As I write, CR is loosening restrictions more & more, that most people think that we're 'getting back to normal'. However, I'm not sure what normal means yet, as there still might be repercussions - we will see. But as I look back at this time, some things stand out...
Spring
We enjoyed the most amazing spring in CR! It has been probably the best that I have experienced since we moved here in 2001, but the fact that I could personally enjoy it was even more special! I love spring - it really is my favourite season. Normally, because of the demands of my job, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it as much as I have done, but I adapted a routine where I would work mornings & evenings & keep the afternoon free, in order to take advantage of the wonderful weather, and all that goes with it. As a keen birdwatcher (twitcher!) it was fabulous! I was able to enjoy walks & some cycling trips (I've cycled twice as much as I have done in the past by this stage of the year!), and fitted in some birding with that. It really was a delight to see spring develop & unfold like a symphony - I could savour each movement.
It was a change of lifestyle that suited me. I was even able to take advantage of having a regular siesta after a busy morning! (Surely my favourite Spanish word - a great idea!) I found it refreshed me, and then having shifted some endorphins around after a good 20-30 km bike ride, I had the energy to continue working later on.
Spring was surely the greatest gift which the Coronavirus restrictions gave me 😊
The land of Zoom & FB chats
Of course, one of the main negatives was not being able to see friends & family face-to-face. We usually have a family get together, each 6 months, and the last one was due in Prague in March, but this was cancelled. So, we 'zoomed' a few times. I did Facebook chats with students, individually, and then groups, and when the groups were too big, then I moved them to Zoom.
I also enjoyed a couple of cyber-beer-chats with friends.
We even had our church meetings on Zoom, which was awkward to begin with - and some continued to struggle with it. It wasn't as good as face-to-face, but it was certainly better than nothing, and we had to learn how to get the best out of this medium. I'm glad it's over now, though we still continue to pray on Zoom each week.
However, I did start to get 'zoomed out', and became nauseous at the sight of a computer screen. I really missed the face-to-face, live interaction with students & friends.
Travel plans
Initially, a big disappointment for us was cancelling our travel plans. After losing ISLI, it was gutting to know we wouldn't be able to go to the Scottish highlands in July - we knew this back in March. It was something we were both really looking forward to, and we'd had our Airbnb booked & flights etc...but, it's not the end of the world 😉
However, our Plan B - the High Tatras in Slovakia - one of our favourite hiking/stomping grounds, is now open, and we'll be going there in early July. Bit by bit, the borders around CR have opened up in an effort to get the economy flowing again - are we being too hasty? Again, we shall see. We're expecting the Tatras to be very busy, but we know the area so well that we've been able to line up some hikes where we don't think there will be many tourists 😉
The bigger picture
This has been a very unique & unusual time - we can only guess how significant it will be in the future. I think it's been a wake up call - for people to think about what's really important in life, to challenge some of the values, and dare I say, even idols that we have created for ourselves. Shopping, sports, entertainment, travel - just to name a few - it leaves us with the question: What does my life consist of?
One of the biggest dangers, I think, is that many people will just try to 'get back to normal', or 'move on to the next thing' - but I think it's important before we do any of that to at least reflect on the experiences we've gained from this time, and to reevaluate & perhaps reassess what our life is about. Do we have a bigger picture - or do we still have a narrow field of vision?
