I finally made the 20-minute walk to the C1 departure gate! I sat with relief on what seemed like a heavenly chair after struggling like a hunchback with my bags through the length of the airport. I put down the huge duffel bag and the gigantic tennis bag that I had been carrying the entire time. My heart was pounding like it was about to jump out. More so, since my phone's battery charge was at 1%.
Photo Credit: LynneCarter FaceBook
I looked to see where the charging port was and saw a lady hogging that area. She had on huge black sunglasses, a complicated mask contraption, and a gray hoodie over her face. I’m not sure what fashion statement she was trying to make with those yellow rubber dishwashing gloves but the whole look was hilarious.
I said “excuse me” and leaned over to plug my phone. The woman jerked to the side like I was infected and glared at me through her black sunglasses. Or I think she glared. Ha ha. Honestly, I couldn’t tell because I could barely see her face. I was laughing on the inside just at how comical the whole situation was, but I kept a straight face and moved back to my chair once I had plugged in my phone.
As I sat down a few feet from her, I could see that she was tilting her head in my direction and basically just staring me down.
I don’t think she meant to offend me. However, part of me couldn’t help thinking that her reaction was because I am Asian. In the end, this trip back to England taught me not to judge people by how they look.
"Just as my first thought at seeing this lady was that she was cuckoo, she was looking at me as a possible carrier of COVID-19. Both of us were wrong."
~~ Tiaralei Cade, Class of 2023
IT TAKES ONE CLICK AND YOU CAN MAKE SOMEONE'S DAY BRIGHTER. GATORS KNOW THAT SHARING IS CARING. SHOW THAT LOVE FOR A STUDENT IN NEED.
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