Susanna's Musings

Madrid recently stated that the country is on a State of Alert. Meaning everything is literally shut down except for supermarkets and pharmacies. Many Americans have been flocking towards the airport and buying last-minute tickets to get back to the States. The stock market is plummeting, too.

We’re living in a world of chaos. It’s a hidden war and somehow we’re forced upon it. There’s no escape. It’s inevitable.

Just last Wednesday, my school was closed for two weeks. And the students whom I usually tutor after school have cancelled. And I get it. We’ll do all in our power to avoid getting the Corvid-19. It’s absolutely insane.

Lately, I’ve gotten paranoid. I’ve been bunkered in my apartment with my host family for over a week and I’m definitely feeling cabin fever.

I mean, I’ve gotten outside to buy groceries and take out the trash, but I’m just in this fear that I might catch it. That I might be bedridden, especially in a foreign country.

I wish I could go home. Hug my family and my dog. See my friends.

Yet at the same time, I have this sense of duty. A duty to do some good in this world. It’s to teach English.

Over the years or rather over the months that I’ve been tutoring students, I’ve grown to have pride in this language – my mother tongue.

It’s what represents me. Sometimes, I take it for granted, especially now that I’m using more Spanish and even now I’m learning French. English is something that comforts me and gives me pleasure that I can convey my thoughts in the written word. .

Back during Hurricane Sandy in New York 2012 at the end of October, there was no power or hot water or no WiFi. And it was frigid. It last for weeks. But, it was the longest, miserable days of my life. I felt like God had abandoned me and we were living in the end of times.

Anyway, I’m just glad there’s still running water and there’s electricity and WiFi available. Plus, we can go outside for necessities, such as food, medical needs, non-tele work, and the bank.

Overall, I hope we all recover from this pandemic. And that we remain with hope!