We stay at home! Some thoughts on self-quarantine

Self-isolation, home quarantine, closed universities, cinemas, theatres, clubs, bars, empty streets and vehicles, rush at the supermarkets, deaths, increasing number of infected people. Some of the many things (also) Hungarians have to face during these days, and the end is not even close yet. 

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Since March 12, every Hungarian student spends their time at home. That day the government announced that all the higher educational institutions remain closed until the end of the coronavirus pandemic. From March 16 and March 20, an early, forwarded spring break was announced to give enough time to universities to completely reschedule the semester and to develop the necessary online, distance learning methods. 

Luckily, due to the developed information technology, the Corvinus University of Budapest, where I am doing my masters, sent us every important detail about distance learning. Day by day, many e-mails, Facebook and Instagram posts appeared on our screens, giving us the information we need. The best feeling is that even from miles away, we are taken care of. 

Distance learning started today (March 23), and we attended the first classes. We are incredibly lucky to have our teachers through a computer’s screen. Everyone is online answering our questions, providing assignments and documents we have to upload, giving us energy and enthusiasm to keep going. The platform we will mostly use is Microsoft Teams which is unfamiliar for many of us but still a useful and straightforward program. Learning how to use is not that difficult as many of us thought in the beginning. 

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On the other hand, some students reported problems with the system like its poor connection, microphone and sound quality. Many of them feel uncomfortable sitting in front of a computer as they do not feel the immediate feedback and the presence of the teacher. It is something we have to get used to until the end of the semester. Also, it is tiring and harmful for the eyes to watch a screen for hours, some said. 

Self-isolation is also a hard and challenging task for everyone. We cannot see our friends and loved ones but only keep in touch with them on social media platforms. Some of us have been at home for fifteen days and do not move out of the house, which is the best thing we can do now to slow down the spreading of this coronavirus. On the other hand, seeing the pictures and videos of the empty streets of Budapest is depressing and unbelievable. 

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Luckily, our family members, movies, series, games and social media platforms keep us entertained. 

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Many of us share videos about working out at home, baking with their mother or playing card games with their father or siblings. Taking pets out for a walk has become the primary way to get some fresh air, but all of us pay attention to keep the distance if we meet other people on the streets. Social media challenges are also prevalent these days to keep us entertained and to make us laugh together. 

Despite having many things to do at home, our minds hardly stop while unsuccessfully trying to deal with the current situation; we just keep on thinking and thinking about what is happening exactly and asking: will it ever come to an end? Not going anywhere and never leaving the house is something our generation never experienced before. 

We strongly believe that by staying home, we can stop the virus together and bring about the end of these hard days. It is only the beginning, and it gets more complicated day by day, but it is good to know that we are not alone in this situation. Although only text messages and cameras will connect us in the following months, today it means everything. 

Photo: www.facebook.com/rizsavitamas

Source: Daily News Hungary