Greta Trip & COVID19 Part II – Bachelor student raised in Lithuania explains her trip experience

PART II

Well, my first experience with this novel, spooky and vicious virus happened when I was not even in the Netherlands. The first part of the story is written on part I here. On mid of March I went on my very first solo-trip to Portugal. I was filled with excitement to do such trip. I wanted it to be a life-changing journey.

Here in this shop they allow maximum 6 persons to enter only. Also, they ask to keep the distance.

After everything happened, I was sadly laughing at myself as I went on self- discovering trip… I was sitting in front of bay looking in front of river Tagus. Behind me there was the museum that I supposed to visit. I had no idea what should I do.

The only the thing that I came up with was looking for the information about THE VIRUS. I know, it was ridiculously bad idea as after looking at all the numbers of cases and deaths made me feel gradually worse and worse. I called my family and asked what should I do and so on and on. It was an eerie loop of thoughts.

I spent 3-4 hours in front of the museum “observing intensely and carefully the exhibitions”… During that time I finally concluded that I am the one who can help myself, the one that is responsible for myself and that nobody will come and safe me. So, I got my things together, stood up and moved on to continue the solo trip.

When I came back, everyone was keeping the distance in Wageningen Wednesday market.

The last days in Portugal I managed to arrange my flights earlier, find still someone to be with and spend amazing time in Lisbon. Nevertheless, during these days I started thinking that I am simply a mammal who is fighting with other specie called virus. Each time I would say to myself “Greta, it is normal, it is merely a evolution.

I have a power to adapt to the new situation as any other species and protect myself by taking precautions and if I think that it is the end of the World, it will be the end of the World. I AM RESPOSABLE how I behave, how I feel, how I project the life. It is me only me who can do that!”.

Since that time any time I would freak out or cry, or feel blue about all of this situation I would remind myself the things that I realized back in Lisbon.

So here I am living my adjusted life. I am still studying, I am still doing well. Even tough sometimes I go cray cray during the day of being at home.

Nevertheless, I am thankful for these days as it made me stop a bit, reflect a bit more, be more at present, be appreciative for any small things.

Such small things as noticing that my plants in the room are growing or seeing changing details on the same walking route. However, I am not saying that I manage to be so thankful all the time.  I miss the social life, being in contact with more people. Events and all stuff that I cannot experience at this moment anymore. 

I do believe that some of you are in the same shoes as I am or not completely. However, the thing that I would like to say to you lovely readers is that if you by any chance join a ride on the roller-coaster, step aside, inhale and exhale and do your stuff on your own pace. Do not forget to take care of yourself in any kind of act.

Go to do meditation, do sports, journal, listen to the favourite music, draw, just do whatever that makes you cheer up. It is completely fine to feel, we are simply animals that struggle to adapt.