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Tag is exactly
Travel
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2021-03-06
This is not how this is supposed to go.
Friday, March 13, 2020, was my last full day in the office before the shutdown. We came home that night not knowing what was next. Then my sister called. Things hadn't been right for a couple of weeks, she said, and when she had been to the doctor that morning he ordered her directly to the MRI lab. And there it was. Cancer. The exact same kind that had taken our mother a few years ago. And our grandmother several decades ago. Dammit. So what do you do? You get on a plane, you go there tomorrow, and you face this thing together, as family, right? Except no. It's COVID time, and only one person was even allowed to accompany her to the hospital for surgery three days later. We all decided that my other sister should be there, since she has medical expertise and also a more flexible schedule. But yeah. Here I am, on the other side of the country, not knowing whether my sister would live through the day and not able to go be with her. It's a year later, and I'm very relieved to say that she's still with us, lasting far longer with this diagnosis than either our mother or grandmother did. Still very much in the fight. But thanks to this damned disease, and to everyone whose stupidity has caused it to last longer and be worse than it had any need to be, I have seen her exactly once in the last year. For about ten minutes. Right before her second surgery. Will I get to see her again? Who knows? We have a trip planned in a few months, if things get better with this pandemic. And if she lasts that long. It's sad and exhausting and infuriating and unchangeable. -
2021-02-26
Coronavirus: Quebec considering ‘immunization passports’
With coronavirus vaccinations now underway in Quebec, the province’s health minister is floating the idea of a so-called “COVID-19 passport” — digital proof that people have gotten the jab in order to access venues or activities. -
2021-03-02
Delta launches international vacation program with onsite COVID-19 tests
The CDC now requires all people returning to the United States from abroad to provide a negative COIVD-19 test. To assist travelers with this, Delta Airlines' package program is only offering international hotels that provide on-site COVID-19 testing for convenience. -
2021-03-01
Jjewish Melbourne
It's easy just to say last year was a long boring time and to move on but I think it's a good idea to jot down some thoughts and reflections, which provide some relevant perspective. This should show us that many aspects of our normal lives should not be taken for granted. -
02/20/2021
Peg Spangler Oral History, 2021/02/20
I recorded a mini oral history with Peg about silver linings and positives during the pandemic. -
2021-02-16
None of Ottawa's new travel rules apply to the largest group of people entering Canada — truckers
Truckers are not being tested or facing restrictions like other cross-border travelers. This has led to some push back as they likely see more interactions with others than other travelers, including non-essential travel such as recreation. There are talks to either require quarantine and possibility to prioritize truckers for the Covid-19 vaccine. -
2020-12-09
celebrities during the holiday season
This is a instagram post made by Hailey Bieber, who is Justin Bieber's wife. This post shows them somewhere tropical on a vacation and you can see the date is December 9th. While they may not have been traveling exactly on Christmas, this post shows that they were traveling during the holiday season during a pandemic. Nowhere does it address them being tested for covid or being covid safe, you can only hope and assume they are taking cautions. This post makes me wonder how many other celebrities are traveling and having fun but not posting about it because of the backlash they would get, and deserve. I found this post important because you always here about these huge celebrities preaching to us on how important it is to stay home and wear a mask, but then you see them traveling to these beautiful islands and all these nice places because “we have a private jet” or “ we rented out our own private resort” so they justify traveling because they have the money to do so and ‘be safe’ while doing it. In my opinion it is very hypocritical on their part. Meanwhile the majority of the world is still stuck in their homes during the holidays not able to see their families or really give gifts to one another. This post is important to show the other side of the pandemic, the rich people side. I suppose the rich and famous are immune to covid? Who knows. -
2021-01-25
