The Rona Diaries: Week 7
Candace:
This has been a challenging week, but I feel guilty for even labeling it challenging. What right do I have to complain? I have a comfortable home, food delivered every week, a job that pays me to work remotely, and no one I know has died from COVID-19. Nevertheless, I am so ready to get out of the house that I actually visit The White House website looking for clues as to our release date. I listen to daily press briefings reading into anything that offers a sliver of hope. The other day Mikita told me that she thought that that things were going to begin opening up on May 15th and I've been clinging to that, although it is looking increasingly doubtful.
Why do I feel like the walls are starting to close in on me? Part of it is that I am not as physically active as I used to be. Much to Roberto's chagrin, pre-COVID 19, I was never an avid gym goer. However, as a teacher I was on my feet much of the day. Today, I am in front of a computer holding class five times a day using Google Meet.
In 8th grade Social Studies, I am teaching The Civil Rights Movement and watching videos of black people being dragged across lunch counters, attacked by dogs, and sprayed with water hoses is more triggering than usual. However, it has been interesting to teach The Little Rock Nine while discussing how contemporary debates about federalism have influenced the government response to the current health crisis. My students have been able to study civil disobedience as it was practiced in the 1960's and compare that to how it is practiced today by those protesting 'Stay at Home' orders in states across America.
The thing that I have learned since my 20's is that that I have to be intentional about fighting off depression, so here is a list of things that I have been doing to keep my spirits up:
"There is more than one kind of freedom . . . Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from."
Things may be uncertain right now, but I am clear about what my time indoors is providing me freedom from.
This has been a challenging week, but I feel guilty for even labeling it challenging. What right do I have to complain? I have a comfortable home, food delivered every week, a job that pays me to work remotely, and no one I know has died from COVID-19. Nevertheless, I am so ready to get out of the house that I actually visit The White House website looking for clues as to our release date. I listen to daily press briefings reading into anything that offers a sliver of hope. The other day Mikita told me that she thought that that things were going to begin opening up on May 15th and I've been clinging to that, although it is looking increasingly doubtful.
Why do I feel like the walls are starting to close in on me? Part of it is that I am not as physically active as I used to be. Much to Roberto's chagrin, pre-COVID 19, I was never an avid gym goer. However, as a teacher I was on my feet much of the day. Today, I am in front of a computer holding class five times a day using Google Meet.
In 8th grade Social Studies, I am teaching The Civil Rights Movement and watching videos of black people being dragged across lunch counters, attacked by dogs, and sprayed with water hoses is more triggering than usual. However, it has been interesting to teach The Little Rock Nine while discussing how contemporary debates about federalism have influenced the government response to the current health crisis. My students have been able to study civil disobedience as it was practiced in the 1960's and compare that to how it is practiced today by those protesting 'Stay at Home' orders in states across America.
The thing that I have learned since my 20's is that that I have to be intentional about fighting off depression, so here is a list of things that I have been doing to keep my spirits up:
- Getting dressed every day as if I have somewhere to go
- Wearing a full face of make-up, including the brightest lipstick I own
- Buying Plants from The Sill
- Writing this blog
- Making an effort to read for pleasure every day
- Going for a walk during my break between classes
- Watching documentaries
"There is more than one kind of freedom . . . Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from."
Things may be uncertain right now, but I am clear about what my time indoors is providing me freedom from.
Chloe:
Some good things have come out of being in the house all the time. I got the time to put some pictures up on my walls and catch up on a few shows that I wanted to finish. When quarantine started I was on season 13 of my favorite show, Grey's Anatomy. After 2 weeks or more, I'm finished with the last released season, season 16, and I loved it. Hopefully, since they confirmed season 17 it comes out soon. I also watched a few movies, which are now some of my favorites. They series that I'm watching now are Shameless, and Criminal Minds. I started watching Shameless a few months ago too, but season 10 came out in 2019 or 2020, and I just didn't' get around to watching it yet. I'm also rewatching a few seasons of American Horror Story since I finished it a few months ago. Sometimes when I go on walks with my mom, I usually enjoy telling her things about the shows I like and things I do. After being inside for a few weeks, I enjoyed going outside and being able to walk around again.
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| Liz Montague |
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