What's It Like? Part IV
What’s It Like? is a new series exploring the effects of COVID-19 on the lives and wellbeing of people around the world. Hopefully by discussing how this global pandemic is affecting us all individually and collectively, we can help foster a small sense of hope and connectivity in these uncertain times.
We are currently presented with challenges in many forms, and how this might look to each of us can depend on circumstance, resources and even geographical location. These stories will help tell the human side of COVID.
Be well, stay safe and check in with your loved ones. Kia kaha everybody.
Here in Aotearoa we’ve moved into Level 3 of the COVID-19 response plan, and for most of the population this is the same as before. Construction and other selected industries are back in action, more workers have returned to the office and bubbles can be expanded under strict criteria. We’re hanging tight for now, grateful to be working from home and sharing the stories of others who are sacrificing far more than us.
Akayla, 20
Nelson
Caregiver/student
Bubble of four
What’s it like where you are? It’s a bit unusual and I’ve seen people breaking the rules but you’ll get that everywhere.
How are you feeling? Quite calm, I’m an introvert so I don’t mind being in my bubble. I’m stressed about my study as we have moved to online learning.
How has your work been affected? We have security guards manning the gates during the day and us caregivers are taking turns manning it during the afternoons. We have no visitors allowed onsite at the moment, other than that we are continuing as normal.
What are you grateful for? Still being able to work, even if it is only part time. I’m grateful that I can still contact all my whānau and friends knowing that they are safe.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: I’m honestly looking forward to my first Indian takeaway and going back to Polytech.
How are you sleeping? I’ve always been a good sleeper, my sleep schedule has changed quite a lot but I’m still sleeping well.
What’s something fun you’ve done in the past week? I have just started doing yoga! I’ve just been following a lady on YouTube and it’s been awesome, I’m really enjoying it.
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: I’m gonna cheat and say a series (haha), loved Tiger King, my partner and I binged it. Such a bizarre series.
Henry, 31
Birkenhead, Auckland
Creative Director – Someday Studios
Bubble of three
What’s it like where you are? Big Brother, without the girls.
How are you feeling? Right now: freezing and hungry. Overall, very good, very lucky to have a roof over my head, food on the table, and great company.
How has your work been affected? PR and Media is a very strange/interesting time at the moment. We've had a lot of work put on hold, but some new projects come through too. We'll survive.
What are you grateful for? Fresh air.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Hugging the ocean, and my friends.
How are you coping with isolation? It's pretty tough for an ADHD extrovert. But living with two good mates and sticking to a routine, all is ok. Music and laughter are two vital ingredients.
Work aside, what’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Not having my friends around. And not being able to swim in the ocean.
How are you sleeping? In a single bed with a teddy bear in the window.
What’s something fun you’ve done in the past week? Dressed up in black tie and had a virtual wedding party with friends from all over the world.
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? Fried pineapple caramelised in brown sugar and butter.
What are you listening to currently? Julia Jacklin.
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: Holiday: The Best Travel Magazine That Ever Was.
“[I’m sleeping] In a single bed with a teddy bear in the window.”
Jane Guy, 41
Queenstown
Blogger/Family Violence Coordinator
Bubble of three (myself, partner Trent and our toddler Wren)
What’s it like where you are? Warm, cozy and lots of space so very very lucky. We get to wander the trails near our house and run around next to the cows.
How are you feeling? Some hours are good, some hours I want to scream and run away.
How has your work been affected? Within hours my travel blogging work stopped and my other work (essential services) job took over. I've not had the time to really grieve the blogging job and it took me a while to shift into a new frame of thinking about it. It will come back but slightly differently.
What are some of the additional challenges you’re facing at work due to COVID-19? Working through the challenges of people who aren't safe in their bubbles, who don't want to be there or who have no time out space to go to now. Also supporting clients who we usually can be face to face with and now can't and have to do it over the phone/online. Making sure people know they can still access support even during this time. Also meeting (so many meetings) with government departments on Zoom to discuss changes in policy and procedure. Exhausting but exciting.
