Learning Under COVID-19

A year ago COVID-19 didn't even exist, so the fact that practically the entire world's school-aged children were sent home for month on end is an indicator of just how much the world has changed during this academic year. The stories started from the east, and gradually moved westward as the pandemic spread and millions were affected directly. As we write this post the numbers worldwide continue to go up, travel is severely restricted, our school (not ended for the year) finished off the year with nearly four months of online learning and our girls have moved up a grade through internet-based assignments, class meetings, projects, etc. It's a surreal world, to say the least. 

The biggest challenge, of course, was not being able to see our friends on a regular basis. For those friends leaving the face-to-face goodbyes had to happen, unexpectedly, three or four months ahead of schedule. Life's experience became smaller (for much time we were confined only to our home) but also broader (our connection to the internet was our much-needed link to those -friends and family - around the world). Friendship became more structured with social events needing pre-planning and social experiences being viewed through tiled boxes. Over time the girls learned to be learners and mommy and daddy learned to be educators, learners, home-learning experts, balancers of all life, it seemed. 

But our girls truly blossomed, though with any chance they get all they want to do is be around people. Their work was well done, complete and the independent nature of online learning was something they dealt with more easily than we would have expected. Organized, focused, asking appropriate questions and getting support when needed, they just moved along as if this change was something that didn't ruffle too many feathers. 

By the end of the year - mid June - they were done, though. We had hoped to head off to some other country for the summer but tickets were cancelled and restrictions not quite lifted soon enough. Colombia remains closed. Greece is opening, but not to UAE residents just yet. The US of open but there is no motivation to head in that direction at the moment. So we wait. In truth, we are happy to have our health and each other. But we wait.