At this special point in time, all of a sudden, what was unimaginable has become mundane, and what was ordinary is now extraordinary. We are stumbling through this unusual time. People from all over the world remain just as different a month ago as they are today, but somehow, we now share one more universal truth that brings us a little closer together. We could compose a list of things we were going to do but can no longer do because of COVID-19. Add to that list ordinary things we did every day, sparing it no more than half a millisecond of thought, and can no longer do now. And perhaps, that list would be very very long, and to say that reading such a list would be a little depressing would be a huge understatement.
But another list has also been compiling itself in secret while we worried and feared and dreaded the previous one. Perhaps nowhere near the same length, but a list of funny and cool and wholesome things, all of which I would have never dreamed of a month ago, continues to grow after school closures in Calgary. So, here’s some #bitsofhope I came across during these past two weeks:
1. “MY COWORKER…”
My teacher, yes, the math one, started a thread called “Working from Home” to brighten the day a little. (With permission from the authors), here’s the thread:
Now that you are “working from home,” share what your parents/siblings/pets are doing to make your school day more entertaining or complicated, but use the word “coworker” to describe the interaction. For example: “My coworker spent the morning yelling out the window and is now taking a nap on the table.”
2. “SPOTIFY MOCKED ME:/”
With schools cancelling, my math teacher used Virtual Classroom to hold a video conference for her lesson. Our teacher was busy sorting out the tech, so she asked everyone to share how their days have been to fill the silence. Then, we got the following conversation. A student, let’s call her Sally, began typing in the chat:
Sally: My day has been sad.
Teacher: Why?
Sally: Spotify mocked me :/
Teacher: How did it mock you?
Sally: The playlists it offered me were “work from home,” “cottage life,” and “gaming electronic.”
3. MINECRAFT
My friend played six hours of Minecraft.
She’s in full IB.
She was really happy after playing Minecraft.
Like, really happy.
4. “WANNA WATCH OPERA WITH ME?”
As I refreshed my Instagram page for the 47th time that hour, a call came in. My friend called and asked if I wanted to watch an opera together. Apparently The Metropolitan Opera canceled the remainder of its season, and is instead streaming its performances for free. Being bored out of my mind, and thinking that this is was perfect chance to check something off my bucket list, I searched for the opera on stream that day: Bizet’s Carmen.
On the count of three. One, two, three.
While on FaceTime, we pressed “play” at the same time, and began watching.
We screamed and laughed and freaked out and pointed out cute guys. All the usual stuff, as if we were squished onto a couch together, watching a movie together.
A few unusual things though.
I knew people sang in operas. But I thought it was a supplementary thing where most of the lines were delivered through normal speech. Like Disney. Nope. They sing every single word. My ears were ringing after that performance.
The play was introduced in English. So… I assumed… It would be in English. The orchestra began playing, people began singing… that was most definitely not English. So I thought perhaps once they start talking (which was another problematic assumption,) it would be in English. They never started talking. Nor, did they ever switch to English. I searched up the play later and realized it’s a French play. Should have done my research.
My friend watched the entire opera standing, because her mom was worried about her spine, since she had been sitting and doing nothing all day.
Side note – to all the IB English students out there, this is a great time for picking up some of the texts you have always wanted but never got the time to read or watch. However, just know that you will never be able to go through one without vigorously analyzing the author’s choices and trying to interpret every literary or camera technique.
Even though I barely caught every third word and understood half of them, the acting was so touching, the singing so beautiful, and the story so interesting that the experience was amazing nonetheless.
If you would like to take up the challenge, click here to check the Met’s streaming calendar and find out more.
5. “CAN I GO TO THE WASHROOM?”
Back to that online video lesson we had in math. A student, let’s call him Bob, used the “raise hand” function in Virtual Classroom. The teacher, of course, paused her lesson.
“Yes, Bob?”
Bob unmutes his mic. “I had a question.”
“Yes?”
“Can I go to the washroom?”
“No, Bob. I’m going to tell you ‘you can’t’ even though you can and I wouldn’t even know.”
6. WASHING MACHINE SELFIE
If you are really, really bored. Like, bored out of your mind, bored. Try taking a washing machine selfie. No, don’t go into the washing machine, put your phone in the washing machine. And then, take the selfie as usual. I feel the need to specify that the machine should be off. Welp, we are all going a little crazy these days.
Who knew the inside of a washing machine could be so sciency.
7. “OH MY GOD YOU MADE YOUR BED!”
The morning after finding out school was cancelled. I couldn’t help but feeling a little free. I woke up at seven, as per usual, but there was no train to catch. So, using the extra time that appeared out of nowhere, I made my bed. My mom noticed later and announced it to the entire house in shock and surprise. My dad, upon hearing the news, expressed his sincere wish that it would snow right now so he could make me shovel the snow as well.
8. FACETIME
I started a collection of screenshots by taking one every time I FaceTimed someone. I am at 37 as of today and we are 11 days into school closures.
9. PHOTO ROULETTE
Photo Roulette, available on Apple and Android devices, is an app where you compete with your friends to guess whose photo is shown. Players pick 64 photos from their camera rolls and the app randomly draws one at a time. All players try to guess whose photo it is and points are awarded based on speed. I played with friends I knew quite well already, but we still got loads of surprises through our camera rolls and guesses regarding who we are and how we perceive each other.
10. IB EXAMS ARE CANCELED
Diploma exams are also canceled, but that’s pretty old news by this point. AP exams are still on, but they will be online instead. (Sorry AP kids, but best of luck!)
11. MAFIA
Get the app Werewolf Voice, also available on Apple and Android devices, to play Werewolf (it’s like mafia, but better) with your friends! Have fun screaming into your phone and accusing your friends of being werewolves.
12. WHEN YOU ARE REALLY BORED…
Last but not least, here’s a clip of what somebody is doing in quarantine. Watch the whole video here.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
