2020-05-13

Waiting until my third flight takes off ...

   After the Thai Royal Government declared emergency status at the end of March this year, almost the entire country went on lockdown. All stores, institutions, amusement parks shut down their gates, even the alcoholic beverages were banned to prevent gatherings. These precautionary measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. 
When we received the news, the situation kind of turned upside down; our academic tasks, deadlines, and other plans went messy. Some of my colleagues in the Global Studies Program (GSP) began to back up and leave for their homelands as soon as possible. They did not want to stay and live under curfews or any other measures in Bangkok as such measures are not existent in their countries. 
I hurriedly began to prepare myself to leave for Germany too fearing that this situation might last for a longer time than expected. Therefore, I had to run and book a new flight, which was on March 24th after the one had been booked that was supposed to take place on May 12th was also canceled. 
Shortly after that declaration, I learned that most of my colleagues left for their homelands, only three remained in Bangkok, including me. There was a strong hope that my flight that was scheduled on March 24th will take off, but two days before the actual departure, I was informed that it was canceled. At the time, most of the airway companies suspended their flights from BKK Airport to other destinations in the world over except for some companies kept operating, like Lufthansa, Qataraiways, Swiss ...etc. with very few trips even a large majority of them were also canceled.  
I felt hopeless that Thailand would open up its gates again in a short time. That feeling faded away when I received information that departure from Thailand is allowed but coming to is prohibited. The journey with constant watching out flights and calling up the airport and the offices of these airlines took me even to more frustration, as they did not give me clear answers about whether a certain flight is going to fly over or not. Even the authority at BKK airport assured me that there is no confirmation on any flight only the confirmation can be given on the flight that would take off today, "tomorrow no confirmation either, you have to wait until tomorrow, the flight after tomorrow we are unsure though, you have to wait until tomorrow." 
I found myself accepting the fact that "just leave everything as it is." But sometimes I attempted to resist this fact; there are many plans back in Germany, what the consequence of calling them off? What about my legal status in the German Federal Republic as a residency holder not allowed to overstay abroad? Shall I go back to my country Palestine? Would Israelis allow me to travel back to Germany again? But, the country there began taking serious steps for thwarting the spread of Covid-19. 
Indeed, later on, the news was received that Israel and Palestine entirely went on lockdown as the positive examination of some Corona cases were discovered in the Palestinian Bethlehem city, the first place to have gone through the infection of Corona. As a result, both sides blocked down the borders and internally shut down all institutions and stores and enforced curfews. 
Under this uncertainty, I learned either million of people around the globe going through this unpredictable situation where no choice just to subject to the preventive measures that are imposed by the governments. That was the only solution for eliminating that virus that showed the world malicious intentions of killing more people mercilessly. Therefore, the bell of danger rang indicating that a potential catastrophe is going to occur as the casualties overstepped 300 thousand in many countries, especially in Europe, including approx. 4 million confirmed cases.  
I don't know if Corona crisis can be called "Apocalypse" at this stage or not yet, but it reminded the world of the "Black Death" event that took place between 1374-1352 when the "Black Plague" hijacked the lives of almost third of the population in Europe, approximately 75 to 200 million died. I do not want to predict that outcome or the world would go through the same experience and neither want to see our charming world plagued as such.  
Day in and day out, I decided to stay for a month or more until further notice in Bangkok after renewing my visa at the immigration office. So during this period, I have learned about many stories of people, some I met with here in Bangkok, are stuck in different countries as a result, even in Thailand cannot fly back to their homelands because airports have gone on complete lockdown and how they are struggling with living in a foreign country where they had not planned to live for a while more than they had planned. Under this pandemic, they are challenged by many obstacles; they are financially challenged as their budget covers their accommodation for the scheduled period to stay in a foreign country. They consequently are in a challenging situation where they should be careful with managing their budget. I heard that some resorted to their embassies for filing their cases, but I have no idea if any has worked out. 
For me also, I began grappling with the travel agency, with which I had booked my flight tickets. It pushed me to call up their office in the USA, which was costly as I used my local number in Bangkok. After long talks, I managed to sort out the reimbursement matter for the two flight tickets on April 20th. But I have not gotten refunded up till now despite was promised by the travel agency that after two weeks, the money will be received back. It's quite understandable that these agencies are under heavy pressure sorting out enormous refund requests by clients around the world whose flights have been canceled. 
Hopefully, my next flight will take off and leave this amazing Thailand safely and healthy. This what I could say thus far ... 

 29.02.24 a rare date