Update: Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the suggestions and the feedback - especially the VoIP suggestion for Gam Gam! Thank you for answering the questions I had. There were some angles I didn't consider but can appreciate better because of this. Some of your suggestions also confirmed the sentiments I harbor deep inside and while I appreciate parents should feel protective of their children, I'm ready to accept the consequences of my actions/decisions. Based on the current situation of COVID, I'm re-assessing the risk. As some readers have suggested, the reciprocal health arrangement is important to consider; and having purchased health insurance, I feel a little bit safer. That said, should it get worse in either Australia or Norway within next 10 or so days, I'll call it off. 🙏
To preface this, I've booked an overseas visit to an overseas country (Edit: Norway) with limited exposure to COVID around five or so months ago. The past year has been brutal on my body and my mind and it serves as an opportunity to de-stress, finally visit the country. (I've been wanting to visit since I was 7 years old and watched a documentary.) I'm keeping it vague because my relatives (bless them) do browse this awesome community.
As a millennial who has been called incredibly entitled, I'd like to get a few different perspectives from my favorite bargain hunting community. Also, I'm of the opinion that we all die someday, and we might as well live and be the best of ourselves.
My family is concerned about COVID and is under the assumption that there is a mass deep state conspiracy and it is incredibly prevalent in the community. Coming from a background focusing on peer reviewed articles, I pay a little bit more attention towards the scientific journals and WHO. Based on my age, 25 and absence of any debilitating health problems such as AIDs, HIV, Diabetes, Heart disease, I reason that the risk of morbidity and mortality is low i.e. 2 in every 1000.
Given the widespread panic, reported emptiness of airports and aeroplanes and having saved an emergency fund for medical costs, I made a risk calculation and decision that it is acceptable to travel. My family disagree and have insisted that I delay my flight and travels. That I am inconsiderate (to them, yes) and that they are suffering with worry and stress. They are also concerned that the medical bills (which I would never put on them and rely on my own to dig out of) will be excessive and put pressure onto the family.
They're insisting that my decision to continue travel instead of rescheduling is selfish and making them sick. (Accurate on both points though I contend that they're the ones who are worrying as is their parental instincts.) The last part - sickness is a reality and a guilt trip.
My position is that I have been burning the midnight oil, bringing my dream to reality and I NEED an escape. I love Australia and it's the best country in the world… but I need to visit somewhere different. Moreover, I'm at an age where I have responsibilities over my actions and I have my own values and individuality (as we all do.) It doesn't help that my overseas vacation is a reward for meeting pre-determined goals. Finally, if I cancel and wait the COVID out whenever that may be… 3 months… 12 months… 3 years etc. (SARS lasted almost 2) then I have set a precedent to not travel just because my parents worry about me. (I do plan to visit SEA later in the year to attend a couple of conferences)
So my problem and questions are these -
- Does this sound like it can be resolved by better communication?
- I don't want to feel responsible for something my parents have no/little control of. At the same time, I have my own life and want to reconcile with my own decisions. There's a deep internal conflict and honestly a great deal of resentment that will be bottled in if I cancel at their insistence.
- About setting bad precedents, can anyone who's been in a similar situation in the past share how they've handled it? Deflecting the issue hasn't helped in this instance.
Thank you in advance!
TLDR: Adult is conflicted about traveling to a traditionally low risk country because parents are worried. Seeks the community's help to understand and resolve deep deep issues.
Go anyway and die from a different means other than covid19. That'll show them.