{SHANGHAI ~ April 25, 2020}
Time flies. I can’t believe it’s almost May. Spring arrived in Shanghai and everything seems to be back to normal. People go outside, enjoy the sun, cafes are packed and streets are busy as usual. At least this is how the Former French Concession looks like. It’s not reflecting Shanghai and for sure not the whole of China. But for me, personally, things are almost back to normal.
Almost! Because the World is far away from normal.
A few weeks ago China closed all boarders to other countries. Without a Chinese citizenship it is not possible to enter China. All visa are invalid for a undefined period of time. If I would leave China today, I won’t be able to return. Besides the fact that there are almost no flights to Germany. Only through a few detours I would be able to go back home. People entering the country have to go through a 14 day quarantine in a place assigned by the government.
I believe it’s the right thing to do because it’s the only way to get control over the situation and flatten the curve over time. But it also makes me think of course: when do I see my family again? When will I be able to travel again? What if…..? I push the thoughts aside as much as I can but of course is constantly lingering in the back of my mind.
How to distract when you know you can’t hop on a plane and go for vacation? Well – there is still China! I haven’t seen all of China yet, so I started to list down places to go. And of course there is the excitement about all the places I can go once this is all over! That excitement distracts me. Making plans, looking for dive sites I haven’t been, checking out all the places that are on my bucket list and browsing through amazing Instagram posts that let me travel in my mind.
Let’s keep fingers crossed that the world is moving to a new normal because after this, nothing will be as it was 5 months ago.
Take care, stay safe!
