Certainties, Uncertainties and Their Outcomes

After that, I was looking to return to the UK, I like my family of course, but I hate idleness and laziness. It was only three days before my scheduled flight when I found out that all schools are closing and England is moving into a strict lockdown. That was, unfortunately, the results of holiday celebrations, however, no one expected them this soon and intensive.

Here begin the first certainties and uncertainties of the second semester. It was certain that the university won’t open before the 16th of February, everything else was uncertain. These three days were, right after the days I waited for exam results, the longest days in my life. I didn’t know whether to stay, if we would get a rental rebate, if the university would ever open again, I just didn’t know anything.

In the end, a supreme committee in the form of my mother decided that the danger of getting COVID in Britain was too high and therefore I’m not going anywhere. As a matter of fact, the Czech Republic was doing a lot worse than Britain, but I was glad it was decided and accepted the outcome.

While certainty is sometimes unpleasant, I would argue that event he most unpleasant certainty is more pleasant than uncertainty. We know that certainty is certain and we can therefore prepare for the outcome. Uncertainty bears an unknow result, an unknown variable that makes an equation and its outcome messy. When the outcome contains an unknown variable, we don’t know how to prepare for it as its value is also unknown.

It was certain that at least until the 16th of February I would have to stay home. The quality of education was fortunately unaffected and as an introverted person, I sort of actually prefer the online environment. Later in January, I was informed that on-campus learning will begin in March at the earliest and that at least part of my rent would be returned for the period that the university was closed.

Right now it seems like I will indeed be able to return in March. Actually, the United Kingdom is a lot healthier than the Czech Republic, which is in a state of total social despair and anarchy. As of now, my return is still uncertain, however, this uncertainty is within a reasonable range and the outcome can therefore be predicted with an acceptable tolerance, which makes me happy.