It’s a day unknown of quarantine and I have found myself thinking a lot about COVID-19 and how it has taken over our country. The first couple weeks of the virus entering the states was kind of like a gamble. Some people took it seriously, and some people really did not care at all. Personally, I had no clue what to think of any of it. I knew it was something serious in other countries, but I never really thought it could become something as big as it has. It’s definitely one of those things that can be explained by “you don’t know until it happens to you”. Although the cases aren’t as bad in Columbia County, they are getting drastically worse and worse everyday in my hometown’s county. This leaves me worried for my parents and for other people that I know from my hometown. I’m taking a trip down there this Sunday for a couple of days to pick up a few things and to, of course, see my mother for Easter. We usually go to New York every year for Easter, but this year that plan obviously got pushed away. Although I’m upset about not getting to spend the holiday how we usually spend it, I am more than sure we will make the most out of what we have.
Social distancing is not as bad as I initially thought it was. When the university first announced that we would be doing everything completely online I honestly thought it was the end of the world. No seeing my friends, no social events, no dining-in?! All I thought was what am I going to do with my life and how will I handle five online classes. But as the days went by I started to grow more fond of social distancing. Not just because it’s necessary, but because it has given me a lot of time to think and get things done that I had minimal time to do before. Although I am still adjusting to online classes, I feel as though I am in a better headspace for most of my classes. Even now, just sitting here typing with no distractions from the outside world is peaceful and allows me to pour out my thoughts easier and quicker. It almost makes me wonder what life will be like almost all of this is over. Will we ever go back to normal? How will health and sanitary precautions be changed? Or even more drastically, will we ever even go back to the way we were before? That is sure a question I have been pondering lately.
Besides doing homework and chores around the house, I have been doing a lot of things to make the time go by too. I have been taking lots of walks, more than I ever did before quarantine. They have made me realize how much I love just walking outside getting fresh air and sunshine, it is also a great way to cleanse the mind. Just like everyone else, I have also been streaming tons of shows and movies. Last night I watched a Korean film that I have been looking forward to seeing, Parasite. I also finished watching season two of You on Netflix. I typically tend to think that second seasons of Netflix shows are not as good as the first seasons, but I thoroughly enjoyed this second season. I think my favorite way of passing the time has been playing Club Penguin though. Club Penguin was a widely popular site when I was a kid that was shut down a few years ago. Because of quarantine, the owners decided to bring it back and it has honestly become my guilty pleasure.
Years from now when I look back on this quarantine I honestly might start to miss it. Between freeing my mind, getting things done, and even playing a game for children, these past few weeks have been very comforting. Maybe quarantine isn’t all too bad afterall.
Maeve's Blog 