Team 7

Prologue

Too early for a morning, 31st of June 2050,

Lying in bed, fleeing from the usual pounding head and heavy heart, I watch as the sunny-dropped leaves fall and gravitate around our family sturdy oak tree, fitting perfectly into the frame of my window. Strange how each leaf knows when to let go at the right time, as though they were moving on. You know, I wish I could move on too. Better. Live my life as the moody, rebellious, and sassy 16-year-old teenage girl that I am. But since mom and dad died 14 years ago, taken away by this dreadfully lethal virus, all I do is look back. I eat Corona, sleep Coronavirus and breathe Covid 19 as though the now-eradicated virus was viciously flowing through my veins, inking each and every one of my thoughts and rythming every single heartbeat, keeping me alive.

I already know what you’re all thinking. “Hina, why don’t you try moving on, find yourself an indoor and social-distanced hobby or online friends.” That’s word for word what Cindy, my therapist, said the other day. She believes grief is a must-endure phase, one I must truly and fully feel to grow as a “fulfilled and empowered young lady”, she likes to state motherly at the end of every séance. What a joke. I mean…how is crying my eyes out going to make me feel better? Or ease this anger I bear against this hell-sent virus which could reappear as it pleases and destroy my life all over again. No, I prefer keeping myself focused, occupied. Currently I’ve kind of been the scary and obsessed detective 2.0 you see on TV, I must admit.

However, I can’t help but think about my grandparents’ travel journals, the ones I found in my mom’s office whilst my aunt Ana and I were deep cleaning, before we sold the house. You see, in Tahiti today travelling is as forbidden as going out without hand sanitizer or your 95N mask, legally and “collectively-approved” forbidden. But coming back to the journals. I couldn’t tell you how much I admire my mom’s parents’ work. Both of them were unstoppable even hysterical travellers. Their goal: explore the entirety of the Globe’s secrets.

As a matter of fact, I kept the map on which they crossed each and every place they visited. I can tell you the earth had no secret for my grandparents since almost every inch of the map was red crossed. Almost. Meaning Czech Republic, France and Italy remains blank. I knoww! It’s a sign, right? I have to get these 3 countries crossed and fulfil my ancestors’ dream! How is it not my destiny? I am sure it is anyway. That is exactly how me, Hinareva MATAROA, am decided to travel the world clandestinely and break down the well-anchored frontiers my generation seems to fear! I know I am quite the poet when I get going...So now you crossed the line into my so called mental asylum, slash blog. Welcome!

Jana

Hello ! I saw your blog and I really love it! I live in Czech Republic, and I thought it could be interesting for us to chat, since you're willing to come. I know you're not crazy about online friends, but I really want to get to know you so I can help you fulfill you'r grandparents' destiny. So, what do you say?

Pietro

Yooo, i'm Pietro. I found your blog and I think it's pretty cool.. I'm from Italy, so if you ever need information don't be shy and contact me ;)

Hey, what's up?

Marius

I'm Marius from Lille (France). I saw you want to come to France. I have always dreamt about going to islands such as Tahiti, but you know... lately it's been quite hard to travel anywhere...So if you're thinking about coming here anyway, I think you're gonna need some help, and I'm willing to give you mine, if you'll take it! You in?

Chapter 1

As you all may understand, my blog had led me to very nice people, who became my friends, and helped me elaborate a plan. I had been talking to Jana, Pietro and Marius for a couple of months now, and we thought of everything. I could imagine myself, in that fret, amongst goods and packages, ready to explore, clandestinely. As time went by, my project was coming true, and I knew my destiny was this one. I couldn't give up my life for fear of a disease. That confinement was killing me more than the virus could ever do. No more school, no more hugs, no more parties, no more traveling, no more exploring, not less than 1meter. We all thought social distancing was going to last at most 2 years, although here we were in 2050 and this rigmarole was far from being over. How could people accept the lock-in if the virus was eradicated? All those restrictions for...fear? That's not living, and certainly not how I wanted to spend the rest of my life, even if it meant taking risks. Risks had to be taken. They were worth it.

