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SHANNON ’ S Connecting with Strangers at Home and Overseas by Shannon Colman
As an introvert , I adapted quite easily to social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic . I ’ ve always been comfortable in my own company . I ’ m someone who has to mentally prepare myself for a week filled with social events . Such events seem to drain my energy , and I crave alone time so I can recharge .
This is perhaps why I ’ ve always enjoyed travelling solo , because it allows me to explore quietly and comfortably . There is something satisfying about being in complete control of my itinerary . And there is something relieving about having the freedom to temporarily switch off from life back home and all its demands and responsibilities .
While social distancing wasn ’ t a big challenge for me , what has saddened me is the impact this coronavirus seems to have had on attitudes towards strangers . When two hikers would previously utter a friendly greeting and pass within inches of each other on a trail , there is often now a move to the side , a halt , and a silent nod – an active intention to create distance from this unfamiliar person that “ might be infectious .” The pandemic seems to have initiated an approach of closing off from others and keeping to ourselves .
While I have always travelled with the belief that strangers can be kind , this collective reduced desire to mingle with unfamiliar people reminds me of times during past solo travels when I have shown reluctance to form new connections .
In July 2015 , I flew to Portugal for a oneweek solo trip . On a bus from Porto to Lisbon , a Hungarian girl of similar age began chatting to me . It was her first time travelling by herself and I could see she was nervous . When she asked me my plans for Lisbon and suggested we explore the city together , my shoulders sank . I already had an idea for what I wanted to do during the three days , and holding the hand of another first-time solo traveller was not part of my plan .
Alas , we swapped numbers , but I politely made it clear that I already had fixed plans for the afternoon . In downtown Lisbon , I boarded a boat for a tour of the River Tagus and sat enjoying the sounds of unfamiliar languages . As the boat took us under the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge and past iconic sites like the Belém Tower , I let thoughts of Alida leave my mind .