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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Today is Thursday, November 25, 2021. It is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. This picture is from a team-building scavenger hunt I did with my co-workers in August, 2021. We work in a combination Middle School & High School in Windsor, Connecticut. Our students come from 22 towns, mostly in Hartford County. Many of our students are from Hartford. Our school is a highly diverse group of people. This simple cardboard sign, cigarette butt and face mask remind me of the difficult times many people have experienced during this pandemic. There is also a small plant growing in the crack between the curb and the sidewalk, which reminds me of my favorite season, Spring, because many plants (and animals) begin to grow and the Earth seems to come alive after the dormancy of Winter. Being Thanksgiving, I am also reminded of the people, places and things in my life to be thankful for. I have much to be thankful for. I have my family, although we are smaller due to the pandemic, and we miss our loved ones dearly. This holiday season will be painful. I also have a work family, actually several work families from different chapters in my life. I have a church family, hobby families, volunteer families and sports teams families. My newest school family is extraordinary, and I am blessed to be a part of it.
November 26, 2021
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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Coronavirus has affected me in significant ways, like not taking in-person classes, not being able to see my elderly family members (being Hispanic, this means a lot,) having to become a teacher to my eleven years old son, etc. However, I think that the more bothersome ways are the little things that we have to do every day like, making sure to have a mask every time we go out, remembering not to touch anything that we don't have to touch, washing our hands all the time, etc. They are like little stones in your shoe, they might not be a big deal at the beginning, but now you have bruised feet and can't walk. The fact that my husband has to work every day and come home not knowing if he somehow got infected is distressing. Anyway, I feel I can't complain. Although my husband was out of work for two months and we are NOT receiving any government help due to our immigration status (it's complicated), we had enough savings to pay rent for those two months. The local food pantry (run by another person with a "complicated" immigration status also) helped us survive. So although I am very bitter towards the Trump administration and everything it did to dehumanize me and mine, I am very grateful to my community and neighbors that have been there for us. Now, this week has been a good one. I received a notification that my son's school might be returning to in-person classes. Also, spring is in the air. We have roses in our rosebush, and there has been intermittent rain which is great here in California. I feel hopeful of the future and can't wait to see my elderly aunt (I hope she never finds out I called her elderly.) She received the last dose of the vaccine two weeks ago, and this weekend is her birthday. I am so looking forward to seeing her!
March 11, 2021