What kind of things are keeping you occupied right now?
Thankfully - Everything I love to do is from home. Simple things like waking up in the morning
and having the time to make my coffee, reading, sitting in the sun, watching movies. I’ve been filling
in the time with things I genuinely love to do.
Do you find you can do those things more now, because the lockdown doesn’t allow you to work?
Yes! I have so much time. I do enjoy my job, I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t
But this break is not something I have experienced since before university.
"I've have been working constantly and I came to the realisation a long time ago that I’m going to work hard for the rest of my life. This lockdown was a shock to that expectation. I never thought I’d be given a pause like this."
Even though you wouldn’t be allowed to see them -Does being abroad and in a different country from family and loved ones affect you in any way?
I have been far away from my family for a long time. I saw them before the lockdown and I know I will see them again soon.
I decided a while back that I don’t want to waste my time feeling homesick because its such a privilege to be able to pursue my dreams. To be living in the city i’m in.
The toughest thing for me is being away from my fiancee. We’ve been in a long distance relationship and he’s in the States right now.
It really hit me hard when they closed America’s borders.
"I don’t have the consolation of when and if and how i will see him."
I feel like this time, this pause that I’ll never have again. It could have also been spent with him and in the back of my mind that hurts.
What are the ways the Covid-19 crisis has affected you two differently living under different countries, governments and regulations?
In America each state has their own precautions He can still ride his bike, skateboard, but he has to wear a mask to the supermarket.
I personally don’t feel so restricted here. I have a communal garden, I go out once a day to exercise. I live in a rural area of London so I don’t think I feel the restrictions as much as people in other parts of the city may.
"But one very big difference is the governments differing approaches to the forced unemployment. "
I’m in the Uk and the government has furloughed 80% of everyone’s income. My employer doesn’t pay anything - The government covers it all.
On the other hand my fiancee has lost his job completely. Rather than keeping employees, everyone has been let go. He has to go to regular meetings for employment.
"There is a lot of fine print in order to get any help. He hasn’t worked for five weeks and has not received any compensation."
Whats been your least favourite things about the lockdown.
I cant travel, I had bought flights, was so excited to be near my fiancee,
You plan and wait for months. We only really see each other a few times a year. If there’s an issue or a really important discussion. We do try to aim to really tackle and get in depth when we see each other next.
"We are used to having a relationship through facetime, it’s hard. It makes those trips to see each other worth more than anything."
At the same time there is freedom in that same aspect of not being in control. It limits my options - I cant go and I have to stay. I can be really sad and upset about it
and neglect this time I have been given to work on myself, recover, recharge, do the things I love.
"There is freedom in the fact i cant do anything. I can stay home, thats what i can do."
Have there been any ways you found yourself being creative unlike before?
Totally, i have uncharacteristically started an instagram account about my books.
"I write these little book reviews. I put a bit of myself in it you know"
I really enjoy that. I love when I get a comment from another person who also love books and reading. It’s a little community - we give each other recommendations
and have meaningful discussions.
"Its an escape from my little room I sit in all day."
I get to travel back in time or too different countries.
I never had the time to read as much as I’ve wanted to. Now I’m getting book deliveries more often than i should be.
Follow Natalie's Instagram here for book reviews and personalised book recommendations
https://www.instagram.com/nats.books/