Statt Berlin, Willkommen in Boston

Today is the day that I was supposed to be in Berlin as a part of Fulbright’s celebration of the program’s partnerships across Europe and its mission to further intercultural exchange. Instead, I’m sitting in the kitchen in my brother’s apartment in Lowell, MA. Instead of staying in Berlin with the friends that I have made, I’m with my brother here, and I’m sleeping on his couch. I decided that it would be best during the first couple of weeks being back in the US to stay out of my house in Waltham, where I could potentially unknowingly infect those who might be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

I’m finally starting to process what exactly has happened the last two weeks. As you may have read in my last post, there were a series of events that unfolded in the week prior to finally deciding that it would be best to return home. Things really ramped up toward the end of the week, as schools closed down, travel advisories were changed, and we were encouraged to return home. I had several logistical questions on my mind, and over the weekend we unfortunately didn’t get much communication from our Fulbright program coordinators. This event is unprecedented and quickly developing, and we were told by Fulbright Germany that information was constantly being updated, and they wanted to take time to give us the most accurate information.

Fulbright gave us logistical information regarding our evacuation Monday evening, but by that time I had already made my decision. With several flights being cancelled every day, and uncertainty about the possibility to travel in the future, it became less and less clear what my future in Germany could be like if I stayed there. If I were stuck in Germany without a job lined up, it would certainly not have been the best situation for me financially.

Another thing that factored into the decision is how life as I knew it in Germany was likely not going to be the same for a while. Schools in Lower Saxony are closed AT LEAST until April 20th, and there are rumors that either schools could remain close for longer after that. The Bundesland of Bavaria announced that they were implementing an order for people to remain indoors, like the measures that were implemented in Italy and Spain. While the Federal Government in Germany is currently asking for people to practice social distancing, there could be similar lockdown measures put in place nationwide; the circumstances of life in Germany could change without little advanced notice.

Actions that certain places and countries in the world have taken have taken a toll on travel and tourism as industries, and with good reason! At this moment in time as I’m watching the President’s press conference on the United States’ coronavirus response, there are 12,755 reported deaths around the world out of more than 270 thousand reported cases. The best thing to do right now is to stay home. And while it would be nice to have been able to stay home with the friends that I have made in Germany, it is probably better to be with family at home during this time.

Half of the reason for writing this article is to inform you all of things that went into finally making a decision to come home, and the other half is to remind myself that I made the right choice. I’m sure in the coming weeks I’ll reflect more on the time I was in Germany, but for now I think I’m still trying to process what has gone on in the last two weeks. As my thoughts become clear, I will be back to post those reflections.