Ainhoa, 15 years old, Mieres (Spain). I Wonder #66: Self-interviews Under Lockdown
Ellen Duthie
“We go around thinking everything is going to be okay, that our lives will turn out good, that nothing special will happen but we don’t think about what the alternative is. We don’t think about what could happen if world war 3 starts, if someone very essential in our live dies, .... if a new disease kills a lot of humans and makes us stay at home for months. Maybe something little may cause the biggest twist in your life, we can’t know what will happen, so don’t take anything for granted. Life isn’t insured. ”
Ainhoa is 15 years old and lives in Mieres, Spain, where she also goes to school. In this Self-interview under lockdown she wonders and ponders about a range of issues, from the way the adults in her life are coping, what helps her cope, what she’d do if she had to do this for a whole year and what lessons we might learn from this.
I WONDER. SELF-INTERVIEW UNDER LOCKDOWN
Who are you locked down with ?
I live with my mother, my sister, my nephew, my cat and my dog.
How are the adults in your life coping with the situation?
I guess they are doing fine but my mother is worried about what will happen and how will this whole situation will affect the world. I can understand her.
Do you know anyone who has died from complications related to coronavirus?
Well, my father’s aunt and cousin died but they were not old or sick. The thing is they lived in Peru, which is a country that has bad public health so people keep dying in Peru from simple stuff like a wound. I didn’t know them but it’s sad in general that people suffer and die from this disease.
Do you think it is important to stay at home?
OF COURSE!!! In fact... I think we should be more time under quarantine. I think the government made a bad decision letting people go out now because some humans are … let’s say … less brilliant and they don’t respect the rules like staying 2m away from each other. There will be a regrowth of the disease and it’ll be worse, only because some people can’t keep their butts at home... and besides that, quarantine was really good for the environment and animals.
What don’t you like about lockdown ?
I never liked to go outside very often but there is a huge difference between going out a few times a week and not going out at all. I think I miss school a little bit and school also helped me be more organized. I also don’t like being here with my sister, because we fight a lot... don’t get me wrong, I love her and we have fun together, but we are very different and that leads to fights sometimes.
Can you imagine living like this for a whole year?
If I had to I would try to make the best out of the situation but it’d be very difficult. I guess I would try to find new hobbies or focus on something specifically. I couldn’t be one year doing nothing at all.
What would you ask a psychologist?
Psychology is something I really find very interesting and I really care about. I would ask how can the lockdown affect someone who already had mental health issues.
What’s it like to have school at home ?
I actually feel more pressure. I am new in this school and now I have to learn everything that I didn’t have at home and sometimes it is too stressful. I would much rather go to school at 5 am then having school at home.
What is a weekday under lockdown like?
I usually wake up, go for a short walk with my dog ( of course wearing a mask ) then when I come back I do homework, after that I eat something and then I complete the homework I couldn’t finish or I watch videos/series/movies or I draw something or I listen to music.... Afterwards I have to go for another walk with my dog and then I take a shower and go to bed.
What helps you cope with the situation? Do you have any suggestions for people who are not coping so well?
Music... Music is everything people need. I personally LOVE old music. From the 40s to the early 2000s. I could listen to music the whole day. I also play electric guitar and I really love it. If you are a person that doesn't like to listen to music ( … how is that possible ???) then I think the best thing to do is try new things out. It may be a sport, a talent, a skill … whatever, now we can do everything we wanted to try and never did or get better at something.
What kind of lesson might we learn from this situation?
We go around thinking everything is going to be okay, that our lives will turn out good, that nothing special will happen but we don’t think about what the alternative is. We don’t think about what could happen if world war 3 starts, if someone very essential in our live dies, .... if a new disease kills a lot of humans and makes us stay at home for months. Maybe something little may cause the biggest twist in your life, we can’t know what will happen, so don’t take anything for granted. Life isn’t insured.
I Wonder, Self-interviews Under Lockdown is a project by Wonder Ponder inviting 5 to 18 year olds to ask questions and think about the coronavirus crisis and its consequences through self-interviews in audio, written or ilustrated format.
If you want to send a self-interview for us to include it in the project, please read this entry and follow these instructions.
We look forward to hearing from you!
You can see/read/listen to other self-interviews here.