So, I have been back in Missoula for almost 2 months. Time flies when quarantined during a global pandemic! I think we have all been witness to what has been going on globally so I am going to take it local.
Here in Missoula, we went into lockdown the week I got back. Streets were suddenly empty, my favorite ice-cream shop was closed, and hugging my friends was illegal. Let's just say it wasn't exactly the welcome back to my favorite town in the world I had imagined. I went on morning runs in the vacant streets, baked constantly to try to fill the ice-cream void, and met my friends in parks and talked from an awkward 6ft (1.8288m for my non-American readers) distance that was still infinitely times better than through a screen.
Soon, I got into a rhythm for every day. I would do yoga with my dad in the morning and then we would meditate as a family before having breakfast. Then I would work on my CAS project (compiling a global cookbook to eventually sell to raise money for a school in Eswatini), work on the company my brother and I started (a zero-emission lawn care service), and work on organizing phone banking and letter writing to Congresspeople (I am currently the Vice-Chair of High School Democrats Abroad). I would also FaceTime friends, or occasionally give in to the temptation of aimlessly surfing the internet. Then, I would try to do "wholesome activities" like hanging out with my brother, playing basketball, reading, practicing guitar, or going on hikes with friends (again, with distance). Then, my family would have dinner and finish off the day with Glee (yes, we watched an episode a night for a month, please don't judge). I was really missing Waterford but feeling so lucky to be in a place where I could run and bike and hike and with a supportive family that had not been impacted by layoffs.
Then, my month long term break ended and now I have started on the wonderful adventure of online school. I feel like I'm sharing in the common pain of students and teachers and parents and basically everyone besides Zoom Video Communications, Inc. I am getting used to the new reality (and going to class at strange times because of time zone differences), but unfortunately, what has suffered are my "wholesome activities." I still find time to exercise every day and am keeping up with my CAS project, lawn mowing business, and HSDA Abroad organizing but some of the activities I was really enjoying, such as practicing Arabic on Duolingo and playing guitar have been replaced by classwork.
I am still trying to find a way to balance all these activities. I am finding myself a bit split between Waterford and life here in Missoula. However, this separation is a reality I will have to accept for the foreseeable future. I think it will be hard to be grindin' away "at" online school this summer while everyone here is on summer break, but I will manage. I am really hoping to be able to return to Waterford in September but until then I am going to focus on enjoying Missoula and my family and friends and staying grateful. I hope everyone is staying happy and healthy wherever in the world they are!
Here in Missoula, we went into lockdown the week I got back. Streets were suddenly empty, my favorite ice-cream shop was closed, and hugging my friends was illegal. Let's just say it wasn't exactly the welcome back to my favorite town in the world I had imagined. I went on morning runs in the vacant streets, baked constantly to try to fill the ice-cream void, and met my friends in parks and talked from an awkward 6ft (1.8288m for my non-American readers) distance that was still infinitely times better than through a screen.
Soon, I got into a rhythm for every day. I would do yoga with my dad in the morning and then we would meditate as a family before having breakfast. Then I would work on my CAS project (compiling a global cookbook to eventually sell to raise money for a school in Eswatini), work on the company my brother and I started (a zero-emission lawn care service), and work on organizing phone banking and letter writing to Congresspeople (I am currently the Vice-Chair of High School Democrats Abroad). I would also FaceTime friends, or occasionally give in to the temptation of aimlessly surfing the internet. Then, I would try to do "wholesome activities" like hanging out with my brother, playing basketball, reading, practicing guitar, or going on hikes with friends (again, with distance). Then, my family would have dinner and finish off the day with Glee (yes, we watched an episode a night for a month, please don't judge). I was really missing Waterford but feeling so lucky to be in a place where I could run and bike and hike and with a supportive family that had not been impacted by layoffs.
Then, my month long term break ended and now I have started on the wonderful adventure of online school. I feel like I'm sharing in the common pain of students and teachers and parents and basically everyone besides Zoom Video Communications, Inc. I am getting used to the new reality (and going to class at strange times because of time zone differences), but unfortunately, what has suffered are my "wholesome activities." I still find time to exercise every day and am keeping up with my CAS project, lawn mowing business, and HSDA Abroad organizing but some of the activities I was really enjoying, such as practicing Arabic on Duolingo and playing guitar have been replaced by classwork.
I am still trying to find a way to balance all these activities. I am finding myself a bit split between Waterford and life here in Missoula. However, this separation is a reality I will have to accept for the foreseeable future. I think it will be hard to be grindin' away "at" online school this summer while everyone here is on summer break, but I will manage. I am really hoping to be able to return to Waterford in September but until then I am going to focus on enjoying Missoula and my family and friends and staying grateful. I hope everyone is staying happy and healthy wherever in the world they are!
I love this! Technically, I still haven't read it though hahaha. Thanks for the headache-inclusivity!
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