If struggle is our greatest teacher, then 2020 has given us a top-class education. Since early March, each day has been a lesson; however, its message has been pervasive and brutal. We count the toll of the pandemic primarily in lives and livelihoods, but its truths are imparted in countless other ways too. COVID-19 has stolen our ability to connect physically, causing isolation for millions and warding off contact with others. It has cancelled celebrations, making gatherings sparse and solitary.
From the start of the crisis, we have had to cope with what Jane Guyer, Professor of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University, terms “enforced presentism,” a feeling of being stuck in a barely changing present coupled with an inability to plan ahead. The uncertainty regarding when we’ll see friends or loved ones, when we can return to work, or if jobs will even exist is daunting. Moreover, we are left wondering when we’ll travel again and where we might go.
Social media also serves as a bittersweet reminder of past adventures. This morning’s memory revealed that four years ago, I was in London for the David Bowie art exhibition at Sotheby’s. A year prior, I ventured to Balgo, Australia, preparing for a nine-day trek through the Gibson Desert. Back in 2009, I was on my way to Abu Dhabi and later to Bangkok.
Even memories from two years ago, though less exciting, are still significant. A trip to Cumbria to visit family stands out in stark contrast to recent months. This time last year, I was in my hometown, Dublin, a place I haven’t been able to visit since January.
What were once pleasant reminders of a life on pause have morphed into a painful reminder of what was lost. The uncertainty regarding when we can resume these experiences can be quite disheartening.
Nevertheless, we will travel again. We will craft plans for holidays to destinations we might explore for the first time or revisit cherished locations. Short getaways and long adventures await us; the joy of travel with family and friends is something we eagerly anticipate.
In due course, we will find ourselves navigating hotel websites, choosing sea-facing rooms while planning visits to museums and art shows. We will count down the days until we can activate our out-of-office notifications in anticipation of uninterrupted sunshine and relaxation. Soon, we will start expressing frustration over delayed flights and new departure times, while also applying aloe vera to sunburns incurred due to careless sun exposure.
The urge to explore is inevitable, and travel will inevitably make its comeback.
As we navigate the present, which the pandemic has made so much of the world unreachable, there is ample room for reflection. This period prompts contemplation on how effortlessly travel once occurred and how the wonders of exploration had been dulled by convenience. The world, once vast, has taken on a new proximity due to low fares and convenient access, with technology intertwining with our travel habits.
I dream of my next journey. Whether it’s returning home to Dublin or traveling to Italy to see family, the thought of future travel assignments fills me with excitement. After spending all of 2020 in one place, the world feels distant yet strangely familiar. I eagerly anticipate the thrill of arriving at an airport and contemplating my next destination.
When I do arrive, I hope to immerse myself fully in the experience, recognizing the immeasurable gift that travel offers us. Each journey from home to a new place is a unique opportunity to be amazed by the world and discover more about ourselves in the process. It’s a precious gift we can cherish, especially in times when it felt elusive.