GoToトラベルと感染拡大の関係 詳しく分析すると・・・(2021年1月25日) - A detailed analysis of the relationship between GoTo Travel and the spread of infection ... (January 25, 2021)
This is a news that talks about the Go To Travel. Go To Travel in simple is a plan that the government set up in order for local areas to gain back the economy by supporting up to half the amount of travel fees. Using this A LOT of people traveled around Japan despite being in a pandemic. I always have thought that this traveling plan will cause more trouble, which it did. I translated the video. A group at Kyoto University has published a research paper stating that GoTo Travel "may have affected" the spread of the new coronavirus. The survey was conducted by a group of Professor Hiroshi Nishiura of Kyoto University and was published in the international medical journal "Journal of Clinical Medicine" on the 21st. The group survey analyzed about 4000 people infected with the new coronavirus in 24 prefectures from May to August last year. As a result, it was found that about 20% traveled across prefectures or were in contact with travelers. What is interesting is the comparison of the "incidence rate" of infected people around July 22, last year when Go To Travel started. According to the initial 5 days survey when Go To Travel started, the incidence of travel-related infected people has increased 1.44 times compared to the 5 days of the previous week. Furthermore, if the purpose of travel is limited to "sightseeing," the incidence rate jumps up to 2.62 times. Late July last year is the time of the "second wave" in Japan. However, the compared 5 days were also days with special conditions. That is, 4 out of 5 days from the start of GoTo were holidays and other holidays. And at this time, it was still before Go To was implemented in Tokyo. Professor Nishiura et al. paper did not conclude that GoTo Travel was the cause of the spread of the infection, but pointed out that it may have affected it, at least in the early stages. GoToトラベルが新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に「影響した可能性がある」とする研究論文を京都大学のグループが発表しました。 調査は京都大学の西浦博教授らのグループが行い、21日に国際的な医学誌「ジャーナルオブクリニカルメディスン」に掲載されました。 グループの調査では去年5月から8月にかけて24の県で約4000人の新型コロナウィルスの感染者を分析。その結果、約2割が県をまたいで旅行したか、旅行者と接触していたことが分かりました。 興味深いのは、GoToトラベルが開始された去年7月22日前後の感染者の「発生率」の比較です。 GoToトラベル始まった当初5日間の調査だと、旅行に関連した感染者の発生率は前の週の5日間に比べて1.44倍に上がっています。さらに、旅行の目的を「観光」に限定すると、発生率は2.62倍にまで跳ね上がるのです。 去年7月下旬といえば、国内だと「第2波」の時期にあたります。 ただ、比較した5日間は特別な条件の日でもありました。それは、GoTo開始から5日間のうち4日が祝日などの休みであったということ。そしてこの時期、東京ではまだGoToの実施前だったということです。 西浦教授らの論文ではGoToトラベルが感染拡大の原因とは結論付けていないものの、少なくとも初期の段階では影響した可能性があると指摘しています。 -
2021-01-30
Promising COVID-19 Vaccine News Has Some Itching To Travel Again
COVID-19 has led to many restrictions on travel, both domestic and international. Some families have already started planning for their next trip after the pandemic. The travel industry has taken a major financial hit due to the pandemic and many are hoping that regular travel will resume this year. -
2020-12-25
Christmas 2020
This years Christmas was very different. Because of the pandemic, my family and I could not travel we stayed at home and had a small family Christmas. We went to the beach because we live somewhere were it is always warm. I got to go surfing. We then had a family zoom with our family who lives in New York who we would regularly have been with. Overall I like change and had a great 2020 Christmas! -
2021-01-26
Covid has ruined many trips for many different people
Covid is a terrible way to not go on a trip that you have been waiting to go on. if you wanted to go. what if you were going to visit family and than your flight is canceled due to COVID 19. -
2021-01-26
Statistics
The statistics are pretty complicated but ill explain. The most popular state that has Covid is California (The state I live in) with a whopping 3 million+ cases. The amount of cases per day in California is about 30,000 a day which is actually really sad because we have to do so much stuff to keep us safe more than other states. Since there's so many attractions here, of course a lot of people want to see it and they come and travel. -
2021-01-26
Covid Stats
Covid has infected more than 3 million U.S citizens. Almost 38 thousand people have died from this virus. L.A county has more than 1 million people Infected. This caused everything to close down. Airports shutting down, people getting trapped. Something that personally affected me was not being able to do anything outside. We couldn't go to the mall or movie theatre. Our families were not allowed to fly over and spend time with us. Covid crashed the economy for the world. Leaving more people in poverty than before. Covid has affected us all in terrible ways... -
2021-01-20
Consider some of the rules or procedures that you have to follow, and tell your feelings about them.
