What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been - Grateful Dead

Returning to the U.S. during the pandemic

Costa Rica closed its borders mid-March 2020 for anyone entering. Then, all the international airlines cancelled flights serving the country, so those who didn’t leave Costa Rica before the end of March were ‘stuck’ until the borders reopened.

Mark and I didn’t leave and because the borders were scheduled to re-open by mid-April, we thought we’d only be ‘stuck’ for a month.

But that April date came and went.

Although we lived in Costa Rica most of the time, we kept an apartment back in the U.S. Our lease was expiring at the end of May, and we needed to move.

But we had no way to leave Costa Rica. No flights were coming in or going out!

Rescue Flights

At the end of April, I heard that the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica had organized a few ‘rescue’ flights in conjunction with United Airlines out of Costa Rica.

If we could get on one of those flights, we could fly home, pack and move the apartment. We didn’t want to leave the hotel unattended, so we decided that I’d try to get a flight back, and Mark would stay at the hotel. We didn’t know how long it would be. If the borders didn’t reopen or if there weren’t more rescue flights, we knew it could be a while.

I scoured the Embassy website, the local online newspaper and the United website trying to find more on the next rescue flight. Finally, one was announced for the following Friday. The flight would depart San Jose and would fly to Houston. Once in Houston, travelers would have to find a way to their final destination. I needed to be on that plane!

I figured it wouldn’t be hard to secure a seat. Really, how many Americans wanted to leave Costa Rica that hadn’t already left? The answer…about 200!

I logged into my United account and waited for the flight to be released. I didn’t care what seat, or how much it cost. When the flight was listed, I pounced and got one!!

Luckily, I was also able to find a United flight from Houston to Chicago the same day. Both flights were in 4 days!

New Covid Protocols

With our hotel and many others closed, the local transportation companies were hurting for business. I asked one if they would drive me to the airport. They said yes and told me what the Costa Rica Covid protocols were for the transport.

I’d be required to wear a mask.

Wear a mask?! Mark and I were living outside, not going anywhere or seeing anyone. We never wore a mask. We didn’t even own any! I would also need one for the flight.

And masking was required everywhere in the U.S., so I needed to find one.

Our neighbors had gone to town and bought some masks, so I asked if I could have one. One! It would have to last until I got to Chicago.

Since the start of the pandemic, Mark and I hadn’t been in any enclosed space. We essentially lived outside with no walls. And we hadn’t been around anyone else.

My daughter told me that the U.S. had short supply of Clorox (disinfectant) wipes. We had plenty of those at the hotel, and I packed a small Ziploc bag to bring back with me. It felt like a bag of precious gold! I also packed a small bottle of hand sanitizer. We never used any of that either, but she told me it was important to have.

On Friday, I said goodbye to Mark and got in the van. Driving to the San Jose airport was the first time I had been in an enclosed space with anyone other than Mark since the pandemic began. The usually long 3 ½ hour car ride went faster than ever with few other cars on the highway.

Strange Airports

I was dropped at the airport, and went in. This usually bustling airport was nearly empty. There was only this one plane leaving. It felt strange.

Everyone in the airport was either on this flight or worked there. There were a few United employees to check bags, one TSA agent to check passports and one agent at security. There weren’t many lights on throughout the airport and no restaurants were open. Strange.

I was shocked to see that some people had on gloves and a few others were wearing complete hazmat jumpsuits! What have I gotten myself into? Apparently, Mark and I had been living in a Covid-ignorant bubble, and I now got my first glimpse of the panic of the rest of the world. I wanted to turn back.

But I wanted to see my kids and my sister. I saw them last at Christmas. Pre-pandemic. I needed to SEE that they were all ok.

When it was time to board, we lined up – 6 feet apart. The first time – ever – that people boarding a plane were not lined up as close as possible!

I’d read that airlines were using special air purifying systems, so I initially wasn’t worried about being on the plane. I had my mask and if needed, my bag of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.

When I walked on the plane, the flight attendant handed me a small disinfectant packet. Great, another wipe in case I need it. Not sure for what exactly, but it seemed good to have.

Then I got to my aisle seat. Around me, I saw other people opening their disinfectant wipe and wiping down the seat, the headrest and the tray table.

Can you get this virus from those? Did they know something I didn’t?

To not look different, I did the same. Then I sat down and tried to breathe behind my mask. I’d not worn a mask before today and now I felt as if I’d hyperventilate! I closed my eyes and tried to meditate. Breathe…breathe…relax…

Trying to breathe! See the ‘quality’ of my Costa Rican mask? Loose on the sides! © Marlo Leaman 2020

Then my seat mates arrived.

Wearing full regalia of white, paper hazmat jumpsuits with white hoods, masks AND clear plastic face shields, they nodded for me to move. Then they wiped EVERY SINGLE SURFACE top to bottom, front to back, before they sat down.

Not them but they were decked out like this!

I was now sitting next to the 2 most ‘protected’ people on this plane and after watching them perform their ritual, I was now nervous!

I had only heard what my kids and sister were telling me but these people leaving Costa Rica were either more prepared than I was or they were on a total panic train. It made me feel like I also should be boarding that train! Now I really wanted to turn back!

During the flight, we were offered only a small glass of water, and I pulled down my mask to drink. My seatmates lifted their face shield, pulled down their masks, took a quick sip and put them immediately back on. Should I be doing the same? I wasn’t nervous about this virus before I got on this flight. Now my nerves were frayed.

We finally landed in Houston, and deplaned. I felt such relief to be in the airport away from other people. And away from people I was. This big international airport was almost empty! So strange.

I texted Mark that I made it to Houston and told him that I couldn’t even begin to explain this strange day. I just wanted to get to my Chicago apartment, ‘safe’ from this craziness.

‘Safely’ in Houston. © Marlo Leaman 2020

Living in Costa Rica, we really had NO idea what was happening elsewhere, and now I was beginning to understand what my family and friends were talking about, and I didn’t like it.

As I waited for my flight to Chicago, I found the only open restaurant. I sat far away from the only other person I saw, ate some dinner and enjoyed a glass of wine.

Finally, I boarded the Chicago flight. It was not full, and I relaxed and enjoyed a row to myself. A big relief after the hazmat-clad seatmates on my flight from Costa Rica!

Arriving Home

I landed in Chicago late that evening and grabbed a taxi back to our apartment. After a long, 12 hour day, I opened the apartment door, ripped off my mask and fell exhausted onto the couch.

I was looking forward to seeing my family in the next days. But what I was returning to, I really had no idea.

What a long, strange trip it had been.

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