Chapter 2

One day Hina visited her friend in the Czech republic during her summer holiday. Her friend name is Jana. She is 16 years old. Her parents work in a huge factory. They are working with robots in this factory. Since 2045 robots have ruled the world. Now we are in 2050 and people are taking robots as their colleagues. The Coronavirus hasn't been here since 2023. We haven't worn the masks since 2021.
Holidays in the Czech republic are two months. Students don't learn anything. Summer in the Czech republic is warm and rainy. Teenagers are enjoying swimming pools, music and so much Sun in this time. So many people have parties or they are going on festivals.

Now I can tell you something about school. How are they work now and something more.

School system in the Czech republic in 2050 worked differently. In primary, secondary and tertiary schools, it was completely different from the stories of our parents or grandparents, 20 years and more ago. Pupils did not go to school but the teaching was only video chatting mainly in secondary and primary schools.

In the only industry in which there are no robots is the sale of food. The state tried to put the robots in this industry but the people said no. So in shops is the same working like 30 years ago. People can touch on the food because there is no Corona anymore.

That's all from my holidays in the Czech republic. I'm glad that i can know something more about the situation in the world.

My next destination will be France. I can't wait to learn something more about another country.

There were no books, papers, notebooks, everything was taught through a nootebook or the like. Teachers always created a folder on the computer for their students where the curriculum was for the students, and these students could learn and take notes on their computer. At universities it was little a bit different than at secondary and primary schools, university students always came to schools only ehen they had exams, otherwise they also studied at home. When I first saw it all, how it works, and learning from a computer and not going to school at all, I said to myself, "I can't believe how Covid 19 changed this world, the lives of everyone in the world, it's unbelievable."

Also the healthcare and the hospitals changed as well. There are still doctors and nurses in the hospitals but they must working with robots now. From 2045 the state ordered that we must move on and that's how it turned out. The doctors are nervous because of all the robots on the operating room. Luckily the nurses are okay with the robots and they are trying to be as positive as possible. But this is only one change that happened from Covid 19. The healthcare is at the top level now, so that's positive thing.

Chapter 3

Finally I passed the border and I arrived in Italy. Now I'm in Sanremo waiting for the bus to Rome, my last destination. I'm travelling by bus to avoid security checks because I want to remain hiden. I've been travelling for 8 hours and I've just got off the bus when I saw a desolated city. I was impressed by the situation because one

time I saw on one of my grandpa's tourist guide that it was a very busy city because of the tourism and the great number of restaurants and pubs that attract people. I undertook the walk through the capital of Italy, provided of face mask and latex gloves. You probably understood that here,in Italy, the restrictive measures are still used because it was one of the most affected cities by Covid-19 and people are still afraid,so the government decided to keep the social distancing. While I'm visiting the city I notice that out of the museums there are many queues for the limited entrances, but luckily Rome has got many open air monuments like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum that people can admire respecting the social distancing. I spend a fantastic journey in Rome, but now it's time to come home and to put the last cross on the map: I hope that this country will come back as the one of my grandpa's times!

Epilogue

Too late to be awake, 31st July of 2050,

I’ve done it. The map in front of me is finally crossed from top to bottom. I don’t feel how I was eager to be. I thought I would be filled with a sensation of achievement, but it is the total opposite. I am troubled by lack and want. Ever since I experienced the madness of traveling I’ve been craving its taste. My luggage and mindset have never been more prepared. I will do it all over again to new destinations. I am convinced to the core of my soul. It was such a great experience. Back in my little house next to the sea I behold the starry night. The corners of the night seem to be filled with the sound of my fingers typing on my computer while the turmoil of the waves collapses on the sleepy sand.

I told you at the beginning of this whole journey that I couldn’t find a name to this blog. But after meeting these kind hearted people sharing these fulfilling cultures, I think that’s all coming together now. I look at this world map and see beyond these shapes and colors. I can only pay focus to all the lights shining all over this world. These fragile fireflies I met,seeking for hope. Dear teenagers, I sincerely believe in the future rooting in our hands. I learnt through all these souls that it is not too late. The errors of the past don’t curve our future. What’s already done is done. But we must not forget that no matter how hard life is, we are all in this together. Despite the thousand and thousands of kilometers that set us apart we are all weld by our same fierce determination.