There are so many rules and regulations we have to follow because of the covid 19 outbreak. For example, whenever we are indoors at a restaurant, a grocery store etc. We have to wear a face mask, which are supposedly keeping us from catching the virus. But it who knows if they really are doing anything, sure does not feel like it. In the state of California you can also not eat indoors, all restaurant seating as to be outside, but in LA county they have closed all restaurant seating. All stores currently have a maximum capacity for how many people they are aloud to have in the store at a time. Just for me to get in the store to get groceries or something you have to wait in line! It is really annoying. They have closed hair, and nail salons, so no one can go and get there hair or nails done! Furthermore, to go to certain vacation spots you have to be tested for corona. Like Hawaii, since I am supposed to go for this upcoming ski week, I will have to get a negative covid test before I am aloud on the plain to go to Hawaii. I cannot wait to go back to normal when we do not have all these regulations controlling our lives. -
2020
What I think about who/what caused Covid-19
I think that the cause of covid-19 is that the covid virus mutated in an unexpected way, and people didn't realize that they had it, and brought it to other countries. Then it spread throughout the world, becoming a rather deadly virus, but we don't really know, because the statistics are so skewd. -
2021-01-07
Christmas with Covid
During Christmas, my family usually travels to any state in the USA. We don't usually have any state in particular, we just chose. Instead this year, we purchased a toy hauler and went out to the desert. The exact location was Armistead, California. It wasn't crowded where we stayed. My family was nervous, it was out first time staying in a toy hauler. We had perviously been to Armistead because we have dirt bikes and a dune buggy we ride, but this was different. In the end I really enjoyed it, it was a different, but yet very informative trip. We learned the value of everything we take for granted as well as learned new things, such as making a campfire. Overall, I really loved this new expirence, I would highly reccomend it. -
2020-12-25
Covid Christmas
Christmas was different because we did not go to Texas to our cousins. Normally, we go to Texas and all of the cousins go to one house to celebrate Christmas. They still went to the same house, but we didnt. We stayed in California because we did not want to fly out of state with COVID. Also, we were going to go skiing but we didnt because COVID. We spent Christmas at home while not as fun as with cousins it was still great Christmas. -
2020-12-22
Santa Fe Tourism During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Santa Fe, New Mexico is a popular tourist destination because of its art scene, culture, cuisine, historical sites and landscape. It brings in an average of two million visitors each year. However, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic those numbers have drastically dropped in 2020. TOURISM Santa Fe has created a webpage that provides visitors with current information on New Mexico's COVID-19 restrictions, rules, and policies. -
2020-12-15T15:25:00
Highlights of my experience on the Covid-19 season
My Covid-19 experiences were surely pleasant because I have never experience a pandemic until now, but at the same time were a little sad because I couldn’t go to fun places like paint balling, friends houses, restaurants, and more. I still liked when we could go to some places that weren’t exposed to coronavirus, like when I went to Temecula with my family and aunt family, also when I went to my grandparents ranch house, when I could go to my Nana’s house and Aunty house. So that are some things that I got to experience this year. -
2020-10-07
COVID-19 Information
Saskatchewan Blue Cross is taking measures to attend to the health and well-being of our employees, our members and our communities. We’re committed to serving you in your time of need. We’re here for you. Please see below a series of frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and your benefits. -
2020-03-13
Canadian PM Trudeau's wife tests positive for coronavirus
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a trip to London, a statement from the PM's office says. -
2020-07-13
Covid Quarantine
Before I found out about Covid-19 I was on a trip in Italy. When we arrived in Naples the took our temperature and I was confused. I knew there was a virus in China but I did not know it was in Italy yet. We had a great trip and when we got back to LA we heard there indeed was a virus up it Italy. We were shocked and felt almost every emotion. We were happy we got done with the trip before Italy shutdown, but we were sad we were going to be going into Quarantine. -
2020-12-05
HERMIT HERALD VOL 1 ISSUE 83
Presidents and non consecutive terms -
2020-12-04
U.S. Surgeon General: 'We Are Absolutely Ready' To Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine
The US Surgeon General talks about the upcoming distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, case spikes, and travel over Thanksgiving. -
