Sampan Mehta Week 14: My Travel Memories Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
From a young age, I was fascinated with air travel and exploring new places. As we all know, the pandemic really put a strain on the overall travel experience, and now that it has been four years since the beginning of the pandemic, I have started to recall more memories of my travel experiences before, during, and after the pandemic.
Starting with pre-COVID travel, the last time I flew internationally was in December 2019 and January 2020. Not only was this the last time I flew before the pandemic, but very close to the beginning of all pandemic restrictions. Everything was fine on the first way of my trip, but I started realizing there were some changes on the way back home. My family and I had a layover in Hong Kong and due to the long layover time, we planned to explore the city. But in January 2020, there were frequent announcements at Hong Kong International Airport warning passengers about a new “coronavirus” that had been spreading in Mainland China and to report any flu-like symptoms to medical staff. I was worried as neither my parents or I had known about this and then I started noticing that more people around the airport were wearing face masks and face shields. Fortunately, we made it back home just a few weeks before Hong Kong and the US started placing travel restrictions and strict bans.
Not soon after was the local lockdowns as COVID spread rapidly; therefore, any chance of me traveling that year was canceled. I was reading the news about the increased travel bans and lockdowns and lost hope of traveling again comfortably. This was true as in 2021, it was still not safe to travel again. Then, in 2022, there was a possible chance to travel again even though COVID was still on the rise. In April 2022, I visited Italy for the first time. This was the first time in almost a year and a half that I went on a plane, so it was an extremely different experience. We were all wearing masks, social distancing was still required, shops were closed, and the airport felt deserted overall. There was still the dreaded feeling of getting sick, but fortunately I was fine. Italy was also quite empty, but that made the experience better.
December 2022 was a time when travel felt normal again. Masks were no longer needed, airports were crowded, and social distancing reduced. This time, my family and I visited Italy, Switzerland, and France, and all three were bustling with tourists from across the world. In December 2023, I visited India again but it was my first time exploring regions like Himachal Pradesh. The travel experiences significantly changed from the pre-COVID experience, and I realize now how difficult it was to travel in early 2022 with restrictions and fear of sickness, quarantine and COVID testing. Nevertheless, I am grateful for being able to travel during COVID and being able to add meaningful travel memories.
Links:
https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692323001126
https://www.flightworx.aero/blog/are-we-fully-back-to-normal-from-before-covid/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/half-century-trips-180974601/
https://www.kwinmosby.com/blog/the-new-normal-for-travel
Hi Sampan! I love your retrospection on the impact of COVID-19 on travel, as your anecdotes bring such a relatable perspective into how exactly the disease has impacted us in the Bay Area. This is crucial when considering that so many news reports capture the most dangerous encounters or the broad statistics of the spread of coronavirus, so I commend you for finding an opportunity for growth in a world lacking optimism. Even though your experience at the airport was difficult, it is inspiring how your interest in exploring the world not only persevered but strengthened. My last experience traveling before the coronavirus was in the summer of 2019 when the disease was not even in the news; the first time traveling after the spread of the coronavirus was in the summer of 2023, when the only visible artifact was the fact that half of the passengers were wearing masks. The closest I got to seeing the extent of the public lockdown was when hearing from my mother, who traveled to Taiwan and stayed within the confines of a hotel for two weeks before taking care of her parents. I appreciate your viewpoint as it is much closer to when the rise of COVID-19 was most prevalent, shedding light on the extremities of medical precautions taken in public facilities that I was unable to personally witness.
ReplyDeleteHi Sampan! Thank you for sharing these interesting recollections of your travel experiences since it has been years since I have actually been able to visit someplace new. The last time I flew internationally was nearly five years ago, long before Covid-19 ever became an issue—I remember little about the time I spent in airports or planes, but I do know I generally had a good time with my family. At the time, wearing a mask seemed like something a person would only do if they were a doctor at a hospital or extremely sick, and I could never even imagine the concept of social distancing occuring in cramped locations like inside an airplane. Once Covid struck, all my travel plans were quickly put on hold, and I never had the opportunity to travel on air ever again. However, your description of the strict health policies put in place while you traveled in 2022 makes the experience seem somewhat dire, with the constant worry of getting ill and many stores/experiences not being available; thus, I am glad that your experiences traveling in 2023 were much more relaxed and closer to the “normal” that we remember from before Covid. After reading about your travels, I look forward to exploring the world myself.
