As unexpected as it was, this is where my journey ends for now. Five days after I returned to Sevilla from my trip to Porto, on Mach 14th the Spanish prime minister declared a state of emergency in Spain consequently locking down the country. This was all due to a measure ordering people to stay at home in order to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. At the time, Spain was one of the worst hit countries behind Italy in Europe. This lockdown banned all residents from leaving the house for all but essential reasons such as buying food, going to the pharmacy, or traveling to the hospital. You couldn’t even go on a walk. Everything else was closed. As a Language assistant I was informed that while schools were closed as long as I stayed in Spain and abided by the quarantine I would still get paid. While I was lucky to be still receiving a paycheck, life was pretty dismal with police cars driving down streets telling people to stay inside or receive a huge fine.
This virus has affected the health and minds of those most vulnerable in our society — as well as put a large strain on our countries and citizens economically — and has damaged the collective cultural spirit, especially in Sevilla. In order to avoid future spread of the virus, government officials decided to put aside the serious economic and spiritual impact of canceling their rich traditions of Semana Santa parades and the Fería de Abril. In the past, these celebrations tend to gather thousands of visitors from around Spain and the world to see these spectacles. While I myself am not worried of coming into danger because of this virus, I understand of the great impact that I could cause to so many others in my community. Of course, these cancelations which I have waited years and even moved to this great city to witness, as well as my family having to cancel our trip to see one another here in Spain, hurts.
On the first full day of the lockdown here in Spain, my roommates and I were brought to the window with the sounds of clapping coming from all directions in our neighborhood. It was only a few minutes after when I began to receive messages from other Auxiliars living here in Sevilla sending videos and messages about the clapping in their different parts of town. For 5 minutes the clapping continued as more and more of my neighbors came out on their terraces and a few fireworks went off down the street...all of which was a tribute to our health and sanitation workers who are putting themselves at risk to keep the rest of us safe. Since then, I heard that this same celebration took place all around Spain. Due to this act of solidarity and gratitude I received more and more notifications of planned “Indoor Flash Mobs” and ways to keep our spirits high and have fun during the trying times.
Kim and I made sure to stock up on essentials the day before the lockdown began going to already sold-out grocery stores. For a while, we were confident that we could ride it out and wait for more news. The good thing, as I previously mentioned, was that we were still getting paid and didn’t have to worry about scrambling for money. I was also able to continue giving my private classes over video chat. However, then it came to the question of whether we were going to be able to get out and get home when we needed to. Reports started to come out from the UK that they were canceling flights, and the worry began that more countries — including Spain — were about to do the same.
It all happened very quickly with a lot of anxious phone calls and a few tears, but Kim and I ended up buying our tickets home a week after the lockdown began. That very day we packed up our apartment, closed all our accounts, and left the very next day. All of it was very emotional as the realization hit us that we were leaving. However, at the end of the day, it was the right choice. I was there to experience life. And that life was to spend time with others coming from different countries, religions, and backgrounds other than my own. It was to travel and marvel at all of the wonders that are allowed on this beautiful Earth. But now, that option was taken off the table. So, we decided it was better to spend our time in lockdown back in the US with our families rather than alone in Spain.
Currently, it has been over a month since the lockdown began in Spain. Only now they are just allowing some outside time for children as the serious social distancing and quarantine procedures continue. Kim and I arrived in Portland on March 25th after traveling by train first to Madrid and then by flying from there to make connecting flights to LAX and then PDX. The airports were more or less deserted and the workers all wore masks and gloves. In the LAX airport, CDC officials were taking our information and — for some — their temperatures. Instead of going home right away, Kim and I rented a car from the airport and drove to my family’s cabin on the coast outside of Lincoln City. We spent the next 2 weeks in quarantine there to make sure we were not sick with the virus and had no potential to spread it to our family members when we returned.
Back home now, my dad is considered an essential employee so he is still working full time. However, since schools are closed here as well, my mom has been doing video conferences with her coworkers and helping out when she can. My sister, Erin, moved out of the dorms when the University closed and into an apartment nearby in Eugene to focus on her now online classes. Tomorrow is my 22nd birthday, but no big plans or family reunions are set. So far, the days are filled with trying to find something new to do. I continue to help my teachers back in Sevilla by sending listening actives I record from my bedroom. The situation in the US, although serious, seems much more relaxed. We are not taking the same actions as we did in Spain. Most stores are closed, but we can still be outside and go on hikes around town. What worries me is that some states — including Oregon — are now talking about resuming “back to normal” procedures and opening up non-essential businesses, even though their numbers of infections and deaths are still rising. While many here see what is going on in Spain is “overkill”, I worry that we are not doing enough and will see a continuous rise and fall of infections and deaths for the coming year — or God forbid years — to come. I have yet to see my grandparents in fear of getting them sick. But there is still hope.
I see it on TV every day with people spreading messages of love and hardworking employees putting their lives on the line to help “flatten the curve”. I have received many messages from my students, coworkers, and friends I have made over the past two years, sending their love and prayers my way. I don’t think this will end soon, but I am constantly inspired by everyone around me to keep striving for more. While this is an unfortunate way to end my journey, I know that in unknown times the most unexpected opportunities come to rise. If there is one thing that I have learned from these many incredible experiences I have had insofar, it is that something is always around the corner waiting for you to seize it.
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