Category Archives: Awareness

Mar28

Teleworking week 2: view from home, part 2

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Oxana Gutu

I clearly distinguish now by voice the neighbours’ kids: baby, toddler 1, toddler 2, just kid, teenager 1, teenager 2.

My average weekly walking distance is a joke. I turned off the counting. Walking with the phone in the pocket does not help.

I am glad I can cook and bake. These skills are priceless. Thank you, grandmother. I know you are smiling with satisfaction now.

I am disappointed that there was no funny incident during my kid’s virtual classes this week. You know, like the ones facebook is flooded with. With the exception of a background noise of some plates reaching the floor and the teacher’s voice: “ Attention, la vaisselle!” I hope it was not too expensive.

I immersed myself in hand washing, stream-washing style. Excellent for shoulders. Some of my wash-by-hand cloths are having a pool party. At least someone does.

And, my succulent is a text book example of resilience: and it shall bloom no matter what.

Mar28

Teleworking week 2: view from home, part 1

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Oxana Gutu

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The closest pharmacy to my place is on the ground floor of my apartments bloc. The other day, as I was waiting outside for my turn to enter, a seniour citizen in his late 70s “approached” me:

– You are not wearing a mask…. Why?

– I do not need to. It serves those who are sneezing, coughing…, I answered summoning all my empathy.

– You know, he replied, I am terrified. I watch the TV and see all that….

– I have no TV for ten years now.

– You may be right, he said,…about the TV.

– Would you like to go inside the pharmacy? I can wait, I offered.

He gladly took my offer. I could hear their conversation. The pharmacist assumed he had hearing problems so he was yelling his answers. The gentleman was clearly scared. He did not buy anything. He needed human interaction and hypeless communication.

There is no right or wrong way to react to all around in these new circumstances. It’s one thing to watch a SF movie and another to be here and now. This is one of the reasons I never liked SF movies and apocalyptic views.

Back to the story of this gentleman. He is one of the millions, indoors, with a TV only as a company, probably, his loneliness brought at another level… . Psychologists already noticed it. Too many bad news and little information on recovery is dangerous for the human psyche. Psychologists around the world keep encouraging to try to look for positives and share them when you talk to others. It is demonstrated by research that a stressed mind diminishes the immune response.

Some countries and regions have installed services for people to call and talk to someone. Some of us are doing it at personal level – through baskets of solidarity or food ordered and delivered to those who need it. I see it in my country, enabled by charities joining forces with the business, like Diaconia and Kaufland.

Again, on a personal level one can read a book by skype/phone or start a virtual book club. Or put together a list of online entertainment: free opera streaming, concerts, movies, virtual museums visits etc. Little gestures which bring a human voice and touch to a lonely human heart … .

I loved Daniel Kaufmann’s article of this week “Caremongering – random acts of kindness” https://www-brookings-edu.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2020/03/19/caremongering-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-random-acts-of-kindness-and-online-enrichment/amp/

Here is to caremongering – random acts of kindness today and everyday.

Mar21

teleworking week 1: view from home

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Oxana Gutu

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By the end of the week I recognise by voice the neighbors’ kids – a family of five. Thought about bribing them with an ipad each.

I had to put up with three different routines. There is no more mystery about what my household members do when I am at work.

I started getting emails from my kid’s teacher! I am beyond excited. It was a dream which came true after five years in France. All it took it was a pandemic. Maybe we can agree on a different milder trigger?! I also respond diligently to all his emails, to keep the good practice. Hope he did not mark as spam my email address. After all, he is a teacher and marking is what he does.

I saved on make up. My new bottle of perfume is still full. I also wonder if men keep their daily shaving routine while teleworking. I know who to ask.

The number of snaccidents was at great risk of increasing. My improvised office is less than 5 meters away from the kitchen. Thanks to Invisalign the risk was managed. This is not a publicity for Invisalign, I am simply grateful that it rescued me from some sorts of potential sports. And you have to carry a paper with you these days in France, even if you go to the park for jogging or admiring birds, whatever your favourite sport is these days.

I am finally “revenged”. LVMH, the perfumes giant, started producing hand sanitizers. Ha! To all those who condemned me with their “can-you-believe-her” stare when I cleaned my kid’s hands at the playground before she had her snack five years ago. Merci, LVMH!