I boarded the huge, overbooked, antiseptic-soaked plane with a sigh of relief, as the pilot offered his condolences and promised to get us all home safely.

The fact that he could assume we were all citizens headed home, and acknowledged the struggles we had most likely all endured to get on this plane, is telling of the current times we are living in.

A COVID-19-safe meal courtesy of United

And 12 hours later, I landed in LA.

I HAD REACHED THE HOMELAND.

I would've kiss the floor if I wasn't so concerned about corona.

And yes, it is still March 21.

By the end of my travels, I will have consciously lived a total of 43 hours of Saturday, March 21, 2020.

I am using my 7 hour layover to type up this post from the empty United lounge, where I am fueling up on coffee and a host of pre-packaged snacks (the self-serve hot food bar has been

closed for obvious reasons) before completely the final leg of my 28 hour journey home tonight.

I am HEARTBROKEN that I had to leave Welly with barely a goodbye. I had so much left to do. So much left to experience. But most of all, I'll miss all of the amazing people I've met. Throughout this chaos, one thing has become astonishingly clear- we really can't take anything for granted in this world. No day, no opportunity, no person. It's cheesy and over-preached, but true.

However, I will be back. I am more confident in that than I have ever been.

There are so many more people across the globe who are suffering much greater losses that can't be rectified when this all blows over, and my heart goes out to them.

All things considered, I can't possibly complain.

(Don't mind the paragraphs of complaints above)

I am so incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity that I did to experience New Zealand, and I am returning to the States a better and happier person for it.

One of my kiwi saviors at the Wellington airport taught me a Maori phrase earlier today (maybe 21 hours ago?) that I believe everyone should hear and embrace-

Kia kaha.

This sentiment is a word of encouragement, translated loosely into "Stay Strong". It is meant to remind the people to stick together, take care of each other, and persevere.

And really, what else is there to do in these crazy times?

Kia kaha my friends :)

It's good to be home.

Welly my baby, you will be missed <3