2020-12-03
GoToトラベル 来年中ごろまで延長する方針(2020年12月3日)- GoTo Travel, extend until mid-next year (December 3, 2020)
Go To travel has been something I’ve been submitting to this archive. In order to boost up the economy, Japan has supported people who will be traveling by paying up to half of the traveling fee. Personally, this I think really caused the second wave of COVID-19 in Japan, but people still want to travel because it is cheap using the government’s support. 最大で旅行代金の半額相当が支援されるGoToトラベルについて、政府は来年中ごろまで延長する方針を固めました。 GoToトラベルはこれまで1月までの旅行を対象としていましたが、政府関係者によりますと、これを来年中ごろまで延長する方針で、8日に取りまとめる緊急経済対策に盛り込むことにしています。ただ、Go Toトラベルが終わった際に旅行の需要が激減することを防ぐため、現在、最大で35%となっている割引率を段階的に引き下げることや受け取ることができる地域共通クーポンの金額の見直しなどを検討するということです。 The government has decided to extend Go To Travel, which supports up to half the travel price, until mid-next year. Go To Travel has been targeted for travel until January, but according to government officials, it is planned to extend this until the middle of next year, and it will be included in the emergency economic measures to be summarized on the 8th. However, in order to prevent the demand for travel from dropping drastically when Go To Travel is over, they will gradually reduce the discount rate, which is currently up to 35%, and review the amount of regional coupons that can be received. Video translated by Youngbin Noh -
2020-06-23
An Emptied COVID Border
Being a dual-citizen has its perks under normal circumstances, but was incredibly useful when the United States-Canada border was closed amidst the pandemic. Every summer, my family and I do the road trip from Denver, Colorado, all the way to my grandparents' cottage in northern Ontario. However, this year, all unnecessary travel was completely restricted to non-citizens. Since we are all dual-citizens, we were allowed to enter, given we complete a 14-day quarantine before seeing anyone. It had been almost a year since my Granpa had a massive heart attack, and then survived triple-bypass surgery. Thus, my family and I thought traveling and completing the quarantine would be worth the risk if it meant we got to see them. Masked up, we drove across the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia Ont. and Port Huron, Michigan. Normally, this bridge would be filled with cars and trucks, backed up in a 30-45 minute long line. COVID changed that. As we approached the border station, there were no other cars or trucks in sight. We slowly entered the only open crossing lane, and eerily, everything proceeded relatively normally. The pandemic killed travel, especially international movement; but I never would have expected to be the only vehicle crossing into Canada. It felt so unnatural and was an abnormal experience I hope I never see again. -
2020-11-30
The year things changes
before covid my life was pretty normal i drove to school and work. i was usually a person who was somewhat athletic but not completely. but assoon as covid hit i started to realizes a change. this change was in my travel habits. i used to drive to places with other or be with crowedroom of people but due to covid i had to rethink my ways of tranportation. and that is where biking became a new hobby and mode of transportation. with biking i was able to keep my distance and not be near people in large groups. as i picked up biking i discover i was having more fun and was a lot happier. biking suddenly gave me the chance to see the would in a slower view and i could focus more on that. with al the horrible thing happening this year i was able to escape it almost by biking and at the same time be safe. biking gave me a new view of the would and a new mind set of taking thing slower not rushing. now i biking nearly every where I go and I enjoy it and it has giving me a new activity to due during covid. -
2020-11-20
My experience with airplane travel
Flying during Covid I have needed to fly for family emergencies four different times since the pandemic began. The first time I felt uneasy but the fact that they seated us with an empty seat between each person and the requirement of face masks made me feel more comfortable. The second flight, however, was crowded with a woman sitting right next to me and turning her fact to talk to me 6 inches away – without her mask on!!!! That was nerve racking. But the last two flights were spaced out and everyone wore a mask. EXCEPT – the irony is that when they pass out the snack bags everyone on the plane removes their mask at the same time to eat. I simply choose to hold off on eating my snack bag for a half hour and wait until I see that people are done eating. There hasn’t been a big outbreak traced back to airplanes so I will continue to fly when my aging parents need help. And to keep others safe, each time I return from a trip, I quarantine and get tested. -
11/16/2020
Anonymous Active Air Force Reservist Oral History, 2020/11/16
This is a audio interview with a active Air Force Reservist, describing how the Covid pandemic has impacted his work environment and personal livelihood. -
2020-11-11
COVID-19 Risk Forecast
