Deborah LeipzigerWe leave Mumbai unaware that the pandemic is raging. While we watched the news each day, we are unaware of the havoc and tragedy the pandemic will bring. The local TV news in India and the newspapers tells us that there have been a few deaths in Delhi, but we are unaware of the magnitude of the Covid pandemic. We see the white haz mat suits on the news, but it seems far away.
The airport in Mumbai is quiet. It is here that we learn that Italy is in lockdown. But still the full severity of the crisis has not yet landed for us. We find ourselves on the flight from Mumbai to Munich (?).
We arrive in Munich in time for breakfast. The airport is eerily quiet. Eager for coffee, we sit at a café and adjust to having to think about the breakfast in terms of euros. Andy is eager for coffee. I buy him a cappuccino—as I like to bring him coffee. For me I select a roll that looks like a pretzel filled with smoked salmon and dill. I read the Financial Times and the news begins to dawn on me. We can hear the sounds of the borders closing behind us.
When we land in Boston a few hours later, we are relieved to be home but unaware that some friends and colleagues will be unable to leave India. A few hours later we learn that Harvard and MIT have closed down. The next day we pick up my daughter Natasha from Northeastern.
It is many weeks before we learn about the need to wear masks.