Mingcheng Song

One of the few privileges that being a "high risk individual" (meaning I had just entered mainland from overseas in the past week) provided was the conveniences in the airport. As a result of the special check-in counter, designated lounge and security queue. Up until I began boarding, there was someone by my side to escort. I have to admit that it felt great to be on autopilot in an otherwise very stressful setting, I liked to be attended to, although for not exactly complimentary reasons. It was also the first time in my life to board an airplane before anyone else, even before those flying business class. I always didn't care for standing in line before boarding's called, and going through the final checkpoint before anyone thought to get up from their seats, I'd like to imagine that landing on me were some heated glances casted by those most eager to board first. And the most dramatic part was yet to come! When the plane finally landed, people quickly unloaded their luggages and formed a packed line along the aisle. The flight attendant leaned over and told me to wait until everyone else got out. I nodded, thinking that would likely be the case anyway since I'm seated all the way in the back. That's until after the voice overhead had stumbled its way through what must have been over forty "medium and high risk cities" in China, I heard, "Passenger in 30F please exit the plane first". The flight attendant turned to me once again, apologetically asking me make my exit, while the other crew members began trying to clear a way in the busy aisle. The bulk of me that I was, carrying a backpack, a duffle bag, plus a ridiculously large water bottle that's definitely not worth the hassle to transport from all the way across the globe, inched towards the front along the now obstacle course of luggages. I could hear the gears turning in people's head: who is this person and how come he gets to go first? The answer might be quite obvious to most, and some annoyance might turn into (largely unfounded) fear after they have figured it out, a small part of me still imagined that I'm some sort of celebrity traveling incognito--a totally nonsensical thought and a little grotesque even, but amusing nonetheless.

I really didn't hate the extensive and laborious steps of living in quarantine. It's a period of time where very few decisions have to be made, and that freed up my mind to be productive, sometimes creative. I was able to maintain a week's streak in Duolingo after who knows how long. Tomorrow I will be dismissed and reintegrate as a normal, non-contagious citizen, marking the end of a path to a long missed home. The prospect of future is ever so daunting, so maybe I should take solace when I can.