Longing for my Students: Day Five
Day Five – March 31, 2020
Global cases: 858,355; Deaths: 42,309
Egypt cases: 710; Deaths: 46
Longing for my Students
Mervat Abou Oaf
Professor of Practice
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
It’s 5am Tuesday, the last day in March! This is longest time I have ever spent staying home since I was in school back in the 1980s. Why can’t I take advantage of the current situation and sleep a little more into the day?
Home is deserted this early, but so peaceful. I forgot how relaxing it is to wake up not having to rush into the usual routine of getting ready to head to work within the hour. I reach for my phone, I sometimes manage to catch my one-of-a-kind sister Maha, just before she goes to bed. We usually check on each other and exchange jokes shared on social media. I cherish us Egyptians, so very distinctive how we act in crises – everyone runs away from danger, unlike us – we run toward them. Very peculiar!
I long for my son, sisters, nephews, and nieces. I am blessed with a marvelous family alhamdullillah. My wonderful husband Nabil, agrees, (I wonder if he has a choice not to). I love them all deeply. We always gather at Maha’s at least once a week. It has never been the same since our precious Ezzat stopped joining … but still, we thrive to resume our family gatherings.
It is so very quiet, almost soundless this peaceful morning. After drinking my bitter fresh lemonade juice, I enjoy a humongous mug of Lavazza coffee, black, relishing every sip.
I wonder how many are infected this morning and how many will feel the symptoms by the end of the day. How many will leave us? Why am I not freaking out? Today counted for 710 total cases, 507 active, 157 recovered, but 46 deceased in Egypt. May their souls rest in peace. Peculiar, the way I am processing all this.
Is this really happening … and globally? I remain skeptical of at least three conspiracy theories regarding COVID-19.
I question whether this is Mother Nature’s way of teaching us a lesson: “Enough’ … enough with the chaos you created”. Maybe this will force us to acknowledge how reckless, irresponsible, heedless, and oblivious we’ve become to what we do to each other and the planet.
Or perhaps it’s gracious God healing Earth and nature by keeping us all unwillingly, yet justifiably, in our homes for the purification and healing of the wounds suffered by the environment.
I see good in where we are now: nations are paying attention to each other at last. Not to conquer or compete, but to find a way to survive this global threat. If this is actually what it is.
Working from home is a new experience that is immediately very enriching and enlightening, but still I long for my students – their smiling, endearing faces, their precious presence, their positive energy. Nothing is like face-to-face interactions, with them in class and on campus.
I crave to reassure them and the students that everything will turn out for the best and to comfort them regarding their future in these confusing times.
Yes, we may yet get the best out of the year 2020, and yes, this is a peculiar reality we are all sharing worldwide. I’m kind of grateful that we are operating online and grateful for all the available guidance and constant assistance AUC provides to operate electronically using such tools as Panopto, ZOOM, Google Meet, etc. There are so many connectivity tools which made effective communication possible allowing this essential approach of protecting each other by keeping our distance, without wasting the spring semester.
Will this last for long? Is this the beginning of a new us? A beginning of a different us, perhaps.
If so, I trust it will be a better us.
Shoelaces and Silver Linings: A Day Four Special
Day Four: This Quarantine Needs to End
مذكرات العزل: اليوم الثالث علينا ان ننتصر
Day Two: Of Loneliness and Silent Prayers
Day One: Documenting AUC Life Under Confinement
