My Quarantine Diary: Life on Lockdown

“You don't realize how valuable something is until it's gone.” Life is full with
ironies. When we reflect on our lives prior to COVID-19, we realize how incredible
they were. We just realized we had so much freedom and privilege pursuing
numerous activities without restraints and limitations. Our lives have been utterly
and drastically impacted by the unanticipated and overpowering COVID-19
outbreak.

Physical engagement was a component of my everyday routine until December

2019, when the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. The virus's
emergence posed a global threat, and on March 11, 2020, it was proclaimed a
pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak struck suddenly and caught everyone off guard.
Home quarantine, face masks and shields, and social isolation became the norm. It
feels comforting and discomforting to have time for yourself and your family and yet
do so little these days. Having my daily routines be disrupted was strange and now I
usher to a new way of living.

Before the pandemic, I wake up early in the morning, go to eat, take a bath and
put on my uniform as I gaze by the clock and race through time. Like a programmed
machine, I carry my backpack, say goodbye to my mother then go to school. I attend
my classes, play with my classmates and laze around when the teacher is out. After
class, I clean then go home. But now that I am stuck at home, I’m suddenly
bewildered that I cannot do these things anymore. At first, I felt happy being freed
from strenuous works and wished that it lasts forever. I did things I’ve always
wanted to do; I sleep more, watch dramas, read novels, and learn how to cook. It was
a satisfying time of my life but as days go by, I somehow miss my old routine. It has
been over a year since the start of quarantine yet I still clearly remember the
moment I first stepped out of our house after the lockdown.

It was a scorching hot, sunny day. As I feel the heat of the sun on my skin, I
exclaimed to myself, “Ah, it’s been a long time!” I sounded like a prisoner finally
freed from his cell and came out strangely happy. As we pass by the street, the usual
crowd was nowhere to be found. A strange silence pervaded and all I hear was the
sound of engine and occasional chatter from my family. We arrived at the mountain
and as I look around, I noticed new things. A small hut was built and there I saw my
cousins. I trotted towards them, sat by their side, and talked about random things
from the past. Lunch came and the smell of roasted fish tingled our nose. We sat
below the katmon tree and ate while enjoying the warm mountain breeze. Afternoon
arrived and noise filled the air as we swam and played around the DIY pool our
parents prepared for us. We were having so much fun that we didn’t notice the sun
setting down. The sky was soon painted pale orange and we went back home. I
thought that this day was too precious to be forgotten. So I wrote this experience in
my diary; it was my very first entry.

In this time of crisis, I devoted my time to activities improving my mood like

listening to music, watching films and reading books. I also provide utmost care to
my mental, emotional and physical well-being in order to stay calm and focused
amid this pandemic. As much as I can, I try to avoid divulging myself to negative
information, more especially misinformation. Whenever I see some COVID-19
related posts online, I confirm whether such information is truthful and the source is
reliable.

This COVID-19 pandemic has made its way into our lives and left a trail of
destruction in its wake. It's heartbreaking to watch the world fall apart before our
eyes, to see the majority of humanity fighting back against this unseen enemy. We
are suffering a global crisis not only on health, but also on many facets of our society.
As we struggle to transition from our lives without lockdown to the ‘new normal’, we
need to bring out our spirit of resilience and camaraderie together with the global
community so that we can win against all forces that try to bring the whole world
down. Being well-informed and optimistic will help us combat this pandemic
together. Working together to overcome this crisis will lead us one step closer to a
new world with a healed humanity. Let us cling on to each other while we fight the
future's uncertainty with a brave heart.