At one with nature -- Yoran Henzler

Everyone thinks the quarantine is hitting them hardest. Look outside, there's a spectacle going on.


Tuesday 3^rd March, 2020

I am ecstatic for spring break. Only 7 days to go. I’m going back to Europe and have planned an amazing week, full of adventures. First, I’m going to meet up with my girlfriend Jacqueline, she’s studying abroad in Paris. I booked an Airbnb in Dublin for St. Patrick’s day and everything is already organized. Some people have pulled out of going due to this weird coronavirus that has been spreading, well it’s not going to stop me. Some little cough and flu is not enough to mess up my holiday plans. There is no way I’m passing on adventuring around the world. I’ve never been to Dublin but I’ve already packed everything green that I own to wear at the parade. I’m going to look greener than a leprechaun, hell I’m going to be greener than Client Earth. Next, we are going to Munich where I get to see my favourite football (never call it soccer) team play, I have been looking forward to seeing my boys in red play for months and have planned the entire holiday around it. Let me tell you that absolutely nothing beats the feeling of 75,000 spectators roaring when Bayern Munich score a goal and being a part of it. From Munich, Jacqueline and I will drive to Kitzbühel, Austria where we can shred some gnarly ski slopes and be snow bunnies, it will be hard to leave that place to return to Los Angeles but definitely well worth it. After all, the travels and the countless memories are what matters most in life.

                                 

Friday 6^thMarch, 2020

Welp, this whole virus-thing is more serious than I thought. My mum forced me to cancel my Airbnb in Dublin, I reluctantly agreed. Losing the prospect of learning about a new city is somewhat disheartening, but I do understand that being amidst a parade is not the ideal location to evade spreading germs. The news on this outbreak will have influenced me so strongly by then that I probably wouldn’t get through a St. Patrick’s day parade without imagining visible effluvia of green sickness when looking around me.

At least, I still have the football game and all the skiing to look forward to. My school said they will start testing online classes on Wednesday, in case this is the new reality post-spring break. I didn’t pay all this tuition to listen to my teachers educate me on my computer but I do understand their motivation. I’m starting to feel like things won’t be the same after the holiday, better make it one to remember.

Monday 9^th March, 2020

Things have escalated like crazy. Today, the WHO declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, last night Donald Trump announced he is banning all travel from Europe into the US. With that, he might as well have taken a samurai sword out and slashed through every plan that I had for spring break. Now, my girlfriend Jacqueline is being sent home to San Francisco from Paris, ending her semester abroad. Gone are the Instagram stories of her next to the Eiffel Tower, or of little French corner stores. Meanwhile, the football game in Munich has been cancelled, and the ski resort in Austria has closed down permanently. Seeing my girlfriend, Dublin, football, and skiing, all gone within 3 days. What am I even still meant to be excited about?

Wednesday 11^th March, 2020

I have online class today for the first time in my life. Really the last thing I need at the moment. “…if the average total cost intersects the marginal, wait can you all hear me?” *slams laptop shut*. I’m sorry I know this is not my teacher’s fault but why on earth is he on my screen all of a sudden, and why should I listen to him when I’m in bed and can watch Netflix instead?

Friday 13^th March, 2020

Friday 13^th really fits how I’m feeling today. Trump’s travel ban is becoming effective tonight. Whilst I’m flying home to London today, my girlfriend is flying back to California. Two thumbs up for more long distance. It feels like there couldn’t have been worse timing for this, and somehow I’m being hit the hardest.

Tuesday 17^th March, 2020

This is by far the most enjoyable spring break I’ve had. Last night, my mum and I got locked out of our apartment and sat outside it for 2 hours. We couldn’t go anywhere because there’s a pandemic going on and everything is closed. Once the locksmith came, he coughed in our apartment without covering his hands and told us he doesn’t think he has the coronavirus. Doesn’t that sound like a perfect night? No, I know it doesn’t, I was trying to be sarcastic but the truth is I’m just bitter. Today is St. Patrick’s day, I was meant to be in Dublin, not evading germs in my own apartment in London.

Sunday 22^nd March, 2020

Mum and I are going to try to get to Austria today. Our apartment in London has gotten very small very quickly this week and the house in Austria gives us space for an impending quarantine. As we fly into Munich, Germany, we don’t even know yet if we can cross the border to Austria with the car, it will be a last-minute decision by the Austrian authorities.

Monday 23^rd March, 2020

I’ve arrived in Kitzbühel, Austria. Heathrow airport was completely empty yesterday, I had 3 hand sanitizer bottles in my pocket. Even though I was wearing gloves and a mask, the eeriness of the whole travel was almost scarier than having masses of people around. I had to sign a paper at the Austrian border promising that I will self-quarantine for the first 2 weeks…

Tuesday 24^th March, 2020

I was meant to be reminiscing about the many adventures by now, happy to be back in sunny California surrounded by a buzzing social life. Instead, I’m stuck in Austria not allowed to leave my home for two weeks.

Thursday 26^th March, 2020

“Hey, yeah I had breakfast today too, and guess what I put two pumps of honey in my tea” That was today’s highlight of my FaceTime with Jacqueline.

Sunday 29^th March, 2020

Remember when I used to be able to just hang out with my roommates? Or walk to class under sunny Californian palm trees?

Friday 3^rd April, 2020

You used to be a magnificent diary you know that? Now I’m just ashamed to open you.

Wednesday 8^th April, 2020

Do you know how bored I am here? There are two finches outside and I’m jealous of their freedom.

Thursday 9^th April, 2020

Look at those birds, flying around, they haven’t got a single worry in the world. I wouldn’t either had I been allowed to go on my travels instead of being trapped in here.

