As I stare at the photo on top taken, I cant help but notice the similarity between the two experiences. The first photo was taken about 3 weeks ago in Tel Aviv and the photo below it was taken this morning in Westchester, NY where I live. 3 weeks ago I was quarantined for a 2 week period since I traveled to Italy. When I first heard that I had to be quarantined, fear and anxiety ran through me. I thought what do I need, where do I go, what do I eat. The first few days were hard trying to figure out what to do. This was my first time ever in a real quarantine. Day by day I tried to get myself into a bit of a routine. I would wake up, eat breakfast, spend some time in the courtyard to get fresh air, lay in the sun, have an early dinner and repeat that for the next 2 weeks. I definitely had a feeling of being trapped; it almost felt like the prison television shows you see. The Madrachim would leave hot meals outside of our door and come at a designated time everyday which was usually around 1pm to bring us food. This was definitely one of the more exciting parts of the day. Most days I would make a list of things to do once I was out of quarantine. Having this list of hope written down made the days go by easier. I was quarantined with one of my friends and we truly made the best out of the situation. Whether it was taking walks around the Einstein dorms courtyard for a few minutes or using the big water bottles we received as hand weights, we added as much humor to the situation as possible. After quarantine, the situation of the coronavirus became worse. Little did my friends and I know that we would be sent home much sooner than expected.
A week and a half out of quarantine my friends and I spent our last days keeping busy! Fast forward to what I did not know at the time would be my last day in Israel, I went to brunch at Bread and Co, walked along the beach and waited until sunset, and then went back to the dorms to rest and get ready for dinner. Between the time of resting and dinner is when I received alarming news that in a few days to come, the airports were going to close and I would not be able to fly out. I quickly got myself and my roommates on the next flight out and we packed up our things within an hour. This moment was filled with anxiety and not being able to process what was going on. As I sat on the 12 hour plane ride heading home I was able to reflect on the past 2 months in Tel Aviv.
As you can see the picture on the bottom depicts me sitting outside in my backyard in New York with my dog Lola. I left Tel Aviv to come home to even worse conditions of the coronavirus in New York. Not many people get to say they have been “quarantined” twice but now I can. All I can do now is keep on hoping that this will pass soon. It really has put things in perspective for me. I have learned now more than ever to appreciate every day and do as much as you can because at any moment things can change on a dime. I started feeling sad when I was reading off my list of things to do in Israel when out of quarantine and not being able to check them off. Despite this, the common phrase of “this too shall pass” is what I keep telling myself and what my grandma keeps telling me when she Facetimes me to check in. Despite the fact that my abroad got cut short, I will go back another day to Israel and do what I couldn’t do now. I had the most incredible 2 months and met friends who I know will be friends for life. I only wish there was more time but this is a scenario that nobody could have ever expected. So, for now I sit here outside in my backyard reflecting on the past 2 months and reminding myself that I have my whole life to travel more and explore. I am super close with my family so being with them is very fun and entertaining. I am grateful for my experience in Israel and if anything I now have an even greater reason to return back!
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