#LOVEISNOTTOURISM and Entering Italy During COVID-19
I could not bring myself to sit down and write this piece until the words came. It’s an ironic thing; writer’s block seems to visit when we feel most passionate about something. Finally here we are, and to that I will say, Jesus take the wheel and throw me some kleenex.
Maneuvering a long distance relationship poses it’s challenges. But when two people decide on each other despite language, culture, time, and distance; challenges become the stepping stones to building a love that honors meeting your significant other where they are, embracing all they are, learning from each other's differences, and most importantly thriving through all-star communication. A High School note on force and motion seems to be fitting to insert here: When two forces act in the same direction, they add together. When you throw a pandemic and travel bans into that equation, though, things can get a bit gritty. Anything that is worth having, though, takes grit: am I right?
The last time I saw my partner was on March 13, 2020, the day that Trump issued a travel ban on the EU due to COVID-19’s peak. As he is an Italian citizen, we said our “see you soon” or a dopo amore in JFK’s Airport, not knowing when we would be able to see eachother again. It was brutal. If you are in a long distance relationship, or have ever been in one, you know that the relationship thrives on having a date marked to look forward to a reunion. Thanks to CoronaVirus, that just was not plausible. Our trips in April and June were cancelled, but we did not lose hope; we held on tightly to it. We manifested our reunion until it came to be so.
Americans, to date, are still not allowed into Italy for non-essential travel. There is still no end in sight to this degree, however, Americans are allowed into Italy for proven study reasons (Disclaimer 1: this can be found stated in Italy’s Travel Decree) (Disclaimer 2: I am no expert on legality, just sharing my personal experience ya feel me). Well my dears, a proven study reason is exactly the route we decided to take, or well, create. I share this because I know that there are thousands of non-married binational couples, like we were, that are suffering in distance at this time because governments refuse to pilot a blanket exemption for non-married couples to reunite. If you are not familiar with this, I suggest you have a look at #loveisnottourism hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. I digress.
After 134 days we were reunited in Rome’s airport. I boarded my flight with sweaty palms, copies of every document my Consulate said I needed, a handful of Hail Marys. 8 or so hours later, I found myself on Italian soil in the arms of my person. It was a blessing, it is a blessing, and it makes me so proud of the power of our love. In the days following, we closely followed Italy’s protocols; I quarantined for 14 days, a local doctor came to do my COVID nasal swab, and upon my negative test result the municipality issued me a document stating that I was free to go out.
We fought hard, and I recognize that thousands of couples are still fighting. As such, if I can be any glimmer of hope, if I can shed any light from my personal experience, if I can answer any questions; I hope to be that vessel for anyone that might need it. You can reach out to me via direct message on Instagram: @sabpraylove!
Love and Light!
Xx, Sab
Maneuvering a long distance relationship poses it’s challenges. But when two people decide on each other despite language, culture, time, and distance; challenges become the stepping stones to building a love that honors meeting your significant other where they are, embracing all they are, learning from each other's differences, and most importantly thriving through all-star communication. A High School note on force and motion seems to be fitting to insert here: When two forces act in the same direction, they add together. When you throw a pandemic and travel bans into that equation, though, things can get a bit gritty. Anything that is worth having, though, takes grit: am I right?
The last time I saw my partner was on March 13, 2020, the day that Trump issued a travel ban on the EU due to COVID-19’s peak. As he is an Italian citizen, we said our “see you soon” or a dopo amore in JFK’s Airport, not knowing when we would be able to see eachother again. It was brutal. If you are in a long distance relationship, or have ever been in one, you know that the relationship thrives on having a date marked to look forward to a reunion. Thanks to CoronaVirus, that just was not plausible. Our trips in April and June were cancelled, but we did not lose hope; we held on tightly to it. We manifested our reunion until it came to be so.
Americans, to date, are still not allowed into Italy for non-essential travel. There is still no end in sight to this degree, however, Americans are allowed into Italy for proven study reasons (Disclaimer 1: this can be found stated in Italy’s Travel Decree) (Disclaimer 2: I am no expert on legality, just sharing my personal experience ya feel me). Well my dears, a proven study reason is exactly the route we decided to take, or well, create. I share this because I know that there are thousands of non-married binational couples, like we were, that are suffering in distance at this time because governments refuse to pilot a blanket exemption for non-married couples to reunite. If you are not familiar with this, I suggest you have a look at #loveisnottourism hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. I digress.
After 134 days we were reunited in Rome’s airport. I boarded my flight with sweaty palms, copies of every document my Consulate said I needed, a handful of Hail Marys. 8 or so hours later, I found myself on Italian soil in the arms of my person. It was a blessing, it is a blessing, and it makes me so proud of the power of our love. In the days following, we closely followed Italy’s protocols; I quarantined for 14 days, a local doctor came to do my COVID nasal swab, and upon my negative test result the municipality issued me a document stating that I was free to go out.
We fought hard, and I recognize that thousands of couples are still fighting. As such, if I can be any glimmer of hope, if I can shed any light from my personal experience, if I can answer any questions; I hope to be that vessel for anyone that might need it. You can reach out to me via direct message on Instagram: @sabpraylove!
Love and Light!
