The pandemic has been in France and around the world for more than a year, but for me today is the anniversary. On the evening of March 16th, 2020 President Macron announced the first lockdown, for an initial period of 15 days. Romain, Dalton and I were already in Normandy, soon to be joined by more of Romain’s family.
The weekend before the announcement Paris felt so empty. All of the sudden and unexpected closures felt so unnerving. The life and energy of the city so abruptly disappeared. Little did I know a version of this would still be going on a year later.
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On March 15th there were rumors of an impending lockdown. Romain suggested we leave for Normandy the next morning. Looking back on it, I can’t believe how torn I was deciding whether to go to Normandy or stay in Paris. At the time I was trying to wrap my head around so many what-ifs.
I woke up on March 16th still uncertain, but Romain told me to pack my bag. I’m not sure what went through my mind when I was packing, but I ended up bringing the most impractical assortment of items ever. I thought we’d be staying for a long weekend, not two months.
As it turns out, those eight weeks spent in Normandy were probably the best thing that could’ve happened to me during the first lockdown. As difficult as it was to live in a strict lockdown, it would’ve been so much more difficult in Paris. One of the most frustrating things after one year of the pandemic in France is how eerily similar it feels. The light at the end of the tunnel isn’t shining very brightly due to the slow vaccine rollout in France.
It’s hard watching things return to a semblance of normal in the US. Only 3% of the population in France has been vaccinated. Borders, restaurants, museums and more remain closed. Pandemic exhaustion/burnout has really settled in. I’m so ready to get back to normal, but I know I have to continue being patient.
On the one year anniversary of the pandemic I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend the first lockdown in Normandy. The experiences and lessons learned undoubtedly shaped my life in France in a major way.