The Los Angeles Times released a map of how likely someone is to contract COVID-19 anywhere in the United States. Officials predict a rise in cases in the next two weeks due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Traveling and fly is set to increase dramatically and more people (especially) will be together which is going to lead to a rise in cases. This map shows where in America is it more likely to contract Covid. -
2020-08-09T21:28+10:00
Digitally Traversing Social Distances: Zoom Trivia with Friends
This photo depicts me and my university friends catching up over Zoom and playing trivia. We played trivia multiple times over zoom, usually most Fridays, as a regular way to socialise while we were all apart during university holidays and Melbourne's second lockdown. The rules of our trivia games were as follows: every player would contribute $5, different people would volunteer to make trivia questions on whatever category they choose (including memes, dog breeds, logos etc.) and the overall winner that week would use the prize money to buy alcohol of their choice (we are students after all). We also had dress-up themes like sports and beach-wear, and bonus points would be allocated to best-dressed. These nights were the highlight of my week and gave me something to look forward to, breaking up the monotony of university assignments and lockdown. At the time this photo was taken, I had left Melbourne and was in hotel quarantine in Brisbane. This is also why zoom trivia worked well, because whilst some of my friends stayed in Melbourne, many of us moved out of the city to do lockdown with family in places like rural Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland. Social media and video chats like Zoom functioned to connect us in new ways during the pandemic, and shows how the barriers of physical distance could be traversed via digital realms. HIST30060. -
2020-11-10
Zenly recorded how many days without friends
In March, our school announced remote teaching for the rest of the semester during the spring break. I was playing video games with my friends when the announcement came out and none of us could imagine it was the last time we will be in the same room. Immediately we started to plan on going back to home to China, we did not even say goodbye that night because we thought we were going to meet next semester or some time earlier. So we packed our things and left in rush, booked the earliest flight and tried to get home before the travel ban got stricter. Since then, Zenly recorded it's been 234 days that we haven't met each other. I miss the old days. -
2020-11-09
2020: The Year of The Ring of Steel and Shaggy Dogs
In the series of images depicted above, I portray the imminent changes to both my life and the lives of those I love. The stage three lockdown which dawned on the 8th of July 2020 somewhat replicated a tale of two cities. A ‘Ring of Steel’ enforced between metro and regional Victoria separated a state in the grip of a deadly second wave. For me personally, 2020 changed my life in two notable ways; my two worlds were separated, and as droll as it sounds, I couldn’t get my dog a haircut. The ring of steel meant that I was separated from both my family property and my boyfriend who lives in Regional Victoria, although we could still visit one another it just didn’t feel the same. Like going through customs at an airport you are grilled on your reasons for travelling into a regional zone, and the answer of visiting a partner seemed to also evoke a multitude of other questions confirming the validity of the aforementioned statement. This however was all very necessary as there are regions of Victoria that haven’t even seen one single case of COVID since it reached Australia in January 2020. My first image was taken one day upon my return to Melbourne from seeing my boyfriend in regional Victoria and epitomises how even back in April, COVID-related precautions were widespread. Whilst my second photograph pinpoints the outage which the Vic Roads change of address function encountered a day prior to the announcement of the ‘Ring of Steel’ on July 9, 2020. The third photo is a government document and summary of those restrictions that were also outlined from this date onwards. Stage 4 restrictions also meant that all non-essential services were shut to combat the unnecessary spread of the virus, and this included dog groomers. Our West Highland White Terrier Angus was certainly thankful for this as sitting still is not his strong point, but it also meant that he could hardly see with his hair growing over his eyes like a veranda. There were calls from the RSPCA to re-open these services to the public earlier as they had treated a number of grisly injuries from owners attempting at home cuts on their pooches. Whilst a number of petitions were also got up by dog groomers who were more concerned about the welfare of the animals rather than the business aspect. With continuous lobbying, the efforts of the animal welfare community paid off and on the 28th of September they were able to resume services, a far cry from October 26th the original date outlined. The fourth and fifth photo depicts Angus before and after his much-needed haircut in early October. -
2020-06-27
