Day 67: Twelve Weeks and Counting …
Day 67: June 1, 2020
Global Cases: 6,363,196; Deaths: 377,191
Egypt Cases: 26,384 Deaths: 1,005
Nadia Khalifa
Accounting Senior
If I had known during that unforgettable and stormy weekend we all experienced back in March would be the last time I see my friends, I would have hugged everyone a little tighter and not let go.
My mind still can’t grasp the concept that this has become our reality. It feels like a nightmare that I’m dying to wake up from. I thought back in March that this would last 2-3 weeks and we would go back to campus, and move on with our lives. It’s true when they say you only truly learn to appreciate what you have when it’s gone. Who would have thought that at that point we would all experience a world pandemic?
I’ve grown to hate listening to the news or anything COVID-related. I’d rather just stay in the little virus-free bubble I have created in my mind. It’s just easier that way. The news is on almost 24/7, and I tend to avoid sitting in the living room while my parents watch and listen to the endless raves of global and local announcements.
I used to think my day-to-day routine was mundane, which involved waking up, going to university and being stuck in traffic for 2 hours, and then going back home. And the pattern would just continue for what seemed like a never-ending cycle. Believe me when I say that I would do anything to be stuck in traffic again.
The only traffic I face now is when my family and I need to use the bathroom at the same time, or when all of us are in the kitchen waiting for the other to finish using the microwave.
As cliché as this sounds, I’ve learned to appreciate the beauty in everything around me, from being able to go out, to spending late nights at university. This peculiar series of events showed me how fragile life really is, and that we, as humans, have no reason to complain as long as we have our health and families.
One of my favorite things on campus was witnessing the shift of seasons, especially from winter to spring. Seeing the beautiful change of colors in the flowers always gave me this indescribable feeling of joy. I miss getting dressed up, and feeling polished and refreshed. As a means to still feel like a decent-looking human being, I like to put make-up and pretend I’m going out to meet people; waiting for the compliment of “oh, I love how your mascara looks”, instead of just moping around in the same pajamas for days.
For The Caravan‘s previous diary entries in Arabic and English go to our COVID-19 Special Coverage page.
As overwhelming as this pandemic can be on our mental and emotional well being, the silver lining we always aspire to find in all difficult circumstances is quite bright. I’ve grown to be patient and understanding with everyone around me. It’s okay to not be okay and take it slow. Ironically, I was able to get out of my comfort zone in the comfort of my own home.
At the beginning of quarantine, I felt extremely frustrated that I felt “forced” to stay at home, and it made me feel helpless. I’ve been able to get my thoughts back in check, as a result of not having the exhausting and hustling day I usually have. It’s as if life is teaching us to just pause, and embrace what we’re all going through.
