By Tara Jabbari
This week brings us stories from the pandemic with aspiring nomad Tara Jabbari, who takes us through her journey leading up to pandemic chaos. From lockdowns to border closures and a nomad journey cut short, this is a glimpse of how one life, out of millions, was thrown into disarray.
This is the journey of a nomad cut short: stories from the pandemic.
You know the saying, “Want to make God laugh? Share your plans.”
Well, here is a story of how I finally decided to be a nomad and then a pandemic changed it.
While I was working in an office job, I wasn’t all that happy. I kept planning when I could use my vacation time to go explore. I made a deal with myself to visit a new country each year.
The full-time office work didn’t work out. Then another full-time office work didn’t. Eventually, I found clients as a freelancer and 80% of my time was remote. I worked from home and would go to the library, at friend’s houses, etc.
And I kept up with my vacations. I’d heard of a program called Remote Year, where you live in a new country each month of the year. After two years of stalking their website and programs, I finally signed up. We would leave in late January 2020.
The pandemic descends
I put everything in storage, spent time with my mom and friends and packed for my time living abroad. Meanwhile, I kept hearing about some virus that overtook a city in China.
I arrived in Medellin and met my new “tramily.” I also visited Cali, practiced my Spanish and had delicious fruit everywhere I went.
We then headed to Mexico City in March. By this time, the virus known as COVID-19 was wider spread. April was supposed to be in Chile but they were one of the first countries to close their borders.
I was planning a celebration for the Persian and Baha’i New Year, also known as Naw Ruz, for March 20th with my tramily. Then on Thursday, the 19th, while walking around with some friends, we all received an alert that the US State Department issued a travel 4 warning level. This is usually used for countries that are war zones. Basically, it meant that citizens can come back but they are not sure for how long.
Related: How the Bush Saved Me in a Pandemic: Stories from Mornington Peninsula
Chaos and finding the way home
My mother demanded I come home immediately. I rushed back to my apartment, booked the first flight out for Friday morning. I dumped all my belongings in my luggage. My roommate had to stand on it so I could zip it all the way up. We took off for a farewell gathering as most of us decided to go back our countries of origin. Tearful farewells were made with promises to be reunited.
So six weeks into my life as a nomad was cut drastically short. I was now forced into quarantine, celebrating Naw Ruz via Zoom. For the two weeks I quarantined, I ended up staying at my dead father’s empty townhouse that remained unsold for the last 11 months. It was surreal to say the least.
Plans thrown into disarray
I wanted to travel the world, get outside of my comfort zone, meet new people.
Now I was living in the suburbs I grew up in.
I wasn’t happy having to sleep and quarantine in an empty house with so many memories of my dad. This was not the “out of comfort zone” I was looking for. The two weeks went by, I had no symptoms and so I went to Mom’s.
The depression sunk in.
All my plans, everyone’s plans, thrown out the window. A friend’s wedding was due to take place in Rome in August. She ended up having it in a park in North Carolina.
I went out for walks or bike rides every day to get some fresh air. I spoke with my Remote Year tramily. We had known each other longer apart than we had together but we shared the same disappointment.
Jobs and wellbeing
Preparing to live abroad as a nomad takes a lot of work. Mentally, emotionally as well as physically. Now I had to prepare to get stuck in the place I was trying to avoid being stuck in.
It wasn’t easy. I kept up with therapy. Luckily, my therapist and I had already been meeting virtually since she agreed after I told her I was joining Remote Year. Work was scarce, freelancing took a hit. I started teaching online on social media etiquette and film studies.
An unexpected trip to NYC
By fall, my friend who lived in New York City wished she could visit her mother.
Any travel, particularly by flight, would have to be for long periods of time, and you’d need to quarantine for the first two weeks. She had two cats in her apartment and couldn’t leave them alone. I offered to watch over them. I already worked remotely, my mom and I had spent plenty of quality of time together (and getting on each other’s nerves). And I didn’t want my friend to miss out on this with her mother.
It wasn’t the trip I’d hoped. I’ve been to NYC plenty of times before. I love it but now the big draws are all closed. You couldn’t eat inside restaurants. Broadway had closed. The city was very strict. They were no longer the epicenter but were they taking no chances.
I spent two weeks quarantined at my friend’s apartment where we watched a bunch of 90s classics like Titanic and Out of Sight. Then she went to her mom’s and I spent the holidays with the cats. We watched Bridgerton and Wonder Woman 2 for Christmas. It was not an exciting life but at least it was a different place.
The day the nomad stood still
I am thankful I am healthy. My friends and family are healthy and safe. I hope I can travel again. I am not ready to unpack my things out of storage. This whole experience forced me to rethink my life, rethink my goals. Going with the flow. I am glad I took the plunge to be a nomad. Life had different thoughts. I guess I’ll keep planning and taking chances. I just don’t want to be God’s comedienne.
Tara Jabbari is a Digital Media Consultant. She has her BA in Electronic Media from Bradley University and MA in Communication, Culture, & Technology from Georgetown University. She enjoys traveling, walking, and talking with people about their passions. You can follow her online here: about.me/tarajabbari
Instagram: @tara_jabbari
