Oberlin, OH
Sunday, April 5, 2020:
I have been feeling intense waves of emotions for the past 3 weeks, since the initial tumultuously emotional week of shock that the semester was ending as we were expecting it to continue and I had to abruptly say goodbye to the vast, vast majority of people who I love and who make me so happy at Oberlin.
This evening at 5pm I, not able to motivate myself or concentrate on motivating myself to do any work, I went for a walk for an hour and a half throughout campus and the town, capturing the emptiness that has emerged these past three weeks because of the intense social distancing and stay-at-home practices that everyone is adhering to. While this walk was extremely peaceful, the process of intentionally capturing the lack of activity around campus and town compounded the sadness that I was already feeling.
For the past three weeks, since the governor declared a stay-at-home order and the mandatory closure of all non-essential businesses, the vast majority of the businesses in town have been closed. Many owners have left written letters on the storefront doors, explaining their particular situation, emphasising the need to remain vigilant in our cleanliness and social distancing measures for the benefit of the entire community. Many of the letters also express hope and uplifting messages. While some of the restaurants have closed, many are still open for carry-out.
Life in Oberlin feels like a perpetual Saturday morning before everyone has woken up and emerged from their rooms. An extreme calm and emptiness permeates the spaces that are generally so bustling - Wilder Bowl, Tappan, Sidewalks, pathway to the science center, N Quad, the sports complexes… all of the buildings on campus are closed and locked, with signs posted at the doors stating the strict, indefinite closure.
The beds of flowers and all of the flowering trees around campus and tappan have been blooming more and more fully each day, and tiny leaf buds are slowly and steadily unfurling. Springtime in Oberlin is always such a hopeful, stunning, breath-taking, happy time. Each year I am awed by the extreme colorful transformation that spring gives to the campus, so welcome after the long, gray, cold winters. This hope and beauty is especially welcome this year in these times of extreme sadness and social isolation. It has been so wonderful to watch specific flowers and leaves and trees unfurl and blossom with the passing days. There is so much vibrant color in green grass and baby leaves, and in the bursts of flower colors scattered throughout campus. The birds are also very active, actively singing and flying about. I feel blessed that this pandemic has hit when spring is emerging. It would be absolutely miserable if it had been during or right before the winter. At least with the current season, we gain more sunlight, longer daylight hours, more warmth, and more flowers and leaves with each day. This alone gives me a reason to be happy, and certainly makes the stay-at-home, self quarantining and social distancing much more enjoyable.
- a journal entry, Terra Szuhay