ReplyDeleteHi Sampan! I’m glad that you and your family were able to make it back to the US before they could place travel restrictions at the airports. That was such a close call and I wonder what it would have been like if you guys had been stuck there. It is interesting how you were able to experience traveling even during COVID. I didn’t really go anywhere during the pandemic so I didn’t get to experience the feeling of tourist areas being deserted. I do know a friend who went to a theme park during the pandemic and apparently the lines were much shorter than before. When you were on vacation during COVID was your trip different in that regard as well? I was also able to travel recently post-pandemic but I found the airport much emptier than I had remembered from before. Perhaps it was the timing of the trip (it was during spring break)? I was shocked at how short the security check line duration was as we went through the line in minutes. I don’t know if it’s because I’m more patient now or something but it still felt extremely fast. Have you experienced the same thing when you went to the airport? I’m glad you got to experience traveling before, during, and after the airport which allowed you to experience things many others did not get to experience. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Sampan! Thank your for sharing your story related to all the travel that you and your family experienced. It was exciting to read about all the places that you had visited, and how your journey there was both exciting and confusing. I was also intrigued by how you described the situation just before the world went into lockdown for COVID-19. Like you mentioned, it was a confusing time, and for many, they were just days -- or even hours -- from being trapped in a foreign nation for a long time.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time, I remember reading that some people who were unable to catch the last flight out of a country were trapped for days or weeks until their government arranged a way for them to return to their home country. It was interesting, and honestly surprising, to see how the world came to a complete standstill because of the virus. Even in times of war, countries and airports and travel were not impacted as severely as they were by COVID-19. I also remember reading that the standstill came as a huge surprise to many governments; today, several governments and agencies have regulations and protocols to govern a situation like COVID.
Overall, thank you for sharing your story on this interesting and historically-relevant situation. Clearly, it reveals that a lot of the institutions and systems that we rely on every day are more fragile than we would know. As we move forward, we should look for ways to be prepared for any scenario, as anything can happen at any time.
Hi Sampan! Your blog post on your travel experiences before, during, and after the pandemic describes a poignant journey through the changing landscape of air travel amidst COVID-19. I like how you begin by reminiscing about your last international trip in December 2019 and January 2020, just before the pandemic took hold. As you recall your layover in Hong Kong, you vividly describe the atmosphere of uncertainty surrounding the emerging coronavirus, with announcements cautioning passengers and an increasing prevalence of face masks and shields. This experience serves as a stark reminder of the rapid changes that occurred as the pandemic unfolded. Additionally, the start of local lockdowns and travel restrictions halted any plans for travel in the following year. Your articulation of the sense of disappointment and loss of hope as you navigate news of increased bans and restrictions was powerful, reflecting the widespread impact of the pandemic on global travel. As travel opportunities gradually resurface in 2022, you describe your cautious return to air travel with a trip to Italy in April. The gloomy atmosphere at the airport and the implementation of safety measures highlight the lingering effects of the pandemic on the travel experience, yet you find comfort in the emptiness of the destination, which allows for a unique and introspective experience. By December 2022, you will notice a shift towards normalization as travel restrictions ease and airports regain their bustling energy. I noticed this too and was able to resonate with that, as that was the first year after COVID that my family traveled well. Then your subsequent travels to Italy, Switzerland, and France paint a picture of a world gradually reclaiming its pre-pandemic vibrancy, with bustling tourist activity signaling a return to normalcy. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, you express gratitude for the meaningful travel memories created amidst the backdrop of COVID-19, which was extremely impactful. Overall, your blog post helped encapsulate the resilience of travelers in adapting to the evolving landscape of air travel during the pandemic, while also acknowledging the profound impact of COVID-19 on shaping the travel experiences of individuals worldwide. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHello Sampan! It is fascinating remembering the times during COVID-19. I was relaxed at the time, quite happy with where I was in school and the social stature I was at. I had never realized the consequences of my actions such as the devastating time lost out of school and the precious time used for learning lost for other activities. After all, school is school and no matter what we use it for, it can never reach the same expectations as school gives to you. It is as if recreating the scene from a war of George Washington's instead of seeing it visually in the past. There is a sharp contrast and it makes it quite exciting to know. COVID-19 was definitely something I miss for its enjoyable experiences outside but it also brought me fond memories with my family and friends. Thanks for publishing such a great article that helped me recreate these memories and really understand what COVID-19 had upon us as a community and around the world.
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