Xx, Sab
#LOVEISNOTTOURISM and Entering Italy During COVID-19
I could not bring myself to sit down and write this piece until the words came. It’s an ironic thing; writer’s block seems to visit when we feel most passionate about something. Finally here we are, and to that I will say, Jesus take the wheel and throw me some kleenex.
Maneuvering a long distance relationship poses it’s challenges. But when two people decide on each other despite language, culture, time, and distance; challenges become the stepping stones to building a love that honors meeting your significant other where they are, embracing all they are, learning from each other's differences, and most importantly thriving through all-star communication. A High School note on force and motion seems to be fitting to insert here: When two forces act in the same direction, they add together. When you throw a pandemic and travel bans into that equation, though, things can get a bit gritty. Anything that is worth having, though, takes grit: am I right?
The last time I saw my partner was on March 13, 2020, the day that Trump issued a travel ban on the EU due to COVID-19’s peak. As he is an Italian citizen, we said our “see you soon” or a dopo amore in JFK’s Airport, not knowing when we would be able to see eachother again. It was brutal. If you are in a long distance relationship, or have ever been in one, you know that the relationship thrives on having a date marked to look forward to a reunion. Thanks to CoronaVirus, that just was not plausible. Our trips in April and June were cancelled, but we did not lose hope; we held on tightly to it. We manifested our reunion until it came to be so.
Americans, to date, are still not allowed into Italy for non-essential travel. There is still no end in sight to this degree, however, Americans are allowed into Italy for proven study reasons (Disclaimer 1: this can be found stated in Italy’s Travel Decree) (Disclaimer 2: I am no expert on legality, just sharing my personal experience ya feel me). Well my dears, a proven study reason is exactly the route we decided to take, or well, create. I share this because I know that there are thousands of non-married binational couples, like we were, that are suffering in distance at this time because governments refuse to pilot a blanket exemption for non-married couples to reunite. If you are not familiar with this, I suggest you have a look at #loveisnottourism hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. I digress.
After 134 days we were reunited in Rome’s airport. I boarded my flight with sweaty palms, copies of every document my Consulate said I needed, a handful of Hail Marys. 8 or so hours later, I found myself on Italian soil in the arms of my person. It was a blessing, it is a blessing, and it makes me so proud of the power of our love. In the days following, we closely followed Italy’s protocols; I quarantined for 14 days, a local doctor came to do my COVID nasal swab, and upon my negative test result the municipality issued me a document stating that I was free to go out.
We fought hard, and I recognize that thousands of couples are still fighting. As such, if I can be any glimmer of hope, if I can shed any light from my personal experience, if I can answer any questions; I hope to be that vessel for anyone that might need it. You can reach out to me via direct message on Instagram: @sabpraylove!
Love and Light!
Xx, Sab
Maneuvering a long distance relationship poses it’s challenges. But when two people decide on each other despite language, culture, time, and distance; challenges become the stepping stones to building a love that honors meeting your significant other where they are, embracing all they are, learning from each other's differences, and most importantly thriving through all-star communication. A High School note on force and motion seems to be fitting to insert here: When two forces act in the same direction, they add together. When you throw a pandemic and travel bans into that equation, though, things can get a bit gritty. Anything that is worth having, though, takes grit: am I right?
The last time I saw my partner was on March 13, 2020, the day that Trump issued a travel ban on the EU due to COVID-19’s peak. As he is an Italian citizen, we said our “see you soon” or a dopo amore in JFK’s Airport, not knowing when we would be able to see eachother again. It was brutal. If you are in a long distance relationship, or have ever been in one, you know that the relationship thrives on having a date marked to look forward to a reunion. Thanks to CoronaVirus, that just was not plausible. Our trips in April and June were cancelled, but we did not lose hope; we held on tightly to it. We manifested our reunion until it came to be so.
Americans, to date, are still not allowed into Italy for non-essential travel. There is still no end in sight to this degree, however, Americans are allowed into Italy for proven study reasons (Disclaimer 1: this can be found stated in Italy’s Travel Decree) (Disclaimer 2: I am no expert on legality, just sharing my personal experience ya feel me). Well my dears, a proven study reason is exactly the route we decided to take, or well, create. I share this because I know that there are thousands of non-married binational couples, like we were, that are suffering in distance at this time because governments refuse to pilot a blanket exemption for non-married couples to reunite. If you are not familiar with this, I suggest you have a look at #loveisnottourism hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. I digress.
After 134 days we were reunited in Rome’s airport. I boarded my flight with sweaty palms, copies of every document my Consulate said I needed, a handful of Hail Marys. 8 or so hours later, I found myself on Italian soil in the arms of my person. It was a blessing, it is a blessing, and it makes me so proud of the power of our love. In the days following, we closely followed Italy’s protocols; I quarantined for 14 days, a local doctor came to do my COVID nasal swab, and upon my negative test result the municipality issued me a document stating that I was free to go out.
We fought hard, and I recognize that thousands of couples are still fighting. As such, if I can be any glimmer of hope, if I can shed any light from my personal experience, if I can answer any questions; I hope to be that vessel for anyone that might need it. You can reach out to me via direct message on Instagram: @sabpraylove!
Love and Light!
Xx, Sab
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