By Kejsi Zyka, Opinions Editor 

It’s a beautiful spring day in Italy. The sun is beaming as a cool breeze passes you by. You look around expecting to see people walking about, enjoying the nice weather, kids running in the grass, eating ice cream. Instead, the roads are deserted. Italy has become one giant ghost town.

This is everyday life for my aunt, Marinela Spahaj.

Spahaj has lived in Venice, Italy, for a decade. Originally from Albania, she moved there when she was 26 years old, after she met her husband and had a son.

Living in Italy was like a dream for her. While Spahaj missed her family, she loved it there. She already knew Italian and felt right at home. Life was great – until COVID-19 came and disrupted life as she knew it. 

“It’s been a crazy situation,” Spahaj said. “We have been stuck in our homes for a month now and it changes your whole mental state.”

Her 8-year-old son, Kristian, is greatly impacted by this situation. He misses going to school and seeing his friends, and he’s having a hard time with online school.

“I know this month has been hard on Krisitian,” Spahaj said. “He gets bored and upset easily, and it’s been difficult for him to do his school assignments online instead of doing them in class. But it’s all been worth it to stay safe, and this is just the way things have to be for right now.” 

This situation has also been difficult for Spahaj personally, as she just gave birth three months ago to another son, Ricardo. 

Being unable to take your baby for walks or enjoy time with kids outside can be difficult for any mother, but Spahaj is trying to make the best out of the situation.

“I hope this all goes away soon, so that Ricardo can grow up in a normal environment,” Spahaj said. “Having a new baby in the house does help take our minds off of things, and helps Kristian find something to do, like play with him.” 

Spahaj isn’t the only one in my family who has been affected by these difficult circumstances. My grandma, Valentina Mehmetaj, is also fearing for her life as the small country of Albania has surpassed 30 deaths.

“I try to stay inside as much as I can, but it’s been very hard since I like to go for walks every day,” Mehmetaj said. “The deaths here are increasing and I am very scared.”

Mehmetaj lives with her son, his wife and their two kids. Her son’s wife, Kida, is a nurse in Albania and still has to work every day. Their family has to be extra careful, considering Mehmetaj is 67 years old.

“We’re all taking the precautions very seriously,” Mehmetaj said. “We know we have to stay inside and wash our hands, and I’m glad I am here to help my son and his wife take care of their little kids during this hard time.”

I can only hope that my family in Italy and Albania stays safe during this tough time and gets through COVID-19 with a positive mindset. No matter where we’re from, the coronavirus is affecting all of us. We are all in this together. 

“Walking outside and seeing everyone I know wearing masks is very depressing,” Spahaj said. “But at the end of the day, what keeps us all still going is hope for better days.”

Senior Kejsi Zyka can be reached at [email protected].