Hi all! It’s been a while. I had intentions to write so many blog posts and be more active and consistent with my blog over spring break, but then this globas pandemic came about and everyone’s lives turned upside down and New York City became a ghost town practically overnight. Although we have been aware of COVID-19 for a couple of months, I don’t think many people were taking it very seriously or anticipated a state of a national emergency to occur. But here we are, stuck inside, worried about our loved ones, stressed about our education, our unemployment rates, paying our bills, raising our children, and all the other things that are proving to become stressors in our lives during this global crisis. If you asked me three weeks ago where I’d be right now, this sure wasn’t what I had pictured. Time truly has never moved so simultaneously quick and slow for me, is an inexplicable feeling, yet I gather that many of you can relate.
Three weeks ago today, I was still in New York City, planning to audition for summer theatres, and although school was closed for an extra week, I had strong hopes it would open back up by the end of March. At the time, my selfish type A personality noted COVID-19 as a minor, quite irritating, inconvenience to my carefully planned and organized life. It was only supposed to last a couple weeks. But as the days passed, more and more of my friends fled for home, auditions were being canceled, businesses and attractions were closing, and the more desolate the city became. I was uncomfortable walking the empty streets, and I felt nervous when another pedestrian got too close even just taking my fifteen minute walk to the apartment of one of the families I nanny for. Each day, another one of my families would tell me they were leaving the city. Within three days of school closing, only one of my families was left for me to work for. Regardless of my high nerves while still being in the city, I was even more nervous to go into one of the busiest airports in the world and then get on a long flight with all types of people and uncontrollable variables to return home. I wrestled with the idea of flying home, but so much was uncertain and it just didn't seem safe to do so. One day when I came in to work, the mother of the children I was nannying that day told me her plans to take her family upstate that weekend, for the next few weeks, and offered for me to come along. At this point, school was scheduled to continue in April, and I didn’t want to be alone in the city so I took her offer and a few days later we packed all the clothes, toys, groceries, and toilet paper we could and hit the road. Today is April 5th, we have now been here two and a half weeks and she has extended the lease until early May. I am currently a full time online college student, as well as a full time nanny for three of the sweetest girls. I won’t lie, it’s A LOT. Managing my school work and new online schedule, while entertaining and carrying for three young children, dealing with my high emotional stress and anxiety, and missing my family dearly has definitely begun to take its toll. I call my mom a lot. I cry often. I feel tired most days. I’m having a hard time. I find myself so envious of everyone else who gets to be home in their beds, hugging their parents, and playing with their dogs. Even worse, I find myself enraged when I see people complain on social media about how they’re irritated with their siblings or parents. But while I know my current situation is much more peculiar than most of my friends my age, who are able to be home with their families, I am way luckier than so many others. Most importantly, I am safe and healthy. I get to continue my education for the semester. I am still able to call and talk to my friends and family. No one I know and love has gotten the virus yet, and I am praying it stays that way. I have three sets of sweet smiles that great me every morning. And I haven’t run out of toilet paper yet. Many people have a much MUCH worse circumstance right now. When I think about how although my situation feels uncomfortable and I feel very lonely and anxious, but that I am so beyond blessed to be where I am compared to most, I realize how important it is for me to not hop on a plane home right now and to stay put. Those who are recklessly ignoring the importance of practicing social distancing and who treated the start of this as an excuse to spend an extra week on spring breaks or enjoy the big crowds before all the businesses shut down are part of the reason this virus has spread exponentially. I know for my age demographic, it can be easy to feel like you're immune to it, but not everyone else is. This virus is airborne, six feet may not be enough to protect the immune deficient or the elderly. I think what I’ve found most frustrating is how when I vent to my friends about how badly I wish I could be home, their response is usually somewhere along the lines of telling me flights are cheap right now. Of course they are, because in my opinion no one should be flying. If I was positive for coronavirus and I decided to get on a plane three weeks ago, I could have infected all the people I spoke to in the airport and checked me through security, I could have infected every person on my flight, and worst of all I could have infected my parents. Even if I was not positive for the virus when I arrived at the airport, there is a high chance I could get the virus between then and arriving home. I am technically not stuck here, but in order to do what I feel is right for the people that I love and to do my part in slowing the spread of this virus and aiding my country in returning to normalcy (or as close as we can get in the post COVID-19 world), I need to stay put. A real hug from my mom and dad, my grandparents, and other elderly relatives and family friends will all feel a lot warmer and more rewarding when I know they are all safe and healthy and that my choice to stay in place made that happen. So for those of you who get to be home, I beg of you to stay home, because some of us don’t get to. Love Always, Jen
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Jenavieve Anna Capri
Hi guys, I just wanted to pop in and let you know a few things about me. I'm a Commercial Dance major at Pace University. I nanny on the side to help me afford living in this beautiful city. I live by the three Ts - Trader Joes, TJ Max, and Target. If it's salted caramel anything, I will gladly put it in my mouth. In my eyes Disneyland is the OG and Disney World will never compare. Hopefully, you'll choose to continue to get to know me more through these blog posts and my social media. Connect With Me:
Instagram: @jenannacapri25 |