It's strange that a small virus makes me and my friends reflect on nearly everything in our lives. When the Government of Canada warned citizens abroad to quickly return home before international air traffic was turned upside down due to restrictions, I decided to stay in Vietnam because I felt safer. When reading in the press about the efforts of other compatriots to wait for a last-minute ticket in tension, suspense, and flying around for nearly 4 days to return to their hometown, I suddenly realized that when the world changed, where I Called home, how remote is the island on the east coast of Canada on the way back. I always assumed that I could go home any time (under normal circumstances) when I needed to. However, in a special situation like the COVID-19 epidemic, the geographical distance of the journey makes it almost impossible to return home. I had to transit at two foreign airports and wait at another airport in Canada before returning to my city. Those flights have all sent cancellation notices. Even if the flight is not cancelled, when I return to Canada I will definitely have to be isolated from my family for at least 2 weeks. If I compare the number of cases between Vietnam and Canada, I see that the risk of catching the virus from home is higher, Canada is more dangerous. However, regulations are rules, I will definitely self-quarantine for everyone's safety. Ironically, after all our efforts to cross the ocean to get home, we still have to isolate for 2 weeks with our relatives and friends, close by but far away. But far is also near as we live in an era where it is very easy to talk to each other over the Internet with a phone call. This also helps us to inform family, friends and relatives about the epidemic situation in the place where we live easily, reducing unnecessary worries.
