Covid-19

I can’t believe how much the world has changed since my last blog post, a few weeks ago. Though we were warned that this level of social distancing may be needed, it was hard to visualize what exactly that would entail. To this day, I still can’t believe how fast this virus has spread / is spreading around the country and world (almost like something out of the movie Contagion!). I have a lot of extended family who lives in Poland, and though it’s sad to think that the coronavirus has reached pandemic status, I think it unites us knowing that we are dealing with a similar situation on both sides of the world. As we learn more about this virus, my inbox is constantly being flooded with new emails about more events / buildings / gatherings / classes that are being closed, postponed, or switched over to virtual format.

When I found out that UNC was moving to distance learning, I was a bit anxious about transitioning to an online classroom, having had experience in only one self-paced online classroom before. As I prepared for classes to return, this is how I envisioned Zoom classes would look moving forward…

Though, I have since learned that most people choose to keep their camera off (including me) which makes it a bit less distracting. Currently, we have only had three days of classes, but I’m happy to report that I have been surprisingly productive and have found a good system of taking notes during these online lectures. The use of breakout rooms has also “forced” me to work with people that I didn’t previously know, and it gives me the chance to talk with others in a less intimidating setting.

Other than classes, I have also continued working as a Research Assistant. I am lucky that I have the flexibility to work from home and access everything that I need to get my job done from a computer. Even before this crazy pandemic happened, I worked from home some days, so this new “transition” did not affect my work capabilities and I’m happy to say that my everyday schedule was not drastically changed. This is good news for me, considering that I’m not too fond of change. However, the past couple of weeks have not gone completely smoothly, considering that both my husband and I started to feel sick about a week ago. Luckily, it was just a cold for both us and we are finally on the mend, but just as scary, nonetheless.

Thinking forward, I am a bit disappointed that this virus has derailed our Easter plans to visit family in Michigan. But, if we continue to stay home and reduce our social contact during a time when the virus is actively spreading, I’m hoping that within a couple of months things will go back to normal. As we stay home, it’s important to think of the people that we are protecting. Even though I’m not currently in Michigan, I think of my 82-year-old grandma whose immune system was recently weakened due to a bout of bronchitis, putting her at a much higher risk for getting infected and experiencing severe symptoms. Though I am not actively protecting her, since I live in a different state, I know that the widespread public health measures that have been put into place might just save her life. To end on a positive note, as we try to get through this pandemic together, it’s important to be grateful for the little things, like being able to spend more time with those with whom we live and having more time each day (since we aren’t commuting). Sooner or later we will get through this together!

References

“Online Classes.” Reddit, 14 Mar. 2020, https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/fi1yxd/online_classes/.

Soderbergh, Steven. Contagion. 2011, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/.