We Got Married During a Pandemic
HIST30060: Making History My husband I planned our wedding for November 2020. My extended family lives in Malaysia, and we had organized for them to fly over to Melbourne for the celebrations, inclusive of classic wedding dancing, food and merriment. It obviously did not happen like that – but, it was better. In March, when the restrictions hit Victoria, we decided to move our wedding to June, not even knowing how many guests we would be able to have at that point. A few of our friends eloped, and some even planned a wedding in one night to accommodate the changing restrictions. In the weeks leading up, we pulled together our 20-person guest list, hired a photographer, and on the 27th June 2020, got married in intimate courtyard of our parents’ church. There was no (intense) dancing or fancy decorations, instead we got to focus on each other, on vows we made to each other under God and before our closest family and friends, and we got to live-stream our ceremony to everyone else (big win to not offending anyone). We are so thankful to God – it is better than we could have imagined or planned for ourselves. -
2020-07-16
Ten Days of Self-Isolation
The following is a reflection on my experience in COVID-19 testing and self-isolation, after returning to my home country Bahrain from Australia, where I am a student. Upon arriving in Bahrain International Airport, travellers are taken aboard buses into a giant white tent-structure. Here, my temperature was taken. Then, I was escorted to one of the desks (mostly staffed by young volunteers) where I give my personal details, including where I intend to spend my 10 days of self-isolation (the Government of Bahrain had only recently reduced the requirement from 14 days). After that, I had the COVID-19 PCR test taken (quick but unpleasant nose swab). The results are published via the “Be Aware” app within 24 hours. It was, thankfully, negative. I was also given an electronic bracelet that acts as a tracker, to ensure that I am where I say I would be. I am driven from the airport by my brother, it was decided that he would pick me up because he had recently caught the virus himself, and so, supposedly he would have developed some immunity. Spending 10 days in one’s bedroom was as boring as one might expect. My main source of entertainment would be, as it turned out, Ancient Rome. I was still taking a university subject, which was moved online the week prior due to renewed restrictions in Melbourne after COVID-19 infections spiked in the State of Victoria. I did however have to get up at 3:00 in the morning to attend classes! I did, moreover, end up gaining about 2 kilograms of weight in those 10 days. The whole experience of travel and self-isolation in the age of COVID-19 is just one example of how simple aspects of our lives (travel, privacy, education, exercise, social life etc.) were changed so drastically by the pandemic. Everything would somehow be more complicated. This reflection was submitted as part of the HIST30060 Making History project at the University of Melbourne. -
2020-10
Vacation and Covid
Here is a picture of my husband on a short trip to North Carolina. It was the first time that we had gone anywhere outside of our town in 7 months due to quarantine. We wore our masks at all times except when we were by ourselves. Here he is enjoying the small river we stayed near. -
2020-07-23
HIST30060: 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road
HIST30060: This photo is remarkable because of the tranquility it boasts, in contrast to the usual palooza of tourist buses and clicking cameras. Taken a few days before the second hard lockdown in Victoria, this photo is a tribute to how different this year really was. As my friend and are marveled at the rock formations for 30 minutes, we did not see a single other person. The car park built for hundreds was empty, visitors center closed indefinitely and the sound of our footsteps echoing as we passed under the multi-million dollar underground walkway. This year has been a major challenge for everyone, however has granted (or forced) a new perspective on life which perhaps makes every experience more impressive. -
2020-06-26
Road Tripping in the Summer
I had numerous plans to fly this summer. As a business traveler, I had saved my frequent flyer miles and was planning on changing jobs before the season began. I was then going to cash in the miles throughout July and August in order to take many trips across the country while I was in between jobs. Sort of a planned two month sabbatical. Unfortunately because of the pandemic all my plans were cancelled and I was left to figure out how to spend my off time. Taking road trips from southern California was my only alternative. -
2020-07-17
Blue sky from drive in regional Victoria
