Grounded

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, was by far one of the most chaotic corona days to date. Man, oh, man. 

I think what happened between 6 am and 12 noon is best summarised in run-on, nonsensical sentences to reflect my state of mind: 

Australia PM advises all travelers and ex-pats living aboard to return home effective immediately air travel to become severely limited for ex-pats healthcare system cannot support foreigners living abroad flight cancellation two days to return time do not travel via air as this is the leading cause of virus spread all sea travel to halt as well as air travel to prevent virus spread wash hands stay where you are do not travel foreigners are being attacked in Hanoi you may have only one day to get home book your flight now as flights are cancelling daily dammit don’t touch your face leave without pay for those who chose to go home should school reopen we went to the airport but our flight was cancelled OMG their visas were denied stay go stay go Laura are you coming home you should come home no Laura you should stay Vietnam is safe outbreak is expected no more flights obey orders book flight now stay go stay go stay go stay go stay go stay go stay go stay go …

At lunchtime in between synchronous Language and Literature lessons and fending off the crazy of social media and communications, I had to duck out and buy phone credit. 

The wonderful owner of the To Ngoc Van corner store asked me, “Are you going to stay in Hanoi?” 

“I’m really not sure,” I replied anxiously.

“I think it is wise if you stay, it is safe here,” she said calmly.

I just smiled and felt a sense of peace for the first time that day. Face to face human interaction, words of calm and assurance just settled the chaos. 

“I think I might stay,” I replied.

On the way out of the store, I noticed that she had started selling pot plants, so I chose to buy one. This beautiful plant now sits in the centre of my kitchen bench as a reminder of my need to take roots and be grounded in this turbulent time. 

When the chaos of ‘stay go stay go stay go stay go’ rears its complicated head, I simply look at this beautiful pot plant and am reminded of the lovely store owners words, “it is safe here.”