H. Ernest Chen
Current city, state, country: San Francisco, CA
My profession: Teacher of High School Mathematics
This pandemic makes me feel like: What is strange for me is that I managed to sneak in under the wire and my elective back surgery was performed. So I'm healing from that and I've therefore conflated the pain of healing with this pandemic's lockdown. Right now I associate the pandemic with physical pain.
This pandemic makes me think: It makes me feel that BIOLOGY is clearly more advanced than anything we can create/invent.
This pandemic makes me hope/pray for: I hope that it gives us time to stop, reflect and take into account what we feel is important in life.
If I had Three Wishes: 1) I wish I were physically able to be more help to those around me. 2) I hope that we in the Bay Area and United States have taken this seriously enough, soon enough, to "flatten" the curve." 3) I wish that I could get back to physical and dietary routines.
What I think of the federal government’s response: Local government did what it could at the appropriate time. If the lockdown had come earlier, I was definitely one of those "AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM" believers that "no way this can happen here." But I saw the "adults" take things seriously, I bought in right away. I feel our national leaders were even behind me...which is not a good thing.
Before this pandemic, my plans for the next 6 months were: I had a school trip (chaperone opportunity) scheduled for three weeks in June to Senegal. My husband and I have a baby on the way and we were scheduled to go to Texas (where our surrogate is) to meet her and go to the 20 week sonogram. Those were two significant events. This summer will still be about planning for the arrival of “the kid”.
Predictions for when this will get better/end: July 2020. We will emerge in June and things will be up and running by mid-Summer.
What I have in my fridge/freezer and pantry: Too many carbs. Not enough fresh produce. But there is no “must have”.
Ways I’m coping: Staying connected with people, working on little things around the house. ”
General advice/thoughts/anxieties to share with others: Check in on folks, spread love, help when you can, and take this seriously it’s a big problem. Also don’t forget to think about how this harms the less fortunate and use any anger or emotions now to propel yourself to work to improve society down the line, we need it.