HIST30060 This photo was taken at a rest stop i stopped at when I drove from Melbourne to Wodonga to pick up my mum, during the start of our second quarantine (in July). My mum, who had spent the past year living in the South of France, had been completing her mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Sydney for the past two weeks, and I offered to drive up to pick her up. However, due to the reintroduction of restrictions and the border closure between Victoria and New South Wales, I was unable to drive all the way to Sydney. To make up for this, she took the train from Sydney to Wodonga, where I then picked her up. I was very concerned with my drive, as I was unsure with the new restrictions if I would be able to drive from Metro Melbourne to the border, however, as this fell under compassionate reasons, one of the 4 reasons you were able to travel under those restrictions, I was able to complete my journey, and reunite with my mum who I had not seen in over a year. -
2020-10-31
England Shutdown Again
England goes into lockdown again. -
2020-07
Stay Safe and Explore
A friend shared her story about exploring close to home. “It’s been a challenge... we want to be out and doing stuff but we also don’t want to be around people, so there has been several times we’ve gone to do something but it was too crowded so we just stayed in the car and drove around. We tried to find areas not as many people knew about.” -
2020-06-01
Take this time to explore your own town
Staying home all summer when you’re used to travel and exploring can leave you weary and unable to think of things you can do. I turned to google for some ideas and happened upon a website that gave great ideas for exploring locally. I live in Monterey, California and spent last summer exploring antique shops, boutiques, and interesting restaurants. I’ve never considered myself someone who enjoys the outdoors, but I had to try some of the ideas on this webpage because I was simply tired of being cooped up. There are so many places to explore. I took the time to explore 17 Mile Drive and Pebble Beach early in the day when few people were there. I must’ve stayed for hours just walking along the beach or the little trails. -
2020-10-30
Concerns From the 4-Corners
This is a screenshot from my phone from this afternoon. I live in Colorado, but depend on New Mexico for several things. I made a quick trip to Target today, and while in the checkout line, everyone’s phones went off. -
2020-10-26
A change of lifestyle due to COVID-19
Back in March, when schools were initially shut down due to the virus, my friends and I thought it would be a short break and we would be back by the time spring break ended. Little did we know that the pandemic would last for many more months than that and we wouldn’t return to school that year. Normally, I would go visit my dad once a month but the pandemic made it impossible. He lives out of the state, in Utah, so for the first few months of quarantine I couldn’t get on a plane to see him. I ended up not going to see him for 5 months. Even now, In October, my mom isn’t very fond of the idea of me going to see him because of the way the virus has been handled in Utah. The infection rates are increasing rapidly in Utah at the moment so we ended up having to cancel my trip there in the beginning of November to be safe. Life has definitely shifted since the pandemic began and things have become different in some aspect for almost every single person. On the other hand, because of having so much time to myself this year, I’m more proud of the person I have become than I have ever been. -
2020-10-01
Should I Go Home?
COVID-19 has created a situation like no other. You can honestly go and study abroad. With all classes being online and there being no in-person meetings you could pack your bags and study wherever there is WIFI. Ironically this also proves risky. Going to places that have high-risk family members is difficult. I could go visit my grandma in The Bahamas, but what if I bring COVID... It's interesting seeing how countries and managing their own issues of travel. Countries like The Bahamas that are dependent on tourist travel, are desperate for a time of reopening, often crafting plans that allow travel. -
2020-03-18
Farewell to Edinburgh
I was on exchange in Edinburgh in the first half of 2020, and was forced to return home to Melbourne 3 months early. This was an incredibly sad and confusing time, where so many of my plans and dreams for the rest of exchange were scuppered. Things moved at a breakneck pace. My first exchange friend decided to leave Edinburgh on the 12th March, and by the 18th March I was flying home to Melbourne, having made dozens of rushed goodbyes in the previous few days. This object is a farewell post I made on Instagram, with 10 photos with my friends in Edinburgh. It sums up the mixed emotions I felt in those days - sadness, fondness, nostalgia, gratitude. -
2020-10-23
Travel During Covid
Travel during Covid what mostly like any other travel, just with a mask, and people didn't actually want to sit right next to you waiting to board the flights. The actual flights were different, though. The seats were not filled unless you were a member of a party travelling together. That being said, my first class ticket as a single travelling passenger with no other members of my party allowed me to have a full row to myself unlike most flights where everyone is seated in close proximity whether you know the passengers seated next to you or not. It was actually nice in terms of people respecting personal space. -
