BLOG: Staying prepared for the worst

EDITORS NOTE: 5/2/20 – Post has been updated to include a reflection blog by the author.

April 6, 2020

When I first heard about the coronavirus getting serious, I was in Arizona with my family. We went to the store to get essentials like food and cleaning supplies, just in case things got worse.

The toilet paper, soap and wipes were cleared out. The store was busy with a  mix of regular customers doing their weekly shopping and others who were getting “just in case” items. My mom, sister and I left Arizona on March 16 to drive back to Houston while my dad stayed in Arizona and prepped for the online classes he teaches. 

I first saw the University of Houston post about COVID-19 on Facebook, and I wondered what would happen to the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). I feel like it would make sense that the UH System puts out one message instead of having students worry about their own campus because UH posted and the other schools were silent for a while.

I am conflicted with the decision of online classes because I understand it is better for the UHCL community, but I do not like taking online classes. I am thankful that teachers have changed their syllabi to accommodate the workload and new style of learning. For some of my classes, I think I will be okay with online learning, but for other classes I feel like I need the face-to-face instruction to help understand the content. 

Ways I am going to be productive during this time include setting up a clean workspace at my dining room table. I have my computer, writing instruments and notes nearby. I also go through my pre-coronavirus school routine by getting dressed, eating breakfast, etc.

Then, I sit at my computer and look at the tasks due for that day. I start working for a couple of hours, take a break, work some more, eat lunch, go back to work, watch TV and then go to bed. This routine has semi-worked so far because I am writing this blog post as a homework assignment, but I get distracted easily and I really just want to watch TV.

As for future plans, my sister, my mom and I are going back to Arizona to be with family, just in case things go from bad to worse. It depends on the school, class workload and what the county and state are doing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

School wise, I think I will be fine, but for the summer I need to find an internship. I don’t know how the coronavirus will affect businesses hiring interns. 

This is a weird time because it feels like time itself is going by slow, but also at the same time where did the month of March go? 

I think this is a good time for everyone to slow down and appreciate everything we have. It sucks that people are losing jobs (me included). The UHCL bookstore closed so I got laid off. I am thankful for the grocery workers and all essential workers for providing the things we need. I am thankful for the nurses, doctors and medical staff for diligently working to save and protect as many people as possible from COVID-19. 

On the bright side, there is a lot of time spent indoors which gives people the opportunity to do their hobbies and explore new passions. I have been able to cook more meals instead of eating a sandwich or salad every day. I hope that everyone is staying vigilant with washing hands and staying at home unless they need to go out. Be careful and stay safe.

May 2, 2020

Taking online classes for spring 2020 has gone pretty well for me. I was lucky that I did not have to attend regular classes on Zoom, only for my TA job. 

My teachers accommodated the new circumstance by changing the timeline of assignments and workload. 

My routine has been pretty much the same since the beginning of quarantine – wake up, check Blackboard, check for emails, eat breakfast, get dressed, work on assignments, watch TV, sleep. This has pretty much been my routine day after day while under stay at home orders.

I made a calendar for my classes, which has helped me block out time to work on assignments. This calendar makes me stay on task, organized and focused.

During the past few weeks, my concerns regarding the university have been answered. One concern was summer classes, as I wanted to know if they would be held fully online or not. UHCL announced that all summer classes were in fact online for summer classes.

Another concern was finding an internship for the summer. The good news is I was able to find one! Also, I was also able to sign up and get into my summer classes, so I can graduate this summer!

Having the interim satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading policy option has also been a reassurance from UHCL. Hopefully, I do well in my classes that I will not need to use this option.

Aside from schoolwork to keep busy, in my spare time I have taken up tasks such as baking and cooking. Things I like to bake include lemon bread, lemon-pistachio bread, and German chocolate cupcakes. I also recreated the saucy chicken puttanesca recipe from Bon Appétit and cooked chicken lo mein. 

Additionally, decluttering my clothes and possessions has kept me active and helped me to only keep things I really like and wear. To relax, I have watched a lot of YouTube videos which include documentaries and free movies.

Overall, I think I have done well this semester considering the circumstances. My perception of time has gone off the rails. It seems like time is going by so fast, but on the other hand, it feels slow. 

It seems like often I’m saying, “That happened last week?!” This time in my life is a small road bump but will be remembered greatly for the impact it has caused in society and the world.