In light of the recent situation in terms of social distancing, confusion and thoughtfulness in this pandemic, I believe it is times like these that make it even more integral to understand and engage with the range of perspectives that are cross-generational, cultural, socioeconomic, geographical and beyond. To understand this pandemic on a different scale than that of a college student, I felt it would be advantageous and eye-opening to explore thoughts about this pandemic with someone experiencing it from a different generational perspective: my grandmother.
So, I decided to ask her a few questions on the topic of the pandemic and see how they compared to many of our college perspectives:
1. How would you say the pandemic has affected your life the most?
Grandmother’s Answer: On the small scale: Because of the Shelter in Place dictum imposed in response to the Covid-19 virus, my 84 year-old husband and I are especially missing the family gatherings and friendly visits with our children and grandchildren. We miss attending weekly Mass at church, shopping for groceries at the local supermarket, going to the movies at the theater and dining out occasionally- the little things so taken for granted until the virus isolated us at home.
On the larger scale: It has restricted my personal freedom of choice to move about within society at will, a self-imposed imprisonment of sorts dictated by the life-threatening effect and rapid spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.
My Answer: This pandemic has been one of the biggest shifts in my life thus far. As it keeps me constricted within the walls of my house- aside from the walks and drives I take throughout the day- there seems to be a lot of time to not only ponder what I miss, but also what I am grateful for. What I miss most, as I am sure every college student would concur, is college life as a whole. I am beyond lucky to attend a university that I am absolutely in love with. From my classes, to the campus, to the sporting events to the sporadic and lively events on campus – I miss it all. Online lectures over Zoom could never compare to my walks to Powell, lectures in Haines or hangouts on Janss steps. Really, I just miss college as whole. It is also incredibly hard not to be able to spend every day with my friends; I miss all of them terribly :( But Facetime and Zoom parties will have to do for now! Although, this situation does allow me to reflect on how lucky I am to be where I am in life. I am grateful to have the education I have and to have had so, so many great experiences within my journey at 20 years old.
2. Did you ever think a pandemic, such as this, would occur?
Grandmother’s Answer: No. Sporadic epidemics, yes. But never a pandemic again of such a global magnitude, and so lethal and aggressive at that.
My Answer: To be honest, it feels somewhat like a dream or a story from a sci-fi novel. It feels like something closer to that realm, more so, than something I would have ever imagined happening in our world today. However, I do believe everything happens for a reason, and there is a lot of good in humanity that can come out of all of this chaos in the world.
3. What, in your life, has been similar to this experience?
Grandmother’s Answer: Nothing directly, but I do recall my father speaking of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic when he was a medic on a ward at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Chicago. He said he would leave the ward at the end of his shift only to return the next morning to find that half the patients had died overnight and their beds had already been filled by newly-infected patients. I remember asking him what he did to survive that time in his life. He said there was nothing else to do but carry on, and as the Doctor in charge of the ward instructed, use an alcohol mouth rinse from time to time and to continue to chew tobacco- if that was already a habit.
My Answer: I really do not have anything that comes close to this in my life. However, there is certainly a first time for everything I suppose, and in the end, events like these are created to make people stronger and more appreciative as human beings.
4. How have you seen this pandemic change our world? Have you seen any specific change in friends, family, loved ones, the news, or in overall human sentiment?
Grandmother’s Answer: I have seen friends, family, loved ones and news sources (for the most part) come together as a collective force facing a common and extremely formidable foe. It seems as though we are beginning not only to recognize but to actually understand and feel our human commonality and intrinsic, global interdependency as a species.
My Answer: I would definitely agree with my Grandmother; people of all ages, races and backgrounds coming together as one human people throughout this time has truly been inspiring. People do have an option during times like these: either to come together as a human collective and appreciate the positives we have been given, or focus on the negatives and push everyone away. But personally, shows like Some Good News (SGN) on Youtube have been a great way to keep spirits high and be grateful for all the good that there is in the world.
5. What do you hope people will learn/gain from this pandemic?
Grandmother’s Answer: I hope we will better understand that we are one people, that we do not stand alone, nor fall alone, that we met the challenge of the global 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic together, that we are not evolved but are evolving, and most importantly, how fragile and interdependent we are at all levels.
My Answer: Exactly what was said above :) I think that people will have more appreciation for each other, and for humanity as a whole. Hopefully, people will understand our interconnectedness on a larger level, and take the time to be the good in their homes, friend groups, workplaces and greater society.