March 8-12, 2020 (but really March 8 2020 - March 6 2022)
Mark was in Chicago for work and was scheduled to fly back on Sunday March 8th. I came down with a sickness over the weekend and was out of commission. I took a sick day from school Monday the 9th because I was running a fever. I told Mark not to come back, but he did anyway. He brought tons of my favorite treats with him- mac and cheese, blue moon, pop tarts, but unfortunately I was too sick to eat any. I found out that students were sent home early from school on Monday and that staff had a meeting in which they were told we would be off of school for the next two weeks. Our direct boss, Paul, told everyone to get flights home. Unfortunately, because I was sick, Mark and I couldn't fly home. We watched as all of the expats around us booked flights to leave Tirana. On Thursday morning my fever broke so Mark and I booked a flight for Thursday night. (Little did we know that starting Friday morning, police escorts were required to accompany any travelers to the airport and by Friday night, the borders were closed) We would be flying through the UK, then through Florida, and finally landing in Chicago. There was lots to do before we left, including withdrawing and changing money, switching over phones and cleaning out the fridge. Walking the streets of Tirana was eerie. The usually busy streets were bare, businesses were shuttered and outdoor tables and chairs were tied up. The businesses that were open (phone stores, banks and grocery stores) required patrons to wait outside. People were wearing masks and gloves. Where was I?
I took care of our errands and packed up big red so that Mark and I could head to the airport. I didn't bring everything; we were only off for two weeks; surely we'd be back. At the airport we ran into friends who gave us proper masks (we only had neck gators) and gloves. Everyone at the airport was masked and gloved. We got to London super late so quickly checked into our room at the airport hotel. We were up super early to board our state bound flight and noticed the shift between Tirana and London. Some travelers were masked, but others weren't. No one was wearing gloves. We boarded our flight to the US and were given ice cream bars- what a treat :)
Fast forward to landing in Florida- masks and gloves aren't a thing and the airport bar is packed with people sitting right next to one another drinking and laughing. It was such a stark difference from Tirana twenty four hours ago.
We landed and took a car to the hotel that Mark always stays at for work. They were shocked to see him back so soon. We were in the hotel for the next 3 weeks while the world around us shut down. My school pivoted to online learning so Mark and I were both working from our one bed hotel room. To keep ourselves entertained we created quarantine challenge videos that showcased us living our best lives- how many socks can you pair in a minute, can you slide a cookie from your forehead into your mouth without using your hands? We can.
Poor Mark celebrated his birthday while we were stuck on the inside. I had made him birthday signs in Tirana and had packed them in my suitcase. We got deep dish pizza delivered and lamented about the fact that our life had come to a halt so abruptly. We watched a lot of Netflix, Mark brushed my hair (a lot!), we played a lot of cards and once I was feeling better we drank a lot of wine. We fell into a nice little routine. Until one day when the fire alarm starting blaring. We threw on our coats and headed to the outside world. How great it was to feel the sunshine on our faces. How nice it was to breathe in the fresh air. What a beautiful, wonderful life we were living on the outside.
The world pretty much shut down after that. Everything was zoom this and zoom that. We had to wear masks and couldn't see the people we love.
We found an apartment but weren't even allowed to tour it in person. We had to sign a lease without even seeing the place.
Thank goodness we got a good one and the day we moved in was a turning point. I'll never forget having to take rolls of toilet paper from the hotel to our new apartment because the grocery stores were out of it. A month turned into two, turned into three, turned into four, and before I knew it I was ending the school year with my kiddos, virtually. It was so sad to say goodbye to the kids I had taught for two years. When we left I didn't bring everything; we were only off for two weeks; surely we'd be back. Now it was summertime and I needed warm weather clothes. I thought for sure I'd get my belongings eventually, so I allowed myself to purchase 3 pairs of shorts, 5 shirts and 1 pair of sandals from Target. I started interviewing for jobs (over zoom) while Mark walked to his office at 160. Mark wasn't able to get a flight back to Albania until September. We couldn't leave our apartment vacant that long, so our friends in Tirana whatsapp videoed us and packed up our entire place for us. We are so, so grateful to Natavan and Yoann for helping us during that time. They said it wasn't a problem and really enjoyed the US treats we had left in our place. I guess Mac and Cheese and Pop Tarts really are that good.
When Mark finally made it back with our belongings, it felt like Christmas. Two huge suitcases, duffel bags and backpacks filled with our lives abroad. We had to leave lots of things, but we also got to save lots of things.
When I left I didn't bring everything; we were only off for two weeks; surely we'd be back. To this day, March 6, 2022, I still haven't been back. I miss the people I didn't get to say goodbye to properly; I miss the country I didn't get to explore enough; I miss the byrek that I can't quite seem to make at home; I miss living abroad as an expat. A lot has happened in that time. The world has ebbed and flowed. Mask mandates were put in place, vaccines were introduced, vaccines were mandated for indoor spaces, vaccine mandates and mask mandates were lifted. Learning was hybrid, learning was online, learning was in person. Learning was one day at a time. Mark and I missed traveling. And while we tried to scratch our travel itch in the states- (we went to a nudist camp ground on accident!) it just wasn't enough for us.
We moved once more (because that's how we do!) and then separated. While Mark won't be a part of my future travels, he will always be a part of my past travels, and I will always look back at those fondly. I'm not sure what's to come but I know one thing for certain- as soon as my adventure abroad starts again, I'll be blogging about it.
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