The Quarantine Currently

    I used to scribe about the highlights of my week following the “The Sunday Currently” series which was started by SiddThornton all over the blogosphere. Although I didn’t religiously post them here on my blog, I used to have them on my journal. Those are nothing lengthy nor special but they were functional ways for me to keep track of my weekly progress or to remind myself that regardless of how slow or fast time passes, my week hasn’t gone to waste. For more than a month though, it seemed to me that everything happened in blurry slow motion pace as of some scenes from Wong Kar Wai’s pictures.

     Everybody is facing a similar challenge or shall we say an enemy: the ncov19 pandemic. I still find it crazy to imagine the reality that we are facing today. It is a reality that almost everyone in the globe is facing wherein handful things have been put to halt and most of us are in the cusp of uncertainty’s tongue. The quarantine in our city started in the middle of March. When will it be lifted? There’s an indefinite and uncertain answer to that.

    If the pandemic didn’t exist, most people in our country would probably be enjoying the beach or pursuing various activities that would fulfill their #travelgoals. I might be in similar situation but I would also be spending so much time at work. My colleagues and I were tasked to submit shtloads of work documents up until the second week of April which means that I now have so much time in my palm to decide on how I would like my days to go by.

  Honestly, much of those are spent planning on what (my family) we are going to eat for the day and when and what are the things that we should be getting the next time one of us has to go to the grocery.

   Most of the days feel dull, difficult, and mundane, and I have to admit, I feel so much frustration from it. Still, I understand the gravity of the crisis and the need for us to abide and cooperate for everyone’s health and safety. Some days though, I try to do something to lift up my spirit and spice up my quarantine days so as not to feel more down and anxious. One of those days include today where I decided to write how I’m currently doing based on the prompts below.

🌼Reading

My reading department hasn’t been so wealthy ever since I started working in a university. I still read a lot, but much of those revolve around academic literatures. For this seemingly never-ending vacation though, I plan to finish my pile of to-be-read books. I'm also reading my students' responses to the writing prompts I gave them.

🌼Writing

This?

🌼Listening

I’m a fan of the new American Idol. I know it’s not something hype or whatever, but looking at aspiring people chasing their dreams using their own voices inspires me a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dream to be the next Lady Gaga but I love listening to music. The best part about AI for me are the original songs written and performed by their contestants. Do listen to Out Loud by Alejandro Aranda, I Hope by Gabby Barrett, and Roses by Maddie Poppe and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Stevie Nicks will always be a darling to my ears to her songs are also constants!

🌼Watching

I have been watching a lot of movies and tv series in Netflix. Most of what I’m watching are Korean hit series and Spanish films so I think I’ll be fluent in speaking Hanggul and Spanish once the quarantine is over. Lol What I’m currently finishing as of this moment is the cute Korean drama Crash Landing on You (CLOY) which isn’t bad, but I think I love Itaewon Class much better. 

🌼Thinking

About the things that I’ll be doing during or after the quarantine especially finishing my graduate paper and some ways not to overthink. I’m painfully a pessimist and an over thinker and it just gets crazy once I let an idea take my mind over.  

For one, I am thinking about the imminent economic collapse in our country. For a developing country like ours', this is something that is inevitable since much of our government funds have been used in providing assistance to the en masse. I can't imagine how things are going to be after all of this. I still have to get myself a temporary job which would serve as a first aid kit for the time being where most of us couldn't go out for work. I guess one of the worst things that could happen after the quarantine is not to have a job or an alternative source of income.

🌼Smelling

The four seasons fruit juice with pomegranate tea on my side. Ahmad Tea  London produces heaven in tiny teabags!

🌼Wishing

For a better situation. 

🌼Hoping

For all of this coronavirus-related problems to be over.

🌼Wearing

A blue floral sleeveless dress because our house feels like being in an oven right now. 

🌼Loving

My phone, my books, and my art materials. 

An acrylic painting I did on an old thrifted bag of mine. 

🌼Wanting

More acrylic paints and watercolor pads. Baking supplies because people hoarded 98% of them. I can’t even get a flour or a butter stick anywhere near me right now. 

🌼Needing

A warm hug or a slice of moist chocolate cake. I can’t tell the difference. 

🌼Feeling

Overwhelmed. Anxious. Fck up. Grateful.

🌼Clicking

My keyboard. Duh. 

     Pardon me if some of the things I wrote on this post a little disturbing. I just want to be fully honest at least in this little virtual xanadu of mine. I fervently hope for better things and sending some prayers to our front liners and to those who have lost someone due to the coronavirus. It's once of the reasons why I don't like sharing some other stuff online because I don't want to feel indifferent about others' suffering. Somewhere on the other side of the globe must be crying over someone they loved and lost. I can't imagine something similar happening to my family and close friends (God forbid). When I think it over, death is always in the corner bringing someone with him everyday regardless if the virus exists. If anything, this crisis makes me think and emphatize on others. At least that's what I hope and think I do. I hope that while reading this, you are in a comfortable situation – healthy, safe, and sound.

   I’m aching for all of this to be better and I’ll still be here even after all of this is over. 

Stay safe. 💖

love lots,

Tin