What are you grateful for? Having a safe warm house where I feel supported and loved.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Having a whole day to myself. Not having to answer "Mum, can I have xyz" all day. Sitting in a cafe and ordering a long black. Alone.
What’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Juggling two adults who are still working, a toddler and an emotionally mental full on job.
How are you sleeping? Actually pretty well!
What’s something fun you’ve done in the past week? We created a big fort in the front room while my toddler was asleep and then she woke up to it. Her face!
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? My mother-in-law's soy chicken! I didn't fuck it up!!
What are you listening to currently? The voices of mamas in my new podcast! Mamas, Lockdown and Me is recording stories of mamas during this time and how they’re coping!
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: Unorthodox on Netflix! Four episodes and binged them in a single evening.
Taylor, 24
Christchurch
Registered Nurse
Bubble of six (dog included)
What are some of the additional challenges you’re facing at work due to COVID-19? Swabbing suspected COVID-19 patients on the frontline. Goodness nose how many nostrils I've swabbed!
How has your relationship with work changed as a result of COVID-19? I've always tried to make a conscious effort to separate my personal life from my professional one, but at the moment it's kind of unavoidable. It's as if the switch is never turning off. But, it's comforting to know that the feeling is temporary and so many around me share the same feelings.
Work aside, what’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? My 2020 goal was to live a less structured life and to try to go with the flow (whilst maintaining productivity). Ideally, this was going to be while travelling the world, but I'm kind of vibing this lock down and the 'go with the slow' life. I think I'm incidentally achieving my goal?
Is there anything you're finding particularly difficult or frustrating that you'd like to share? I'm sure I speak on behalf of many Kiwi health professionals when I express an endless amount of admiration for our colleagues working overseas, specifically those in the worst-hit areas. Healthcare is challenging at the best of times, let alone with a catastrophic pandemic. It's difficult to fathom how each individual must feel. To those working near and far: kia kaha whānau, arohanui.
What's something you're looking forward to? The sun is still rising, native birds are singing louder than ever, and in good time Aotearoa will be open for us locals to explore. I can't wait to get back out into the fresh air with my friends. Fingers crossed for an abundance of fresh lines this ski season.
“I’ve always tried to make a conscious effort to separate my personal life from my professional one, but at the moment it’s kind of unavoidable.”
Anonymous, 22
Auckland
International Flight Attendant
How are you feeling? To be completely honest, I'm feeling a little deflated at the moment, though trying to remain positive. My job can be lonely enough as it is, however the changes during this time have made it even more so, especially since I only moved to Auckland in November so most of my friends and family live in other parts of the country.
What are some of the additional challenges you’re facing at work due to COVID-19? Well the lack of work is a big one! I'm used to doing two international flights a week compared to one every fortnight. It's also hard providing a service I wouldn't usually be proud of due to minimising contact with passengers, because for many flight attendants our biggest pride is how we care for people.
What's something you'd like everyone to know about your experience with COVID-19? I have had to do four weeks of self isolation due to my job. It's been very lonely, but I'm very lucky to have supportive friends and family who constantly check in with me. With the demand for travel and tourism depleting, I probably won't have a job after this. So once this is all over and people start travelling again, please give those flight attendants who remain a break. They only ask you to put your window shade up because they have to. Many of them will have had to say goodbye to people they've known for 30 years. Flight attending is so different to other careers and our work colleagues really do become our family.
What’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Well, I haven't had any physical human contact for about three weeks now. I have never been so excited to hug somebody before, my love language is physical touch, so you could imagine how this would affect me. Most people probably think I'm so lucky to be able to still travel at the moment. But, when we get to other countries, we basically have to stay by ourselves in our hotel rooms and the same when we get back.
What are you grateful for? I’m grateful that I still have an income, that I'm still able to do what I love for the time being. I'm grateful for supportive friends and family and although I'm out on the frontline, I'm still fit and healthy. Although I'm probably about to lose my job I'm grateful that I'm still young with few responsibilities and have many opportunities still ahead of me.
Would you like to share your COVID-19 story with us? Send us an email to hello@counterjournal.co.nz or message us on Instagram @counterjournal, we’d love to hear from you.