When the crisis showed you that life is unpredictable

General

How is the situation in your city/ country?
Pretty up and down, and difficult.

How did the atmosphere in your country change since the pandemic started?
People have become more negative and bitter.

How are you and your family?
We are thankfully healthy.

What is the biggest challenge for you during the crisis?
Staying motivated to work and staying positive.

The biggest challenge was to stay motivated and positive.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
I realized it was serious when I was traveling abroad in Curacao and the day I returned home in March, lockdown began.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
Trump was abysmal and sent mixed messages about the masks and the vaccine.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
I am dissatisfied with the government measures. I thought there was little leadership and unity, and confusing directions from the government.

What would you like to say to your government?
Subsidize people to pay for health insurance and provide more stimulus checks.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
I honestly don’t have one! I think I remember Queen Elizabeth’s speech about carrying on.

There were confusing directions from the government.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
I know many who were infected, I don’t know anyone who has died.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I have taken dozens of tests and self-isolated in my home from my family for preventative measures after traveling.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
I am less afraid now as I believe the degree of seriousness has lessened.

I´m less afraid now as I believe the degree of seriousness has lessened.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
We never had a formal lockdown, people just stayed home.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I spent it with my brothers and parents.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed leaving the house and seeing other people. It helped to hang out with my brothers.

We never had a formal lockdown, people just stayed home.

Changes

How did your work situation change since the pandemic started (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I always worked from home and as I’m in travel, it was impacted at first but I’ve found the industry has already returned.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
I became closer to certain friends, and I felt it made dating more difficult.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
I think I actually was able to save more money because I wasn’t going out.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Right now my life is essentially back to normal.

I became closer to certain friends during the Corona crisis.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
The nurses, the doctors, the people who worked at Walgreens pharmacy.

What did the crisis show you?
That life is unpredictable and things can always get worse.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Hugging my friends.

Which images will you never forget?
The workers in hazmat suits in Wuhan.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
The Italians who sang to one another and played instruments on their porch during lockdown.

The crisis showed me that life is unpredictable and things can always get worse.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
That I’ve lost some great years of my life.

What gives you hope?
That life goes on!

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Yes, I am traveling right now.

Would you get yourself vaccinated or have you already been vaccinated against COVID-19?
I have already been vaccinated and will take as many shots as I can.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
To tell our family and friends we love them and to leave the house and go out more often when we get the chance!

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
Life: It’s About to Get a Lot Worse (Hope You Socialized in 2019)

I will take as many shots as I can.