When masks and toilet paper went out of stock, I didn’t blink an eye. But when I walked into my local 7-Eleven and couldn’t find an egg salad sandwich, I became concerned.
Looking back at how I envisioned my semester abroad in Japan, I never thought I’d be in the middle of a pandemic but, as with all things in life, I am trying to adapt and be flexible. I am completing my second week of online classes since Temple University Japan suspended classroom teaching beginning March 2. I have also been working remotely for my internship at The Japan Times during this same period of time as per company protocol. You never realize how much you miss the packed morning commute until your home becomes your classroom and office, too.
On the second day of telework I went to 7-Eleven to grab a quick lunch when I saw what I consider half my diet as a vegetarian in Tokyo missing from the shelves. I grew fearful of how COVID-19 would impact the remainder of my time abroad and, like other people around me, a slight feeling of paranoia began setting in. Sure enough, though, the convenience store restocked the egg salad sandwiches (and there were no lines to buy them!).