What's It Like? Part II
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.
For part two we spoke with people around the country working in a range of fields, gaining insight into how lockdown life has affected their work and community. As we head into our (hopefully) final week of Level 4 in Aotearoa many of us have learned to adapt to the restrictions and protocols in place which help keep us all safe.
Zoe, 25
Usually Auckland, Gisborne for lockdown
Marketing and PR
Bubble of three (myself, boyfriend and my sister)
What’s it like where you are? I’d best describe my surroundings as cosy, light and quiet. I’m so lucky.
How are you feeling? Strangely positive. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s the best way to get through times like this.
How has your work been affected? The brands we manage are fashion and beauty. We are all trying to hustle for our clients as we know how rough the virus has been on their “non-essential” business. We also work closely with the media, so it’s been heartbreaking to see the trouble that many legacy publications have been facing.
What are you grateful for? My family, friends and workmates. Lockdown has brought with it a sense of community and highlighted the importance of reaching out to the ones you love. For me, lockdown has instigated some of the most special (albeit virtual) conversations. I am also so grateful for our friends on the front line and NZ’s beautiful produce.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: I can’t wait for Level 4 to be over so that I can visit my mum!
Work aside, what’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Without anywhere to go on the weekends, there is so much more time to just be and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It's certainly a change from usual life in the city.
What is something fun you’ve done in the past week? I haven’t sewed or made a pattern since high school and I finally got back into it over Easter weekend which was super fulfilling.
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? @alexskitchenstory gyros are a lockdown must!
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: Shout out to Murray Bevan, India Leishman and the Fashion In Focus podcast. The series launched a week or so ago and it’s full of inspiration.
Siobhan, 27
Brooklyn, Wellington
Executive Assistant
Bubble of five (including the dog of course!)
What’s it like where you are? Comfortable. We’re in a warm, safe house and there has been some lovely weather!
How are you feeling? Mostly content, a little ants-in-the-pantsy.
How has your work been affected? I work in a government agency, the majority of staff are working from home. I find the biggest challenge that comes with WFH is the technical woes. Outlook not working, difficulty connecting to the network and trying to help those members of staff who aren’t so tech savvy.
What are you grateful for? I’m grateful that I have a secure job, a roof over my head, food in my belly and people who love me.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Going to Prefab on a Saturday, maybe a cheeky burger on a Friday night.
Work aside, what’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Feeling hungry all the time. Boredom hunger is no joke.
How are you sleeping? Well, but the dreams be crazy! I’ve always had intense dreams but lately they’ve been overly wacky.
“I’ve always had intense dreams but lately they’ve been overly wacky.”
Anonymous, 25
Queenstown
Human Resources Manager
Bubble of three
What’s it like where you are? Such a strong sense of community—I love it.
How are you feeling? Strangely I'm just fine! I think it's because I was already such a homebody. Work wise it’s a rollercoaster of emotions!
How has your work been affected? I am thankful my job is relatively safe but my work has been impacted hugely. Needless to say that Queenstown without tourism does not equal profitable business. My current challenge is figuring out how many team members we will need when Queenstown opens back up to tourists and who we need to make redundant to get to that number. You feel like you are playing god with people's lives, it’s truly awful. It weighs pretty heavily on me at times—hence the rollercoaster of emotions.
What are you grateful for? My team! Despite the uncertainty, I have a brilliant team and they bring me so much joy and are so thankful for everything we are doing. I'm also very grateful that I can walk out my door and be surrounded by the beauty of Queenstown and the positive impact this has on my mental health.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Eating so much sushi!
How are you sleeping? Some days I'm straight out to it and others are incredibly restless.
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? Homemade pies! Chicken Thai green curry pies to be exact.
What are you listening to currently? Fine Line by Harry Styles.
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: Two books I loved and could not put down! I managed to read both within a week. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary and Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow.
Janette, 61
Tahunanui, Nelson
Bubble of one + Inca (dog) and Bead (cat)
What’s it like where you are? So much quieter, I didn’t realise how much noise pollution there is until suddenly it was gone.
How are you feeling? I feel fine although I am immunocompromised so I’m aware I have to be vigilant.
What are you grateful for? To be living in a country which took this pandemic seriously early on. I’m also grateful that my lovely daughter has banned me from supermarket shopping so does it for me and drops it off. I’m grateful to have a dog that needs walking and grateful for my beautifully pink Allbirds to walk in.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Being able to swim in the ocean again—it’s great for building up your immune system.
How are you coping with isolation? Although it gets a bit lonely at times, I’m aware of how fortunate I am to have books, internet, Netflix, yoga online, plenty of things to do around the house/garden and the creativity to paint and write.
What’s the biggest change to your daily life right now? Not being able to do group yoga and swimming, and more importantly, not being able to have leisurely chats with friends and family.
How are you sleeping? I’ve found sleeping difficult as it’s so quiet without as much air and road traffic.
Something positive from the past week? The best thing that’s happened is the arrival of my first great-niece Isla born on Good Friday.
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? I baked a great feijoa, pear and blueberry crumble—the flavours were phenomenal!
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: One of the best books I’ve read recently is Swell: A Waterbiography by Jenny Landreth. Amazingly, 100 years ago wahine weren’t allowed to swim. And for fiction The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood. Beautiful and beautifully readable.
“I’m grateful to have a dog that needs walking and grateful for my beautifully pink Allbirds to walk in.”
Lucy, 22
Blenheim
Co-founder & Director of Shit You Should Care About
Bubble of four (plus two cats, Tinkerbelle and Enzo)
How are you feeling? Thank you so much for asking. I feel like this is an important question right now because so many people are feeling shit. And fair enough. I’m doing okay though. My family and friends are safe, so that’s all I can really ask for.
How has your work been affected? We are bloody busy! Everyone is wanting reliable news at the moment—and uplifting stuff. So Shit You Should Care About has become what we feel is a pretty essential service. People are really struggling with their mental health, so we are also really trying to use our platforms to help anyone who’s having a shit time.
Tell us something you’re looking forward to: Recording our next episode of The Shit Show! Podcasting has become a really nice way to pass the time and hobbies are so important right now, so learning how to host and produce has been both fun and stressful. It’s always been my dream to have a podcast so the lockdown has at least been useful for something.
What’s the best thing you’ve cooked or eaten in the past week? My little brother Ben is a fucking amazing baker. He recently acquired a deep fryer and his fried chicken is amazing. He also just made bagels from scratch (which is actually quite a process).
Share a recent book, podcast or movie you loved: I know this isn’t even what you asked for, but the TV series Shrill and Little Fires Everywhere. Also the book Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. AND THE FILM SPOTLIGHT. Ugh. There’s a lot of great content out there.
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.