Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

M. Cork City

Contributor

M.

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

20 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Cork City

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

My first real understanding that something significant was happening was in late Jan when I saw a TV input on how some people in China were being treated. I was horrified with what I saw and started to pay attention to corona virus. In early Feb when I went to buy hand sanitizer which is normally easily available and found that only one chemist on Patrick St. had it and were allowing 4 mini bottles per person I realised it was time to take this seriously in Ireland. Up to that point I had not seriously considered the impact on self / Ireland. Over the next week or two I bought carbolic soap for the first time in years - fun throw back to my gran and each time I shopped I bought one or two extra cans 'just in case'. During the first few days of March I had decided to cancel a trip to London as air travel did not make sense to me given the mode of transmission. At this time I also attended a family event up the country and was very aware that I might not see any of my family again for ages. We were also starting to talk about 'what ifs'' in work and then on 12th March Leos first announcement came. I think the Irish Government has played a blinder on the management of this process in terms of the language they have used in the briefings e.g. community, family, everyone has a part to play. Tremendous psychology ebbing through each of their speeches. They also seemed to be up front with the info - they were well paced and inclusive.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

Working remotely without the in- office support systems or networks. Work has expanded to cover various issues thrown up by this radical change and at the same time my ability to get it done has slowed down incredibly. Very frustrating. Initially the use of zoom for meetings was great - the meetings were shorter, more focused. As time has gone on, the use of Zoom and MS teams for meetings has become exhausting and is impacting physically in terms of headaches, sore eyes, deterioration in eye sight, and impact on concentration. Colleagues’ understanding of your time line is difficult to manage too. For example, in the beginning everyone was accommodating and recognised that not all staff who are working remotely has access to the same equipment. Now as our norm-for-now experience continues, colleagues seem to forget that we are not all working with the same infrastructure and there are tensions in returning wok etc. Life now is more routine in many ways than previously. Much of this is the conscious recognition of the need to implement routine to keep the head sane. I have always seen the importance of marking rituals and have really come to enjoy marking them now by posting cards, seeds, books, Easter linked items etc. I enjoy the activity of getting things to post, posting them and usually hearing back from people I’ve sent things too. In many ways this simple activity is having a greater impact than it would normally and that’s interesting.

Q. 3 GROUPS

Much of this is the conscious recognition of the need to implement routine to keep the head sane. I have always seen the importance of marking rituals and have really come to enjoy marking them now by posting cards, seeds, books, Easter linked items etc. I enjoy the activity of getting things to post, posting them and usually hearing back from people I’ve sent things too. In many ways this simple activity is having a greater impact than it would normally and that’s interesting.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

Zumped - dumped by zoom; social distancing; flattening the curve; touch of the coronas, our norm-for-now. Lots of new ways of engaging have sprung up such as zoom parties, having drinks on line, St. Paddy’s day parades in the car, bear hunts for children whereby communities put picture of bears in the window for children to count, in person greetings now include touching ones heart and nodding, touching feet. The change in routine contact makes things more silence so I hear the birds and nature more. It also means I value the time I take to have contact with people.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

witnessed first-hand lots of offers to so the shopping for various groups of people posted on Facebook. Lots of notices in shop windows have taken my eye - warnings to stay safe but in the context of community i.e. stay apart now so we will be strong in the future Lots of little examples I have seen first-hand of people thanking shop workers for continuing to work and keep things going - heightened sense of community gratitude.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

Many existential questions - meaning of life, connections with people, how we use our space, how I impact on my environment, could this be a good thing for community, for slowing down and just appreciating what is rather than just rushing to the next thing.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

No Response.

Q. 10 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SPRINGS TO MIND?

I have been struck by how comforting the non-intrusive high presence of the police has been. I have also become more aware of the use of drones by the police in watching people indeed I was monitored by one a few days ago - for me this lends a sense of safety in current times but it does make me wonder about how this may be used in the future to manage everyday behaviours.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

Np Response

age

36-50

gender

Female