Most people I know are relishing the thought of returning to in-person classes. Finally, there will be actual structure in our lives! We will actually have to get out of bed at least once a day! We’ll see friends, loved ones, and absolute strangers! It’s all so very exciting.
There are a few people out there though who, while still enthusiastic, are a bit worried. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in public. To put it plainly, we’ve gotten weirder.
Are we just supposed to remember how to talk to people? I’m hoping it’s like riding a bike, though honestly I don’t know that I actually remember how to ride a bike. How loudly am I supposed to speak when not hidden behind a mask or on camera? Thank goodness that we’ll all probably still be staying ~6 ft apart, because otherwise we’d have to remember just how close one stands when talking to strangers. Is it really close? I seem to remember it being really close. And what are we supposed to talk about? All the nothing we’ve done and accomplished over the past year?
While many people are excited at the increased structure we will be afforded by moving back to being in person, I personally will be sorry to miss out on the ability to multitask. I love being able to attend a lecture while doing the dishes or laundry, accomplishing those menial chores that are required by life but demand little to no brainpower. It’s going to be quite an adjustment for many to have to switch back to doing those things in our free time.
Overall, despite these small anxieties, I’m really looking forward to going back to being on campus. I’ve missed so many parts of normal life, it’s exciting to be able to start adding a few back in.
