Germany, Bonn, Chetna, Indian, 22, Media Professional, Not married/ No kids
General
How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
I study in Germany, work in Switzerland and live in France. This dynamism of my student life hopping from one city to another to do internships and work has made me witness the coronavirus situation in many countries. Currently, I live near the border of France and Switzerland dealing with coronavirus regulations of two countries. The 2nd wave has reached here a few weeks ago but restaurants and bars have started opening up due to the successful vaccination campaigns. However, there is news that there might be another curfew soon due to the variant.
How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
At the beginning of last year, I lived in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, when coronavirus had just reached Europe. In February 2020, life still seemed normal as many of us went to enjoy the craziness of German Carnival in Cologne. Since then, Germany has raced towards the second wave and strict measures to control the infection rates.
How are you and your family?
I started an internship during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. That wasn’t easy. I had moved to Bonn, Germany, from a different city but on the second day at my new workplace I fell sick. Soon after, it was announced that everyone should work from home which meant I had to move back to my university dorms since spending so much money on house rent in a different city didn’t make sense.
The 2nd wave hit India after many months as compared to Europe. Both my parents living in New Delhi, India, became COVID-19 patients. My father’s condition became critical. He had to go to the hospital but due to the lack of availability of hospital beds with oxygen supply in the Indian capital, he had to be transported to a hospital outside the city.
What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
COVID-19 is a very isolating disease. Whenever I was sick, it was scary to ask for help from other people. Some people would avoid you or try to be cautious. Seeing my parents sick in a different country was also not easy.
COVID-19 is a very isolating disease.
Measures
When did you realize how serious the situation is?
Even though I had gone through several challenges during the first wave and second wave of the pandemic in Europe, I only realized the gravity of the pandemic when the second wave hit India, when I got a phone call from my mother in India saying they are looking for oxygen supply in hospitals for my father.
How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
There were many curfews to limit people from gathering outside homes.
Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
The restrictions in Europe are strict and gradually opening up depending upon the situation. India is slowly ramping up its vaccination campaign and getting ready with medical resources for the third wave of the pandemic.
What would you like to say to your government?
The medical system of any country needs to be a priority.
Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
Delta is several times more contagious than the other virus strains.
I only realized the gravity of the pandemic when the second wave hit India, when I got a phone call from my mother in India saying they are looking for oxygen supply in hospitals for my father.
The Virus
Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
My parents were infected with COVID-19. My classmate’s mother passed away due to her critical condition and lack of timely medical supplies during the second wave of the pandemic in India.
Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I have done tests to travel and had to do one week of home quarantine on my return to France from India in the beginning of 2020.
Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
I want to avoid any complications with coronavirus, having to go to get a test and medicines, staying home, worrying my parents etc.
My parents were infected with COVID-19.
The lockdown
How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
I moved to France from Germany during my second internship. In France, there was a compete lockdown for a few weeks during which only supermarkets were open, and we were allowed to go out for physical activities for one hour in a day. Afterwards, it gradually relaxed to curfews until 6 pm, then 9 pm, then 11 pm and at present, there is no curfew.
Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I spent the lockdown time mostly alone, teleworking and meeting my housemates in the evening or watching Netflix.
What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I had started home workouts during the lockdown which I found very effective, but now I’m not regular anymore.
In France, there was a compete lockdown for a few weeks during which only supermarkets were open, and we were allowed to go out for physical activities for one hour in a day.
Changes
How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
The working hours remained the same but switched to mandatory teleworking. I was allowed to be in the office once a week or if I’m needed to cover any events and news for photography and videography. The seating arrangement in the cafeteria changed to ensure 1 metre distance between the people eating together.
How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
I can’t travel so easily anymore and meet my friends in Germany or family in India.
What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
It has somewhat helped me spend less.
Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Things are gradually opening up in Switzerland and France with social distancing measures. I can go to the office to work twice a week, but I like to work from home since meetings are still online, mostly via Zoom. I yesterday went to watch a movie in a cinema after almost a year, and I was the only person in the entire hall. I felt like I owned a private theatre.
I yesterday went to watch a movie in a cinema after almost a year, and I was the only person in the entire hall.
Perception
Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
My parents are COVID survivors and the doctors who took care of them under such overwhelming conditions in the hospitals are the true heroes of this crisis for me.
What did the crisis show you?
It showed me both sides of people: the lack and richness of compassion and care.
What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
The importance of health and family.
Which images will you never forget?
I didn’t get a chance to visit my father when he was in critical condition but the thought that he had to be carried in an ambulance gasping for oxygen will never leave my mind.
Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
My work colleague in the US posted on Twitter to help my father find a hospital bed in India, I had to cancel a career talk in London, and they supported me through these challenging times. Seeing people harness the good side of social media to help each other across the globe touched me a lot.
The thought that my father had to be carried in an ambulance gasping for oxygen will never leave my mind.
Perspective
What are you afraid of right now?
I am afraid to have to move another city in search of a new job in these crazy times.
What gives you hope?
Vaccination drives give me hope but there is still a long way to go.
Are you planning to travel within the next months?
No.
Would you get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes.
What can we all learn from this crisis?
That we should never forget the importance of good health and also of those around us as it’s a personal responsibility.
If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
A slightly twisted quote from Friends, “Welcome to 2020! It sucked, but I loved it!”
We should never forget the importance of good health and also of those around us as it’s a personal responsibility.