A Very Modern Role Model: Carla Dibello On Flying During A Pandemic
The entrepreneur shares her experience traveling during the “new normal” – pre-travel anxieties and all
At this point, I think we’ve all gotten somewhat used to the new normal, at least to a degree. But it seems like the minute I start to feel truly comfortable within these new parameters, something new comes up that completely throws me off, exposing the dramatic difference between how it used to be and how it is now.
I’ve found it funny that when you look at behaviours, most people do only a select amount of activities on a regular basis. In our daily routines, we do the basics – eat, sleep, work, workout, and socialize with friends in a handful of ways such as getting drinks, going to brunch, shopping, etc. And while this pandemic is definitely a different experience for everyone, and it definitely took some time for us to figure out alternative ways to safely do the basics, in general, we’ve all collectively achieved a new normal when it comes to our everyday lives.
However the minute we leave the everyday, the world around us becomes foreign and we find ourselves re-navigating things that we used to take for granted with a new uncertainty. There is always an element of fear when it comes to the unknown. But it still blows my mind whenever I feel this way about things that used to be so familiar to me.
Last month, I had to fly for the first time since all of this began. Pre-pandemic, I would have never given flying a second thought before. But with all the new safety measures, even preparing for my flight was anxiety inducing.
The first difference was clear before I even got to the airport, as it was now suggested that we arrive 4 hours ahead of our flight as opposed to the standard 2 hours pre-pandemic. At first this seemed silly, as the airport was incredibly empty. However with all of the new safety guidelines in place, even the simplest steps in the check-in process took a bit longer.
Once in the airport, I was taken aback by how, in a way, everything felt like an emergency. While the airport staff were kind, helpful, and confident with their process, the deliberateness of each move made within the airport held a weight to it that couldn’t help but put you on edge. Moving from check-in through to security to waiting to board, it was impossible to not remain in a hyper state of anxiety-driven awareness of every single action that used to be so routine.
At the Dubai International Airport, shops were of course all closed. Books, magazines, and retail were all off limits, and aside from one takeaway coffee shop, food and beverages were shut down completely. In the waiting area, the majority of seats were blocked off for social distancing, which, while it definitely made me feel safer, also made it feel as though the airport had been abandoned due to some sort of apocalypse.
Once on the plane, capacity was well below 50%. We weren’t allowed carry ons or anything that would be stored in the upper compartments. The only thing I brought on the flight with me was my purse, aside from my mask, which was required for the entire 15 hour flight. Middle seats were left open for additional distancing, and meals were offered to us in disposable boxes that could be easily thrown away. Yet despite all of the changes and the anxiety that came along with them, the airport and flight staff were friendly, calming.
Landing in Chicago for my layover was a bit of a culture shock. The airport was heavily populated with travelers, and the restaurants and shops were open. My flight was more crowded, with every seat filled from first class to economy. Most people kept their masks on, but it was no longer required.
In some places, that which once felt like nothing– like hopping on a flight for example– now feels like a huge event. Yet on the other hand, it’s interesting to see first-hand how a huge event like a pandemic is still not enough to halt the everyday we need to continue with to survive, let alone thrive. It demonstrates how different realities can easily exist side by side. How one person’s version of a new normal can be drastically different from another person’s. And even more so, it was a reminder to be grateful not only for what we may have once taken for granted, but also to be grateful for everything we have right now – even if it feels limited in comparison. Afterall, if there is one thing we all know at this point, it’s that anything can change in an instant.
Every day is truly a blessing.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2020 Issue
