When the crisis interferes with your long-planned sabbatical

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
I believe it´s not much different from other locations in Europe though we here follow most of the rules (wearing masks on the street, wash hands, etc) and from what I have seen in other countries things are more relaxed.
We are currently facing the highest numbers of Covid 19 in the country since the pandemic restarted as a consequence of the holiday season. We are about to start a second lockdown 🙁

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
From my perspective people are very devided in terms of their opinion on several matters related to covid which makes us not just physically appart but more and more distant intellectually.
Also it´s important to mention one of the major changes which is the interaction with other people, being in a store, on the street or in the supermarket. Most people are actually afraid to get close to others.

How are you and your family?
Fortunately we are all healthy and none of us caught the virus despite the fact we were always very close to it. A few friends and neighbours got it. I believe psychologically it was a challenge because on the lockdown we were living in a small appartment 5 persons (me, my wife, both my parents and my brother). This can be quite stressfull but we handled it very well!

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
From all of the difficulties I believe what was the toughest for me was to lose the opportunity to fulfill the dream of traveling around the world one year with my wife backpacking. Unfortunately, this was supposed to be our year so its quite disappointing and I didnt get through it yet 🙁 We asked a sabbatical year to do our trip and in the end of the day we spent most of the time at home.

The toughest challenge for me was to lose the opportunity to fulfill the dream of traveling around the world one year with my wife backpacking.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
Middle March 2020. I had my one way ticket bought to Buenos Aires to start my journey but my flight was canceled, thats when I understood that it might be more serious than I initially thought.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
I believe it was pretty much the same as in most EU countries. First to test as much as possible the population, eventually the lockdown came up, and of course, masks and alcohol gel everywhere. Closing hours for most commercial activities like shopping malls, restaurants, theaters and until today bars and discos are closed.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
I can´t say I am satisfied as the economical impact could be smaller if certain measures were taken, having said that, I also appreciate that governments are dealing with something new, very complicated that they dont know about which makes decision process much more complex. So in general I would say that I believe they are trying all to do their best.

What would you like to say to your government?
Take people in consideration first above all, and as an extra tip: End with the ridiculous amount of corruption in our country and the economy will recover in a blink of an eye. Its the major source of our problems.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
There are many, but mostly everything that was said by WHO and DGS (the Portuguese institution) when all started because everything was wrong. From, the virus will not reach Europe, to masks are irrelevant to prevent the virus spreading, you name it. All was illarious and scarry to be honest.

Mostly everything that was said by WHO and DGS (the Portuguese institution) when all started was wrong.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
No deaths of Covid 19 around me but positive cases I know a few.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I did 2 tests while I was traveling in my campervan through Europe (4 months). Some borders required the test and I also got sick while in Poland so I did the test as a preventive measure.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
I am indeed. Not specifically because of me but I would be devastated if I contaminate any of my family members or friends.

I would be devastated if I contaminate any of my family members or friends.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
I did voluntary lockdown (considering I couldn´t go on my trip) so before all country was locked down I already was. I started in March and ended in May but still I didn`t do much outside in May. We were only allowed to walk a few minutes on the street (like a clear your head walk kind of thing), go to the supermarket (we would choose one person of the household to do it) and not much more than this.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I spent it with my wife, my parents and my brother and we did everything we could not to be bored as I believe most people did. We played loads of games, cooked a lot, worked on our travel blog and took the time to define a plan B for our round the world trip.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed the possibility to travel. Thats one of my major passions and it was very limited for me in this period. I missed spending physical time with my friends, I missed (and still do) hugs and kisses cause I like affection.
I felt wine and a great family did the trick and was what helped me the most! 🙂

I missed (and still do) hugs and kisses cause I like affection.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I had asked before I knew, a sabbatical year in my company so I stopped working on the 1st of March. Furthermore, due to the pandemic my company had to restructure and they already communicated to me that I am not returning to my position 🙁

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Unfortunately my social life went towards a direction that doesn`t please me at all, because I socialize through social media which is something I never liked. I always prefer person interaction.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
Well, I will only be able to access the real impact in the years to come because thou I had my savings for this year to travel the world money is not rubber and doesn`t stretch so I am spending my savings and now I know I won`t have a salary as off April 2021 as it was suppose to happen.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
At the moment we are preparing for a second lockdown. I returned from my Europe Roadtrip in November and I am staying at home 99% of my time. So I am staying at home working on my online business and planning the future.

Due to the pandemic my company had to restructure so that, after my sabbatical, I am not returning to my position.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
No doubt all the staff working in health care facilities… from doctors, to nurses, to the cleaners, the chefs, the assistants, etc who take care of those in need and disregard their own life and their families to support others.

What did the crisis show you?
We should value what we have even more than before and we should be grateful of what we have because unfortunately there is a lot of suffering in this world and there is always someone in a more difficult situation than us.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Hugs, kisses, dinner parties, everything but certainly getting back to the travel mode will be much appreciated.

Which images will you never forget?
There are a lot of images that will mark me forever but I believe the biggest shock was when I visited Venice, Italy, and there were no crowds… just a ghost town which is something I never expected to see on such a popular touristic destination.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
I tried to avoid getting too involved with tough stories as I was affraid that it would bring our household moral down. Obviously I can´t avoid to be touched by the millions of stories of people in massive difficulties that we could see on the news and social media platforms.

The biggest shock was when I visited Venice and there were no crowds… just a ghost town which is something I never expected to see on such a popular touristic destination.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
I am afraid we won´t be able to interact comfortably and fearlessly with others. I truly like to be close to people and this current situation definitely makes it a bit scary at least in the near future.

What gives you hope?
Thinking that a new road is ahead of us which is exciting and knowing that in times of difficulty plenty of opportunities arise.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
I certainly am. Still don´t know where to or for how long but as soon as I finish my life plan and get my vaccine, I will immediately hit the road!

Would you get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19??
Yes, definitely!

What can we all learn from this crisis?
To value every single human being life regardless their gender, race, religion and ethnicy and above all economical aspects. In this time we saw a lot of people getting extreme in their opinions and more divided than ever but at the same time we saw a lot of beautiful, altruistic acts by many which gives me hope and faith in our future. Still, this is something we should never forget to avoid commiting the same mistakes we have done.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
2020 the year when dreams did not come true…

As I finish my life plan and get my vaccine, I will immediately hit the road!