I Went To Japan After The Coronavirus Hit — Here’s What It Was Like Returning To The US

Thank you, hand sanitizer!

When it comes to travel, I’m not a big worrier. So in mid-February when I had the opportunity to book a last-minute flight to Japan, I went for it.

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The first cases of coronavirus had been reported in both Japan and the US less than a month earlier, but when I booked tickets the threat seemed mild. Plus, I was planning on spending most of my time in the remote mountains of Japan, skiing, hot spring–ing, and doing some travel writing.

But the moment I arrived in Tokyo, the realities of the coronavirus started to hit. I felt cautious, but in control.

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Everyone was wearing masks and hand sanitizer was everywhere. I dropped my worry-free travel mentality and lathered myself in sanitizer any time I entered or left a public place.

Then, as I got ready to head home, things really started to set in. This was my experience reentering the US.

I should note this is just my experience and perspective, and that since I flew home on March 6, travel warnings and the spread of coronavirus have evolved, and the World Health Organization has characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. It is important to take government and CDC travel warnings seriously, especially if you're aged 60 or above, have any preexisting medical conditions, or have a weak immune system.

1. My biggest worry was getting home. United had started canceling flights, and even though my flight was direct, I was anxious.

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You can imagine my relief — and Japanese convenience store candy–fueled happy dance — when my flight was scheduled and on time.

2. I assumed my flight home would be empty, but it wasn't.

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On the way to Tokyo, the flight had been half full, so I assumed it would be similar on the way home. When I asked the gate agent if I could move seats — my husband and I were in different rows — she said the flight was almost full because they had canceled the flight to Denver the day before.

3. At check-in, the agent asked if I had been to China in the last 14 days. I was asked the same question (and so was everyone else) by the gate staff as we boarded the plane.

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I was relieved to answer “no,” but even if I had, American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their immediate families can still return to the US (although now only through specific airports where they must undergo health screenings, according to the Department of Homeland Security).

However, foreign nationals who have been to China, Iran, and certain European countries in the past 14 days would not be able to board a flight to the US.

4. The number of people wearing masks at the gate and on the plane was surprisingly low.

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I had spent the last two days in Tokyo, where maybe 90% of people I saw were wearing masks and armed with hand sanitizer, so the sudden lack of protection shocked me. I know the CDC says masks should not be used by healthy members of the general public as a way to protect themselves from infection, but after living in a masked world, the lack of masks was still shocking.

On the plane, even the flight attendants were mask-free and my seatmate, an American, looked at me like I was crazy for wearing my heavy-duty N95 respirator mask and self-sanitizing my seat.

5. There was no mention of the virus on the flight — it was business as usual.

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I was anticipating more direction (and maybe drama) due to the virus, but I didn’t hear anyone — flight attendants, pilots, or passengers — mention it.

6. I was expecting a lot more questions and protocol on my reentry into the US.

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When I left the US for Japan in late February, no one seemed overly concerned. Airport security was normal, and the only comment I got was made by an agent at the baggage check — she raised her eyebrows and said they’d have to sanitize our bag when we returned from Japan.

On the way home, I was prepared for things to feel different. It was obvious that things were escalating. Nope! In Denver, we breezed through customs, rechecked our bag, and got back in line for security to make our domestic connecting flight. No questions; no body scan.

7. The airport experience in the US was vastly different than it was in Japan.

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When we arrived in Japan, we had to walk past a thermal body scanner, all the airport personnel were masked, and there were people constantly disinfecting doorknobs, railings, and desks. The level of precaution and concern seemed much higher than it did in the US — even 10 days later when I was flying home.

8. As normal as things seemed at the US airport, the moment I got home it was obvious the threat was growing.

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When I left, coronavirus felt far away and only mildly concerning. Just 10 days later, it was clear that the outbreak was here and worrisome.

9. I felt socially stigmatized.

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I quickly realized my recent travel made people uncomfortable. I made a point to be up-front with friends and had some back off completely or ask that we only spend time together outside without touching. These precautions seem mild now, but in early March (just weeks ago) it felt extreme.

According to the CDC, “Fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to social stigma toward people, places, or things” — and in the case of COVID-19, that includes travelers, people of Asian descent, and health care workers. Stigmas like these can be reduced by sharing accurate information about how the virus actually spreads and supporting people in stigmatized groups.

10. I was immediately asked to work from home.

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One of my clients who I work for in an office a couple of times a week asked me to work from home out of respect to coworkers and their family members who were immunocompromised. It made sense, but I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of rejection at the time.

Now, a short two weeks later when anyone who can is being asked to work from home, it makes total sense, and I'm happy I was able to work from the safety of my home office that first, uncertain week.

11. Before everyone started self-quarantining, I had to lie low.

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I mainly work from home anyway, so it was easy to isolate myself. I avoided big social gatherings and kept my distance when spending time with family and friends. According to a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the median incubation period for coronavirus is estimated to be 5.1 days, so after that period passed, I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed my self-quarantine.

Now, I'm back to practicing serious social distancing and isolation even though I've been back in the US for over 10 days and feel fine. As precautions are ramping up, I'm sticking to the CDC's guidelines, which note that symptoms may appear up to 14 days after exposure.

12. I've tried to limit the amount of time I spend talking about the coronavirus by instituting a $5 rule.

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Since the moment I landed in the US, there’s been an underlying sense of profound fear in the air — and it seems to be growing. When I check the news or talk to friends or family, I can feel myself spiraling, becoming obsessed: Do I have it? Do my parents? Will we all run out of food? What's going to happen to the world?

I’m all about being careful, isolating yourself as much as possible, and staying up to date on the news, but only to a degree. To keep the fear in check, in my apartment we’ve been intentionally keeping discussion of the virus to a minimum — we read the news and talk about it, then drop it for the rest of the day. If someone breaks the rule, the penalty is an immediate $5 Venmo payment. As harsh as it sounds, it encourages me to take a break from the worry and anxiety, if only for a few hours.