Life in the Time of Covid-19

3 min read

Nobody in the world could have predicted the predicament we now find ourselves embroiled in. 2020 offered hope that it was going to be more promising than all the years passed. It seemed like it had the makings of an auspicious year anyway – repeating digits, turn of the decade, et cetera. Yet, the news reports indicated otherwise. Everyday, something horrifying was being reported. The bushfires in Australia, Kobe’s death, the earthquakes in my home town, Taal’s eruption, the list goes on. While I felt perturbed by these unexpected events, nothing could have prepared me, or anyone for that matter, for the anxiety and fear that the virus has inflicted. Covid-19 brought the world to a standstill.

It didn’t feel serious in the beginning. The outbreak was contained, China said. People led their normal lives. Travel was not restricted. I went home for a week during CNY holidays and managed a quick weekend trip to Bangkok at the start of February. I was cautious but unafraid. Weeks after, things took a turn for the worse. Cases were spiking everywhere. When the Singapore government decided to impose what they would call “circuit breaker” on 7 April, I knew my life would have to temporarily change its course. Living in a foreign country, Singapore no less, the paranoia of getting caught flouting by foreign authorities has trampled the fear of catching the disease. I’ve cancelled several travel plans and proceeded to shelter in place. I do recognize that staying at home is an option not afforded by many. In some cases, it’s one that is most dreaded by.

Being confined at home for days on end is difficult. It’s been months for a lot of us. I live on my own and my physical interaction with people has been reduced to that of opening my door to the delivery men bringing my food or shopping. If I let my thoughts roam to the dark side, I’d end up crying like an idiot for no good reason. So I practically hacked my brain into finding the things that make me happy, and do it over and over. Voila, I soon realized there are several things I can do to get my mind off my mind.

I rediscovered the joy of reading for pleasure. The most recent I’ve finished was José Saramago’s Seeing. I had read the prequel Blindness in college and remembered it to be thought-provoking. This one wasn’t any different. The parallels it drew to the current political climate in the Philippines are so uncanny. The government is capable of killing innocent people and manufacturing truths out of thin air, even if only to further their political agenda. What a beautifully narrated novel.

I’ve started working out in the afternoons after work. I didn’t use to believe in exercising. I felt because I am naturally slim, ergo I am fit. Boy was I wrong. Half a minute into my first few planks, my arms were giving away. I’m doing much better now.

I kept going with my weekly French lessons, one of the things I look forward to the most. My tutor Clémence is the kindest. Elle est très jolie et sympathique. J’aime avoir des conversations avec elle. Je suis très contente de mes progrès parce que le Francais est une belle langue. Ma grammaire n’est pas parfait, ma vocabulaire est limitè mais Clémence m’a dit que ce n’est pas important. Elle m’a assurè que je vais ameliorer avec le temp. See what I did there 😉

I have learned to be in touch with people more. The uncertainty of this period has been felt collectively by nearly everyone in the world. Some coping better than others. It’s unsettling not knowing. Thanks to modern technology, alone does not have to mean lonely. I can call home anytime. My best friend Dann organized a pubquiz for our highschool class which has now become a bi-weekly rendezvous. Memes, the language of the internet these days, shared between friends may seem trivial but to me it signifies thoughtfulness. It means we’re all in this together so how about we get a kick out of it. Nothing better than uninhibited laughter with the people dearest to you to combat ennui.

There are few other things here and there but perhaps the most important thing to come out of this was finally launching this blog. I have been writing since elementary school but I had friends who wrote better. I didn’t think my writing was as clever as theirs. But now I’m writing from a place I know and more importantly I’m writing for me.

After months of lock down, many countries are starting to reopen their economies. Singapore will soon exit its circuit breaker period. While I understand the need to restart economic activity, the risk of demise if not done cautiously is high. One death is still one too many. Reopening is now bringing a whole other level of uncertainty. It’s a zero-sum game.

Filed: Mundane