I reach out my hand, almost touching Maastricht's iconic city wall as I walk past it on my way to my tutorial room at UCM. Each of my echoing steps sounds like a melody - a truly unique one that can only be heard when walking through UCM. The air smells like the faint memory of Waffle Wednesdays, intense discussions, and new friendships. Though there's also something else, something that becomes bigger with every passing minute, with every whispered conversation: confusion.
How much time do we have left to meet each other like this? How many tutorials will I be allowed to attend in person until everything switches to online education again? It is being whispered that it will happen tomorrow. Rumour has it that the doors will shut, not to be opened again until after Maastricht takes down its winter decoration. But who knows?
Yet again, time seems to stand still as we are forced to continue our readings and classes, anxiously waiting for news. As if nothing happened, group projects are assigned, and presentations are organised. I'm washing my jeans in the desperate hope to still be wearing them by the end of this week. Should I dig up my sweatpants instead?
How long will it be until I have to use Zoom for what it is truly intended for again rather than quickly logging on at the beginning of class because I can't find the newly assigned room? Already now I feel my hand twitch, looking for my mask whenever I quickly want to go up to the communal kitchen to get a glass of water. Is that excessive? I mean, wearing a mask when I go to the kitchen probably is. Or is it? How about wearing a mask while sitting in the tutorial room? Who still knows what to do, plan, say, or, for that matter, think?
Confusion is in the Air.
Jesler van Houdt