Welcoming this Spring, remembering Spring… Covid-19

Lunar New Year 2024 is approaching. On the threshold of Spring, there are many emotions. People, households, and industries are eagerly preparing to welcome the new year with joy.

However, there are also people and households who fear Tet, avoid Tet, and even do not look forward to Tet because of... a year of bad economic conditions .

Going home for Tet seems so far away. Staying in the rented room to celebrate Tet also hopes that it will pass quickly. Celebrating the Lunar New Year 2024, many people are nostalgic about Tet 2021, 2022, the Tet that was surrounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lunar New Year 2021 is quite special. If in previous years, many people had decided to return to their hometown or stay in the city to celebrate Tet a few months ago or in the days before the end of the old year; then in 2021, many changes between returning or staying also made many people wonder.

Cancelling return tickets at the "G hour" is not uncommon in the days leading up to Tet 2021. The reason is the presence of "Covid". The two times the epidemic spread in the community in the last months of the year made some people "hesitate" to buy tickets. A bigger, more important reason is finance. The prolonged epidemic has a huge impact, so many people stay in the city to celebrate Tet, some even wish there was no Tet because first of all... where is the money when unemployment is prolonged. Some of my friends chose to stay in the city to celebrate Tet.

As for Tet 2022, the decision to return or stay has been “determined” for many months. Some people returned to their hometowns to “escape the epidemic” and temporarily stayed in their hometowns, while others who had just returned to the city did not return. The majority still chose to celebrate Tet in the city because of financial difficulties and the complicated developments of the epidemic.

Financially, many months of social distancing have reduced income to some extent, and some families have had to stay in the city to celebrate Tet. Regarding the epidemic, many localities are still experiencing complicated developments, and people from “hot spots” are hesitant to return to their hometowns (for themselves, their relatives and neighbors, and returning to their hometowns can lessen the joy when many people are hesitant because “people from far away” are returning).

For me, my job is closely related to the career of educating people, so I choose to return to my hometown during the summer and Tet holidays. Before the epidemic broke out, I did not return home, and the following year I continued to celebrate Tet far from home, so the way back home was even further due to the epidemic, while the road was very close when traveling by plane.

The feeling of missing home and longing to celebrate Tet at home surged up again. And the phone was the most effective means to celebrate Tet with the extended family. Father had passed away many years ago, leaving only mother. Mother was also old, not knowing how many more times we could celebrate Tet together. Mother was as old as a ripe banana on a tree.

Celebrating Tet at home, yearning for family reunion, especially with my beloved mother, is a feeling that is always present in me. Every Tet with my mother, I am so happy. The happiest moment is when I take my mother shopping for Tet. Although not rich, it is still enough. My mother gets to buy the things she likes, a little bit of stuff in each Tet market but full of memories, full of happiness. I feel like a child again next to my mother, my mother seems younger and healthier during the Tet holidays together.

During Tet 2023, I was able to return to my hometown for more than a week. This Tet 2024, I will stay in the city. During the Tet holidays away from home, without my mother and family, I choose to celebrate Tet with experiences and do some small good deeds on New Year's Eve and during Tet. Just a small act but it makes my mother in the countryside feel happy and proud. Although I am not there, the image of this child is still next to my mother, and the image of my mother is still in my heart.

Several Tet holidays related to the complicated epidemic have made many children far from home have to say "This Spring, I will not come home due to Covid-9". Those Tet holidays have become memories, "hard-to-forget marks". For me and many others, one of the most important things is to celebrate Tet 2023, many people can celebrate Tet after a few Tet holidays away from home when "Covid" left. The epidemic has been pushed back so that every Tet holiday comes and Spring comes without separation and restrictions.

And remembering the Tet seasons with “Miss Vy”, I wrote new lyrics based on the song “This Spring, I Won’t Come Home ” by musician Trinh Lam Ngan, on behalf of many children far from home who wish to reunite every Tet holiday. What an unforgettable impression.

“I know that at this time, my mother loves me even more. The fragrance and colors of Spring are beautiful, the season of love. Last year, I promised that Spring would come. Flowers of all colors greeted me brightly. But “Miss Vy” prevented me from going home. I remember last year, our family was happy in Spring. The sound of laughter and talk echoed with the arrival of Spring. Last Spring, when I came home, my parents said: “Every Tet, you come home to a warm atmosphere.” But this Spring, I am temporarily away from home. I know I will not come home when the epidemic breaks out. Keep yourself and others safe. Prevent Covid, do not come home to celebrate Spring. A faraway spring, together we prevent it. Firmly believe that Spring will win. Covid is gradually fading away. Covid is spreading, we must stop it immediately. This year, celebrate Tet with a 5K season. Peaceful family, peaceful country. Enjoy Tet safely. Oh Vietnam, Spring is even more loving.”

Tet 2024 is near. The pandemic has "disappeared" for the past few years. However, for many people, the way home to celebrate Tet is... far away. Far away, not because of the pandemic. Far away because of a sad economic year. Tet 2024 is here again!

HOANG THAI HUNG

Teacher at Bac Ai High School, Tan Binh District, HCMC

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