2020-03-12
An unrepeatable trip across the pond
This photo was the first time the pandemic became real for me. In March of 2020, My wife and I took a well needed 2 week vacation to the United Kingdom. We very much needed a break from work & it just so happened that a friend of mine had a birthday and would be celebrating in Scotland by taking a two-week ski trip around then. What could go wrong? We figured we could take two weeks and things would be pretty much the same when we returned. We were mistaken. Only a few days after we arrived in Scotland,these & similar signs began to appear in public areas. Our ski-trip evolved into an escapade where we were hotel confined for most of our time. While we still got out and were able to explore the area a bit, for the most part we remained indoors since we were unsure as to what was “safe.” Getting back stateside was an adventure in it’s own, from the cancelled flights to the intense screening process at Heathrow. All the while, we continued to see the Coronavirus cases stockpile worldwide. We finally made it home and entered another quarantine, which it feels like we are still in seven months later. In the months since, I’ve lost extended family members, and a friend to COVID, and truly wish I could go back to the start of that trip, back when the virus was something real, but maybe not something tangible for me personally. This story/photo is important for me because I truly believe that this pandemic is a world changing event. Even though technically, the ‘19’ in COVID-19 signifies that it began in 2019, March 12th 2020 is when it truly started to show me just how real this virus was. -
2020-03-19T09:06-05:00
When the Airport Becomes a Library
In the middle of March in 2020, flight prices dropped dramatically. I took advantage out of this circumstance by purchasing a $75 non-stop round trip ticket on United from Phoenix to Chicago. My flight to Chicago on Monday, March 16 was somewhat full, and O'Hare Airport in Chicago was less crowded than usual. However, the Coronavirus situation quickly worsened each day. I returned to the airport on Thursday, March 19 for a 10:00 AM flight to go back to Phoenix. O'hare, normally packed with people during this aviation morning rush hour, was almost like a ghost town. It had only taken a couple of days to make the big drop in passanger traffic. It was earily quiet. The colorful walkway to the satellite concourse in Terminal 1 had just a few people, making it quite easy to hear Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." When I got to the satellite concourse, it felt like a library. You could walk on the concourse with barely anyone around surrounded by little to no noise. It was if you owned the place. I went to Starbucks, a favorite among travelers in the morning, where there was no line. The workers enjoyed conversating among themselves. Walking past each of the gates, I could hear near silence as most were empty or near empty, with very few gate agents working in the terminal. As someone who had taken flights out of this airport since I was little, this felt very bizzare. I knew this was historic and I took a couple of photographs along the way. One of the things I've realized about the history of the pandemic, and major historical events in general, is that it isn't necessarily about what's added, but what is removed. The sensory details do not necessarily involve jolts to your senses, but perhaps the opposite. Like Lower Manhatten after the collapse of the World Trade Center, sometimes what you may sense during major historical events is near silence. No one on my flight that day needed to point out the sheer gravity of the situation; the silence spoke a thousand words. -
2020-10-07
ビジネス帰国の日本人対象 14日間の待機免除で調整(2020年10月8日) – Adjustment of 14-day quarantine period for Japanese returning to business (October 8, 2020)
This news is about if the Japanese citizen who have business trips outside of Japan meet certain requirement, the 14-day quarantine will be exempted. 政府は新型コロナウイルス対策で実施している入国者の14日間の待機措置について、ビジネスから帰国した日本人が条件を満たした場合には、免除する方向で調整していることが分かりました。 待機措置の免除には、帰国時に検査をするほか、帰国後14日間の行動計画の提出、公共交通機関を使わないことや移動を自宅と勤務先に限定することなどが条件となります。ビジネス上の妨げとなっていた帰国時の14日間の待機措置だけでも免除することで、海外出張しやすい環境を整え、経済活動の再開を後押しする狙いがあります。政府は引き続き各国と出入国制限の交渉を続け、ビジネス往来の要件緩和を目指す方針です。 As a method to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus by having a 14-day quarantine period, the government is moving in the direction of exemption of this period for Japanese immigrants returning from business if they meet certain conditions. The conditions include taking the test when returning to Japan, submission of an action plan for 14 days after returning to Japan, not using public transportation, and limiting the traveling to only between home and work. By exempting the 14-day quarantine period when returning to Japan, which has been a hindrance to business, the aim is to create an easier condition that allows overseas business trips and to bring back the economy. The government will continue to negotiate immigration restrictions with different countries, aiming to ease the requirements for business travels.