19 Mar 2020

These are frazzling times. Coughs are like gunshots, worry is clouding everyone’s sanity and toilet paper is a new currency. Welcome to 2020. What the actual f...?

I feel selfish that I’m so gutted over my ruined gap year amongst this chaos. But in my defence, I’ve spent years sitting in classroom after classroom, daydreaming of my year galivanting across the globe. Not only that, but blood, sweat and tears were shed whilst grinding so hard that I forgot what my friends looked like all in the attempt to save as much dosh as possible.

And now, here I am, stuck listening to R.E.M.’s classic It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) in my bedroom. 

Of course, I'm disheartened. I told myself 2020 was going to be a year of finding myself. I know I know, it sounds cliché but I've been cooped up in school my whole life, I didn't know what was out there waiting for me!

And I thought taking a gap year and travelling would have some answers or at least clues to figuring out who the heck I am. Although, answers can be found through other mediums as well. Not to mention, I'll still be able to travel later down the track. But, here's a few things that I did when my gap year got cut short thanks to Miss Rona (you know, coronavirus).

 

Firstly, I enrolled in a short course online. The course I chose is in the realm of my passions and potentially something I’ll pursue at uni. I’m still undecided, hence, the gap year, but this could help skew my decision for the future. So start sussing out what may interest you for the time being.

I’ve also spent my days exercising not only my bod, but my brain. That’s right, I figured if I can’t see the world and meet a million different people, I’d live vicariously through books. I’ve dabbled in history, biographies, philosophy, fantasy and I'm already feeling a little more ‘world-travelled’ without having travelled at all. As the god, Frank Zappa once said: “so many books, so little time.” Well, now it seems like all I have is time. Oh and, if you’d rather poke your eyes out than read a book, Netflix does the trick too.

Gap years are typically full of experimenting and mucking about with new things. That being said, I bought a used guitar from gumtree and have begun screwing around with chords and scales for fun.

Oh and hey, if I can’t go to France, I might as well learn some French right?! Excusez-moi monsieur, où sont les toilettes? I may or may not have just asked someone where the toilets are. Who’s bilingual now?

I know what you’re thinking. Sure, saying that you learnt some chords on guitar isn't as extravagant as saying you travelled to seven countries in a year. It doesn’t compare. And I still standby that this is a real kick in the nuts. But I’m not going to host a pity party. Especially since I don’t want to be infected by my guests and we gotta respect social distancing.

Life never works out the way you plan. For now, I’m going to stay positive, keep bloomin’ like a flower through all the books I’ve bought and hobbies I intend to pick up.

I will still get to travel later on. All will be groovy. Now, say it with me people...

All will be groovy!

All will be groovy!

All will be groovy!