NORTH AMERICA

Ellia Stein - June 1, 2020

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     "My name is Ellia Stein. I am 14 years old and my family and I are doing good!

the biggest conflict I've faced so far is my school getting canceled. I am quarantining at my house and I started my isolation on March 13th.

     I know some people who were infected but not very personally. A family friend’s parents both passed from the virus. when I look outside my window I see lots of people going on walks and biking. I also notice many people wearing masks. I  saw some people out with their family of friends, some not social distancing.

     I have been talking with my friends online and going on bike rides with them. I look forward to being able to hang out with my friends more and actually getting to be near them and go into other people's houses once all of this has passed. I miss hanging out with my friends and camp.

     I do not believe the government has done a good job handling this. Many people are obviously not taking this seriously. And many states are opening things up WAY too early, allowing the virus to spread.

     The first word that comes to mind when I hear someone say, "Coronavirus" is Quarantine."

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Sydney Baker - June 1, 2020

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     "My name is Sydney Baker. I am 13 years old and my family and I are doing pretty good, considering the circumstances. I haven’t faced that many major conflicts, but I don’t like that I can’t see my friends and go to school. I am in isolation but I go outside sometimes.

     Our lockdown started on March 13th. I know that my friend's siblings and parents had Coronavirus. When I look outside my window I see A lot of people are out, going for a walk or riding bikes. I go out to get food and I sometimes see my friends (6 feet apart and with masks). Whilst doing so I see that Most people wear masks and no one is touching each other.

     During my free time, I've been watching TV, reading, doing school work, and hanging out with my family. I look forward to seeing my friends and actually being able to be close to them once all of this is over.

     I Definitely miss going to school and not having to do school at home. I have no idea what is going on with the government because I don’t really follow any of that.

     The first word that comes to mind when I hear someone say, "Coronavirus" is Unsafe."

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Elson Bankoff - June 2, 2020

 

     "My name is Elson Bankoff and I am 15 years old. my family and I are doing well. we are fortunately in a comfortable situation where we can school and work at home. Thankfully, no one in my family is at very high risk.

     The biggest conflicts I've faced relate it keeping myself busy and motivated enough to be making as much as a difference as possible. I do most things with the intent of seeing change in the world in some shape or form, and it's easier to do that (protesting and starting projects) through contact with others. I've had to get creative in the ways I go about doing things and had to use a lot of energy to stay motivated and not fall into a slump

     yes, i have been on lockdown since March 13, with the only time I go out being bike rides downtown to film, but I still distance myself.

     March 13 was when school closed and I started spending my days at home

I do not know anyone personally, but my friend who is working within the project has a friend who recovered. We have a podcast called Distanced, where we interview people who are experiencing this time in a unique way. and I was fortunate enough to have a covid survivor as a guest. He was very insightful about his experience.

     when I look out my window I see trees. I live in a part of Washington DC where I can experience the stillness and peacefulness of nature. I am grateful for that. Through running this project, I have seen what so many peoples views are from out their window across the globe, it is interesting to compare.

I have left my house to bike, and I attended a Black Lives Matter protest where I tried to distance as best I could. Besides bike rides, runs, and walks I don't recal having left my house

     I noticed the ease at which I could bike on the streets. they were empty and hardly anyone was out. I biked and observed crowds of people not wearing masks and having fun together. this was painful to watch as people are going to such great lengths to social distance. At the protest, I noticed how respectful everyone was, wearing masks and aware of the circumstances.

     I have been running this large project with over a hundred youth participants from around the globe. we are expanding quickly and it inspires me every day. I have met so many amazing people through this and love working with them everyday. I also have started writing a book reflecting on the rights and wrongs of today's society. That's something I am looking forward to doing over this summer.

     I look forward to traveling and going places. Living in DC gives me the chance to go visit sites and museums at ease, I live taking the metro downtown and spending time observing the world around me. I have not been able to experience that in a long time. I also would love to meet all of these new friends I have acquired though doing the project, they live all around the world, so I hope I can travel to see them at some pointm

     The thing I miss most about pre-COVID life is seeing people who I don't normally communicate with, and having the ease to walk around my block without worrying out keeping a distance. I miss the small issues and inconveniences that I had to deal with on the daily, that didn't have the underlying and heavier truth of living through a pandemic to come above it.

     I do not think the government has done a good job at all. It's ambiguous times like these where leadership needs to be shown. We have not experienced that from our president, and the United States did not take action quick enough because the virus became political, and polarization managed to prevent policy as per usual in America.

     When someone says coronavirus I think of the Earth. I imagine myself as an astronaut in space, staring down at the billions of people all informed about the same thing. I have met so many people around the world through this project and I think of them as well. This is global and although we don't have the same experiences, it is something that is prominent in most of our lives, and in its own cruel way, that is powerful."

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