As a 66 year old Turk, he refuses to stay at home all day.

Turkey, Antalya, Haluk, Turkish, 66, retired civil engineer, Divorced/ One boy

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
The life is now almost normal as of 31st july. No 2nd wave…

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
By the force of precations empty streets and no tourist sceens prevailed. Whenever the precautions abondened the life as before.

How are you and your family?
I am well enough. No change in my life since I am away of city crowd. Only change about international traveling. In the family only quite old members were in a strict quarantine…

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
Not to reach my girlfriend since blocked air travel.

I couldn´t reach my girlfriend since blocked air travel.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
Still not realized so serious. But hygienic precautions should be taken since nobody wants to be sick even with an ordinary flu.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
First international travel banned and city or districts are isolated from each other by road or air travel ban…

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
Yes, satisfied, but some bans were useless. Like 65+ people locked down all the times even after many measures are given up by general public. And many measures have no logic behind it like going to shopping mall is free, but park areas were banned.

What would you like to say to your government?
Let the 65+ free anymore…

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
Since I don’t listen radio and watch TV, so the only slogan keep in mind was “stay at home”.

Some bans were useless.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
My sister in France was infected with Covid-19 and her son. She spent a few days with high fewer and recovered. Now she has antigens. Boy just recovered in a daily routine.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I did a coronavirus antigen test, but it was negative.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
No.

My sister in France was infected with Covid-19 and her son.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
Since I am over 65, I am obliged to stay at home even not to go to buy food. But I did not obey that rule. So I was free even with a total lockdown of the nation since I´m living at the country side… I was not affected by social distances and shopping routines since I am living normally in social isolation and do internet shopping.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I was alone but kept myself very busy with my regular plan. Renovating my home where I live at.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I did not miss anything. I missed my girl friend😃 But I have spent my time very productive.

Since I am over 65, I am obliged to stay at home even not to go to buy food. But I did not obey that rule.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I am retired. So no change in that respect.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Not much since I have very limited social life. My relations are one to one scale. I kept my local relation in that scope. Only intercity and international relations was affected. 

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
An income from hotel business has been affected totally.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
No change before virus or now. 

I have very limited social life.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
I have appreciated Bill Gates warning this crisis much before. Also Trump and other leaders that keep saying Corona is not real thing and some of them infected by Covid-19 made my day 😃

What did the crisis show you?
First I understand the mechanism of soap how effective to kill the bacteria and viruses. What are the precautions to prevent flu type infections. Other than that selfimportance of sustained life. Using solar energy and with that energy obtaining water from air, obtaining energy for electric transportation, importance of no soil and little water agriculture technics, and importance of internet access. Expecting to reach technology of personal drone transportation living at rural areas and hydrofoil personal boat transportation by solar power for living near sea.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
If people does not give value for unnecessary consumption like clothing, big apartments rather than land houses, and understand that we can not save ourselves pushing others poverty or under standards.

Which images will you never forget?
When I see mask on the face, I always remember the image of a woman with a veil on the face eating spagetti. Whole world suddenly turned to this situation that was not appreciated.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
Not related with corona, but Goerge Floyd’s story and people that does not understand what is wrong about.

The crisis showed me the importance of a sustained life.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
Restrictions of freedom. For example camping prohibited already here in Turkey. Authorities force you to pay expensive hotels and camping places. Seychelles was like that and never want to go again.

What gives you hope?
Nobody. Especially system that we are living does not give a hope. But needs to be carefully monitored.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Anytime when borders are opened.

If they find vaccine, would you take it?
Not immidiately. Wait for a year.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
Change the lifestyle, hence modify the system.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
2020 is just a trailer, rest is on the way.

I´m afraid of the restrictions of freedom.