Friday 10^th April, 2020

It’s honestly pretty crazy if you think about it. Four weeks ago my daily distress would come from midterms, papers, and planning fun activities. Now I’m envious of two birds smaller than my foot.

Sunday 12^th April, 2020

Finches are actually a fascinating breed of birds if you think about it. The same two always pass by my window at 10.27am and they make a 40 degree turn to land on the Cherry Blossom tree. Why don’t they go somewhere else? They can fly anywhere without even having to pay.

Monday blabla 2020

I found out my two new friends are actually Eurasian Bullfinches, that has to be the hardest Rockstar type of finch I have ever heard of. They must be ruling over any other types of birds. Chilling on top of the cherry blossom tree like it’s no one else’s business. I’ve decided to call them Rupert and Sieglinde. I like to think that Rupert represents me more and Sieglinde is my alter ego in some ways. At least Rupert gets to have what matters to him, he can travel anywhere he wants to and he has his girl by his side. Must be nice.

Not the weekend

They’re still there, on the same tree. Until now I didn’t realize why they don’t just fly off and travel, in reality, they spend most of their time there because their home base brings them peace and happiness. I would love to have the option to fly away but maybe I should consider being as happy with my surroundings as Rupert and Sieglinde are. Even though I don’t have my Sieglinde by my side, I should cherish the people around me and appreciate my home, just like Rupert does the cherry blossom tree.

Wednesday in April

It’s been over a week since I’ve noticed the two small passerine birds and I must say these have been the most entertaining days in quarantine. I have increasingly been reading up on their social and behavioural patterns and I am utterly blown away. Apparently, they are known for their ability to pick up sounds and mimic those of other animals. Maybe that’s why they’re such socialites, they can communicate with all the other animals by mimicking their sounds. Some of their friends come and visit them every now and again, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rupert alone nor sad on that tree. All I cared about a week ago were my large scale travel plans and having a social life surround me, these two socialites don’t leave their cherry blossom tree to do so, yet emit beautiful whistled notes to all their neighbours.

Friday in April

Maybe I can hang out with Rupert and Sieglinde once this quarantine is done. Earlier today, after I had my muesli with 7/12^ths of blueberry yoghurt, 13 and a half raspberries and 3 forceful splashes of almond milk, I saw the two doing a courtship display. Rupert stuck out his chest and dropped his wings to expose his white rump. Sieglinde uttered a soft whistle. They both fluffed their feathers and bowed to each other. Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how to get the cable TV working because I have officially finished everything on Netflix, who’s life sounds more enticing?

I think it’s still April

My writing professor completely caught me daydreaming in online class today. I gave some generic answer like “the author really uses strong metaphors here to portray the imagery of his work”, but we both knew I had no idea what I was talking about. How could I though? Outside my window there was an absolute spectacle going on. Showtime at the Apollo had nothing on the musical entertainment I was getting by the animals outside. Rupert started it off with a cheerful ‘pew’ call, and of course, Sieglinde wasn’t waiting too long to chirp in (no pun intended). 5 minutes later, there were deer, badgers and crows all adding their weight into a beautiful symphony. The badger’s low tones matched beautifully with the crows’ hoarse voice resembling a trumpet sound. Meanwhile, the deer contributed subtle high pitches to complete a wonderful concert. My balcony view of this trumps any reclining VIP seat, Popcorn and Coca-Cola included.

It might still be April

My mum was watching the news in the living room today and I was shocked to see so many figures about people getting ill and dying. Also, why is every leader of every country in the world having press conferences? It took me about 3 minutes to realize why everyone was panicking so hard. There is still a pandemic going on, that’s why I’m originally stuck here. I don’t really feel trapped anymore though. I have been engulfed by the nature phenomenon going on outside. I have two new best friends on a tree in my garden and if I play my cards right they’ll introduce me to their friends.

I have no idea what month it is

I’m in deep trouble with my girlfriend now, I forgot to call her back 3 days in a row and yesterday when she asked when I can fly back to LA I said: “Yeah but Sieglinde you have to understand that I can’t just fly back to California”. After listening to accusations that I’m talking to another girl, I had to explain to her that I’m actually just fascinated by a Eurasian Bullfinch on a tree in my garden, which I’ve named Sieglinde. Of course, Jacqueline didn’t understand, how could she? She’s not as in touch with nature as I am. She thinks I’m going crazy, little does she know I’ve just discovered a brand new world, one way more exciting than daily Zoom classes and FaceTimes.

It’s still 2020

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to explain to my Mum what’s going on. When I do still attend Zoom classes, I sit in the garden under the cherry blossom tree. I haven’t attended a family meal in a week. Much like Rupert, I’ve been eating 30 leaf buds a minute and gobbling them all up at once. When my Mum told me to have manners, I chirped at her and told her that if she behaved like this again she would be left out of the next concert, just like Friedrich the tone-deaf wild boar.

Calendars are stupid

I have come to terms with the infinity of quarantine. The animals outside don’t even know how to spell coronavirus and they’re at peace. I’ve met Rupert and Sieglinde’s friends now. There’s Siegfried the badger, Heinrich the deer, Fritz, Franz, and Hans the three crows. And then there’s also Helmut the peacock, and Josef the chihuahua. Even Friedrich the wild boar gets to hang out with us, as long as he doesn’t start singing. I’ve realized time doesn’t really matter when you’re immersed in nature, honestly, neither does journaling every important thing that has happened to me today. I’ve learned to cherish the moment and that’s why this will be my last and final entry. To infinite more days in quarantine.