Every year, secondary 4 and 5 participate in a cultural trip to the US. This year, it was their turn to go to Washington DC.
At the time of our departure, we had all more or less heard of a microscopic virus that was causing trouble on the other side of the world. But all these whispers seemed rather distant and not very threatening.
The instructions to avoid this infamous bug were given to the students at the very start of the trip : wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. With every departure and entrance into the bus, hand sanitizer cheerfully made its round around the bus to make sure we didn’t share our germs.
On the bus, there was lots of laughter and lots of jokes being made. Jokes of the COVID panic that seemed to be generalizing for nothing … It was no big deal.
Between squirts of hand sanitizer, there were visits to the Smithsonian Museums and the beautiful monuments of this city known for its cherry blossoms. The most popular attraction was the Bible museum, and we highly recommend it if you are passing through the American capital.
While the group was on its way to Pennsylvania, the news was announced that all museums would be closing. Washington was in quarantine. It was surreal. On the way, the worried staff followed the news attentively. At a press conference, the Legault government announced the mandatory quarantine of all visitors.
In a few moments, the mood in the bus turned into drama (remember the bus was full of teenagers): the trip was interrupted and we had to go home.
On the bus, there was crying. Because of this nasty COVID, which was sowing panic everywhere and ruining a moment that the students had anticipated for a very long time. A moment which was to be part of their last memories of high school …
Back at school, the students said goodbye, expecting to see each other again in two weeks.
This article ends poorly. Like the events that followed.
