With just a few days to go before we made our way to Dubai, the Coronavirus seemingly blew up in Europe as well as the rest of the world. From Dubai, we had booked Airbnbs in Budapest and Vienna. We also had planned to go to Prague, Berlin, Hamburg, and Copenhagen after that. We were even going to go to the LEGO House in Billund where LEGO was invented. Tom’s sister and her husband, as well as Chelsea’s sister, had booked flights to come and visit. With the severity of the virus in Europe, we made the difficult decision to cancel the last two and a half months of our trip. This means missing our time in Europe. We notified our guests and hosts of our change in plan and worked to cancel our flights. We have filled out forms for flight and accommodation reimbursement for extenuating circumstances directly with Airbnb and the airlines. And don’t worry, we have additional travel and health insurance to tap into if needed.
That same day President Trump announced that all travel to Europe was being halted from the US, so the trips would have had to be canceled anyway. Since then, things have really seemed to spiral out of control. We follow the chaos back home seeing empty grocery aisles and no toilet paper and watch the number of cases grow each day in Minnesota and the United States. It feels like we are almost safer in Japan, where things remain very orderly and statistics seem to be improving. The domino effect of closings around the world has been crazy from borders, to cities, to schools, to sports. It is all rather sad, but necessary.
With that being said, we feel it’s time to get back in the United States quickly before the boarders get closed. We have a few more days in Tokyo, and then will be heading to Hawaii for a month. In all reality, we may have to self-quarantine for a few weeks but that seems as good a place as any to do it. We feel sick about all that is happening in the world and are very grateful to have had the most amazing trip for so many months. It has been such a strange experience being in Asia throughout the virus’s existence. We have been watching things change from day to day. Is going to Hawaii the best decision? Honesty, we have no idea. We worked hard, saved for so long, and made sacrifices, and if we are forced back to the states at least we can enjoy the beach for a little longer.
Explaining the situation to a 5 and 9-year-old has been tricky. One day they are allowed to run freely and touch everything; the next day they are being forced to wear an uncomfortable mask and told they can’t touch anything. They have adapted, and we are so proud of them. Now, they walk around pressing elevator buttons and street crossing signals with their elbows out of habit. They are also very cognizant to not touch railings or other things that many people touch.
From Hawaii, we will assess the situation. Then either come home in mid-April or try and see some places in America for a while. Stay safe everyone. With love, The Jordans
Love you guys. Maybe I should have self quarantined when I came home from Japan. There is always hindsight. I am passed that timeframe. Now I have to worry about fellow Minnesotans contaminating me. I am living my life normally with precautions. There has never been anything quite like this.
Hi guys! Thank you for sharing all of your amazing adventures with us! May you continue to be blessed and safe! I am so impressed by your dedication, planning, life changes and all the attention to details it took for you guys just to start your world trip. From dream to reality you took a leap of faith, designed, strategized and implemented an incredible journey. The world is a beautiful place full of beautiful people. With the Coronavirus, Global Warming, etc, I pray good will come and our nations will pull together, share resources and solve global problems together. As you have experienced, getting to know people along the road makes a difference. Thank you! God Bless! Love you guys!
Michelle
Tom and Chelsea,
Sending hugs!
I can only imagine the disappointment to not be able to finish your journey after the years of planning, saving and sacrifice you did in order to create this opportunity for yourselves and the boys. When I hear Cooper and Mason share things they have done or when I read their journals and see their drawings I have a peek at the knowledge, skills and values they have gained. May you arrive home safely with rich memories of the wonderful people you met, places you visited and things you learned in so many countries. I’m sure you guys already have little glimpses of new dreams –how might we finish what we started in these years to come? Travel home safely. Love you!
You guys are so resilient!!
So sorry that your plans have been sabotaged by the nasty COVID 19 bug!! Having said that, I would think that spending a month in Hawaii might be a nice way to relax and refresh before reentry! Praying that the bug doesn’t plague you there.🙏 Safe travels!!
Blessings to all! 🥰
We. Are going to be in Kauai until April 5 love to see you all if that would work. Margaret and Jim Bird
Planning a trip such as this had to be so logistically challenging as it is, without having a global pandemic force so many unexpected changes. So sorry you’ll miss Dubai and Europe but completely agree that Hawaii will be a lovely place to spend a month. Love you guys!