#Dispatches From the Frontlines series crowdsources questions to get a broad survey of how the academic community is coping with various challenges.
Hoping to lighten the mood just a bit, next week we move on to a new question: What is the first thing you will do when the pandemic is truly over
Next week’s question–what else can it be? – Has the ongoing coup attempt impacted your thoughts or work as an academic? Share your response here.
Glossary:
- SS – Social Sciences
- Hum – Humanities
- STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
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What is the first thing you will do when pandemic is over?
I’ve always wanted to leave the city I moved to for a TT job & after 10 years, I haven’t left. The pandemic has kept me from even looking for new opportunities, and focused my attention to the here and now. Frankly, it feels good to live in the present and not obsess over what I don’t have and where I don’t live. (Tenured Prof, Arts etc)
Travel abroad to see my family (Postdoc, SS)
I recently moved to the US because of my husband (a US citizen). I’m preparing to submit my dissertation in a couple of months, but have slowly been turning away from academia. As a foreigner with foreign degrees, I’ve realized that I’m not equipped to compete with my US PhD-holding counterparts. As a result, I have been applying for academic and non-academic jobs for the last few months. I don’t need a work visa, but have been getting zero interviews. I’m thinking that the problem is either my academic background, lack of contacts or lack of knowledge of the US application process. I honestly have no plan for the end of the pandemic. I’m just hoping that a job will come up very soon because I am thoroughly discouraged. (Grad student, Hum)
When it is truly safe to do so, I’m most excited to immediately return to my massage therapist. Next thing will be traveling to visit dear friends who live multiple states away. Finally, I’ll be working to transition out of academia. I plan to start a small business that will let me live where I want to live. (Asst prof, Hum)
Tango dancing! Preferably at a queer milonga (Tenured, STEM)
My partner and I will hopefully go on a working vacation to Europe so I can do my dissertation research it also have a honeymoon (Grad student, Hum)
I look forward to introducing my new twins, born during the pandemic, to my family and friends, and spending time with all my loved ones. (Asst prof. SS)
I can’t wait to walk to my office and meet with students and teach in person! I also can’t wait to invite friends over for dinner and cook with them. 🙂 (Asst prof. STEM)
I was hoping to get tailored pants in the metropolis 6h away after losing the pandemic weight. Very shallow and I hate shopping normally but fed up of being in tiny country town. I’m in litigation for discrimination since Feb 2020 (2% of those who file at human rights commission who don’t have a settlement/ending at this stage). That’s more important to put that behind than the pandemic. I can then share it with a few loved ones who were indirectly involved… say goodbye properly (NTT, STEM)
See friends (Tenured, SS)
I’m going to go hug as many friends and family as will accept. Primarily I’m going to travel to see family I’ve not been able to see in person for more than a year already. (Tenured, SS)
See family, travel, go to conferences/festivals, experience new things, hope for momentum toward a livable future. (tenured, Hum)
Grad school reunion (Postdoc,STEM)
Travel! (see family, visit a new city, go to the beach, pawn my kid off on his grandparents for a while) (Non-ac, Hum)
Sit next to someone creative, and without talking, make something. Alone together. Side by side. Lost in what we’re doing, pausing now and then to notice something about each other’s creations, to name what we see, admire it. Breathe, hear each other breathe and sigh every once in a while, hear the click of the knitting needles, the swoosh of the paint brush. One of us will ask the other, “do you want a little snack.” Yes, we do want a little snack. I will make us a little snack, on a nice plate, with a pretty garnish, maybe some cheese, some thyme honey–do you like honey?–some of those little crackers I make when someone special is coming over, a sparkling water with a raspberry and mint in it, just to make it pretty.