In two weeks time, I return to school for the school year 2021-2022.  It's been almost a year and a half since I was in class for in person teaching.  I have gone to school a couple of times to get my classroom ready.  I cleaned and organized the shelves and drawers which I left all cluttered and messy when we all had to leave school abruptly last March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and we all had to go on lockdown.  I had to  redo the layout of the student desks for social distancing.  I have also planned out my classes for the first six weeks.  I must confess though, I am scared of returning. 

I am scared of returning for two reasons, the spread of the Delta variant and Asian Hate crimes.  I would not have been so apprehensive had the new Covid variant not spread so quickly and so dramatically in the US in the last few weeks.  I am fully vaccinated after all.  But now, even fully vaccinated individuals are getting sick although not as severely as the unvaccinated.  The idea of being inside a classroom of 25 kids for seven straight hours, worries me.  True, we shall be wearing masks and windows will be left open.  Then again, I wonder if these precautions are enough from making me and the kids sick.  Some schools in other states and one school here in Northern California have reported cases of students and teachers testing positive for COVID since classes resumed in the past week.

I've mentioned Asian Hate Crimes a number of times in my blog.  Sadly, it continues to this day.  Just yesterday, a good Samaritan was shot while trying to help some Asian women from being mugged in Oakland's Chinatown.  When will this hate end?  It's sickening! I can't wait for these perpetrators be put in jail.  I honestly do.

I would gladly go back to school and teach like I have always done at this time of year.  However, I worry about my safety and well being.