Living in a Pandemic

Vidit Agarwal

March 2020

Quarantine Diary 1

Contrary to popular belief, quarantine hasn’t been that bad. There are disadvantages, but it isn’t that big of a deal. I’ve spent a lot of time doing what I usually do outside of school hours. During school hours, I just text my friends, so I’m able to stay social. I do miss being able to play sports and stuff with people other than my brother. It helps that I live a privileged life, so it is still pretty enjoyable to stay inside all the time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

I am not bored of quarantine yet, but it did just start. I do miss sports the most. Usually, when I’m bored, I just turn on the TV and watch whatever is on. As a big sports fan, it is hard to talk to some friends without sport-related news. I have been reduced to watching the dumbest stuff on Youtube, but there isn’t anything better to watch. I’m still occupied by what I usually do, but soon I will need to get creative to keep myself entertained. 

         A big problem is staying healthy, I’m getting bored of the regular food that is healthy. I don’t feel like being healthy. I don’t really feel like doing anything, but watch TV because playing basketball by myself is getting boring. I have started running with my dad, biking, and swimming, but it’s hard to stay consistent.  

My phone usage has been launched into the 70s from just 20 minutes. I constantly check my phone for messages. I miss the conversations I had with people who weren’t even that close friends. I never asked those people for their number, so I can’t talk to them.  I have been engulfed in work from school and what I assigned myself. Having a plan makes it easier, but I do feel like online school is much easier. Although we do have the online schoolwork and the meeting via video chat, it is not the same. I only have approximately 2 or maybe 3 hours of work a day instead of the usual 6 hours at school, not counting extra time for homework. Somehow, it feels much more monotonous than the 6 hours in a classroom, and that’s what everybody has been doing for a lot of their life. Online classes are a lot calmer than being around people constantly creating all that anxiety, peer pressure, and other problems school creates. Being in a classroom is always insane. I miss the chaos.

Staying social is very important. I need my friends. They need me, at least that’s what I think. So far, the most fun I had was when I met one of my friends face-to-face. I was on one side of the sidewalk and he was on the other. We walked and talked for more than 3 miles. The conversation just flowed in a way that doesn’t happen usually. I video chat every day from around 3 to almost 5. We play iMessage games and crack jokes, and it is the most fun part of my day. 

Maybe I will update this, but this is how I feel right now. I don’t know how long I can handle this, but so far it has been relaxing.