Answers to questionnaire submitted anonymously May 7, 2020

Item

Title: Answers to questionnaire submitted anonymously May 7, 2020
When and how did you become aware of the pandemic? What were your initial thoughts? Did your response change over time?: Early March, 2020, an online map showed the spread of the virus in China. The rest of the world seemed unaffected and I’d hoped it was a small and passing phase.
What is daily life like for you? In what ways has it changed?: I’ve dedicated my time and focus to my at-risk elders. I’ve covered grocery and necessities shopping, preparing meals and housekeeping.
It has been an anxious time for everyone. What has inspired you or given you hope during this period? What are you most worried about or what have been your biggest stressors? What has been the most difficult thing for you personally about the crisis?: Anxiety weighs heavily on me. Limiting myself to only essential outings is restricting. I miss my freedom, and have sought solace in crafting and most recently and importantly, gardening. It keeps my parents close by and gives them purpose. Eventually it will give them harvests for meals. I never would have started a garden otherwise. We dug up a patch, laid pavers and new soil. It’s something to look forward to as we focus on boosting our immune systems with vitamins and fruits in the meantime. While we feel we have much more time on our hands nowadays, none of us wish to spend that time hospitalized. It’s our greatest fear, so we immerse ourselves in hobbies and health, and we all pitch in for each other as best as we can.
What else would you like us to know?: I sometimes feel disconnected from my work-from-home tasks while I struggle to take care of family. This may cause some strain on office relationships when we return. I hope there are resources to help people with work relationships transitions back to the university.
Year in School: Graduate
Major: Art
Graduation Date: 08/2003
Date Created: May 7, 2020

Item sets: COVID Pandemic Questionnaire

This item was submitted on May 7, 2020 by [anonymous user] using the form “Questionnaire” on the site “Documenting the NIU Experience to the COVID-19 Pandemic”: https://digitalexhibits.lib.niu.edu/s/covid-pandemic

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