Missing the feeling of not worrying about a major virus lurking around every corner

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
There is a second wave although we may be coming out of it. The first was March and April 2020. The second was Dec Jan Feb of 2021. Vaccines are picking up and I am hopeful. I wish there was more mask wearing.

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
We had a very bizarre split politically and the country felt divided to me. President Trump in 2020 really lead the country into a rough place because of the politicialization of the pandemic. To me it was clear and scientific. People really needed to be safe but there were so many ideas how to do that. We mostly stayed home so I felt distance from society. It has been a time of self reflection.

How are you and your family?
We are holding it together. We have spent a lot of time with one another and that has been nice.

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
For us our living situations has been too tight. We are in a one bedroom in a 5 floor walkup. We loved the city so much before the pandemic we were never bothered by the lack of space. We now feel differently and are moving.

I wish there was more mask wearing.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
March of 2020 it got very scary for us. I was performing standup in NYC and the next day all of the comedians were informed that an audience member had tested positive for Corona virus. My partner ended up getting it late March and it was the scariest time in our lives. My daughter and I never got it.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
There were travel bans then slowly the city was shut down. There were curfews and also maks mandates in grocery stores etc.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
I wish there had been a mandatory mask mandate. Trump super failed if you ask me. I wish that we had been more prepared for this type of virus. I wish we had a system that was more country wide rather than statewide. We need systems in place. When there were ventilator and PPE shortages it was just so heart-breaking. Biden is not politicizing the virus so hopefull that type of BS. won´t happen again.

Super happy the way NYC shut down and the vaccine creation and response has been incredible.

What would you like to say to your government?
Let´s not let this happen again, we need to be prepared. Funding for science and research.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
Good sentences were “wear a mask”. Bad sentences were about “injecting bleach” – unfortunately they both got the same airplay.

My partner ended up getting the Corona virus late March and it was the scariest time in our lives.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
About 25 infected people, 10 deaths.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I have had about 10 coronavirus tests. Many were mandatory because I work in the film business.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Absolutely and completely.

I know about 25 infected people, ten people died.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
The suggested lockdown seemed to be like a year. March to March. Things are opening up now. During the year things opened up slowly so I guess the super closed was like March 2020-July-2020 then the city opened for the fall some, but then closed for the winter and then back open at a 30% rate. There were subway shutdowns and curfews for the closed time. Nothing open but grocery stores and gas stations.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
My partner and my kid. We watched movies, played games, cleaned, painted, danced and learned how to cook everything. I also worked a lot from home as a VO actor. My partner worked in music production and deliveries.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed live shows. I work in theater and had a show close. I was so disappointed. My partner plays guitar and we would go see a lot of shows. Being around people to talk with and just meeting strangers. The biggest thing is I miss my Mom and Dad and extended family. They live in NC and I would see them at leat 4 times a year. I have yet to see them since the start of the Pandemic. I also miss me time. I miss my kid in school. I miss the feeling of pre-Covid – not worrying about a major virus lurking around every corner. Zoom helped immensely. I really think it was a life saver in so many ways. Walking everyday.

I miss the feeling of pre-Covid – not worrying about a major virus lurking around every corner.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
Working from home. I had to strengthen my home studio and invest in new equipment. It took a lot of classes to learn how to engineer my own stuff. I became more self reliant. I can do a lot more now. I also lost some valuable creativity time becoming a full time Mom while working.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
My world got very small. Its been a long time since I had a huge hang. The day of the election I went to a big outdoor party but felt bad about it after. So many people and too risky. Its been a little stressfull for my relationship but we are working on trying to stay chill.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
I have lost money but am still at 75% of income – but saving loads because no frills and no childcare. Cooking at home is our biggest money saver. We were social animals before and now just homebodies.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
I wake up have some coffee and take an hour long walk. (This became a pandemic ritual) then I cook/fix breakfast and help my kid get going and try to work some. Work till early afternoon then lunch/ try to take my kid to a local park – come home cook dinner, watch some shows or do some work and then sleep. Get up and repeat. My partner and I trade off childcare all day long. I work a little, he works a little etc. Two days a week he is totally out of the apartment so I have to work with the kid all day. Those days are harder to get all my work done. We don’t do much hanging out outside of the apartment .

We were social animals before and now just homebodies.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
Nurses, Doctors, Scientists, Grocerystore workers, anyone who had to keep working in a front facing job.

What did the crisis show you?
Mother nature is sneaky and deadly, we don´t know what´s out there. Some people only care about themselves,
some people care about everyone else. Have a rainy day fund. Kiss everyone in your family and make sure they know how much you love them. Be kind. Try to make the world a better place.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Life in general, family, space, wilderness.

Which images will you never forget?
The hospitals packed to the gills. The refrigerated trucks. The large wholes in the grownd dug for the nameless victims.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
My acting Manager and friend of 20 years passed from Covid – it came hard and fast for him. I still have not fully digested this. I am gutted and so sad. My friend lost her father and another friend lost his mother and uncle. It has been extremly sad.

My acting Manager and friend of 20 years passed from Covid – it came hard and fast for him. I still have not fully digested this.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
We will be stuck in this forever.

What gives you hope?
Vaccines, science, peoples kindness.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Yes, to the local beach for one week in July.

Would you get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19?
I did! Both shots! My partner did too!

What can we all learn from this crisis?
We need to keep woring in science.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
Hang in there it´s gonna be a rough ride.

I´m afraid that we will be stuck in this forever.