The cruise industry is a tight-knit group, where it seems like everyone knows everyone else. The Covid-19 pandemic blindsided the industry, which was unprepared for how quickly Covid-19 would spread across the globe and amongst ships. Covid-19 stressed all health and sanitation protocols the industry at large had in place. This lead to some dire circumstances and a humanitarian crisis with Covid-19 outbreaks aboard cruise ships adrift at sea where they were denied port entry in numerous countries around the world. The following article is an appeal for help written early on in the crisis by Suzanne Westover, wife of Holland America Line’s Staff Captain Craig Ravesloot. Herself a former crew member, Suzanne uses her platform to remind the world that the onboard crew was working round the clock to protect the health and wellbeing of passengers. Her friends and colleagues at sea needed help, the situation was dire, what would we do if in the same position?

This photo shows how we can still go out and do things during this pandemic. It shows that even though we have this worldwide epidemic, we can still enjoy ourselves while being safe. This is important to me because I think it is important to enjoy nature and the little things like this.

In this world there are many things we cannot predict. For instance, we could not predict the effect COVID-19 would have on us and our everyday lives. In this unfortunate situation it is important to understand perspective. If we were able to travel back in time and show someone a picture of a masked and fully sanitized person shopping, they would think you were crazy. Along those same lines, if you were to show someone the app TikTok six months ago they may not even know what it was or what you were talking about, and if they did, they surely weren’t using it every day. When I first downloaded the app TikTok back in February before COVID-19 hit, I didn’t realize how popular it would soon become. I was mildly curious and wanted to check it out for a few minutes. Soon after, I was hooked, and it became a more prominent source of entertainment for me and millions of other people. I recognize that TikTok also has many drawbacks, including misinformation, negative suggestions, security issues and more. But for this purpose, I am focusing on TikTok as entertainment in this pandemic crisis only. Today, TikTok is used by millions of people and is still growing. The very week my sister came home from college early because of COVID, we made a TikTok together about how our mom makes us take a walk around the block for fun---a sign of the times when literally all we could do was walk “around the block.” In a time of uncertainty, it felt good to do something lighthearted. I have noticed that there are many different takes on this app. People love it, and people hate it. I may have started out seeing TikTok as just another social media app, or even a waste of time, but due to the pandemic, I now see it in a new light. In some ways, it is a way for people to express their creativity, to try new things, and inspire others when personal interaction is limited. It is a reminder that you are not alone in this time of hurt and crisis—what better way to relax over the pandemic than making these fun videos and seeing so many other people doing the same. In addition, emotions are high during the pandemic as it sometimes seems it will never end, that everything is out of your control, and there is a lot of repetition. It almost seems like we are in the movie “Groundhog Day.” TikTok is the perfect way to funnel those emotions everyone has been feeling and at minimum provides a lighthearted break from the world. As I open the app, I am instantly engulfed in uplifting and positive videos, comedy videos that truly make me laugh, and a feeling of empathy towards others that reassures me that I am not the only one living through this event that is changing history. Furthermore, one of the most important parts of being socially distanced and quarantined is communication. It is easy to lose communication with friends and distant family members during a pandemic, yet one of the things TikTok offers about this pandemic is ironically connection, just not in person. This app provides a means of communication that no other app possesses and a sense of community, even if it is an odd one. This article and Tiktok itself are important to me because they show that TikTok and other social media platforms can truly bring people of all ages together in ways that surprised me. This includes not just young kids, but all generations of people as well as whole families. Social media has always been around and growing, and every generation has its phase, whether it’s MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or Tiktok. However, what truly makes this app important to me is its ability to show a lighthearted and fun side of a world facing not-so-lighthearted issues for all generations. I don’t know what will happen to it in the days or weeks ahead, but TikTok has definitely left its mark on society during this time.

This comic shows how much of an impact the coronavirus had on grocery stores and shoppers. It also shows how people could have overreacted to the fact that they can't find toilet paper or foods like spaghetti sauce. The main focus of this comic though is the doctor who is looking at the other row of shelves. The shelves are labeled, "face masks," "test kits," and "ventilators." This shows how not only food was a shortage, but also very important medical supplies that were needed to keep people alive. This is important to me because it shows the different struggles between everyday necessities, and what people need to stay alive.

This story was the first impact Covid-19 had on me back when the pandemic first began to spread in the U.S. The article explains the cancellation of March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament that millions of fans tune into every year, my family being one of them. This event brought the country together in a way, but was being canceled because of a global pandemic. This cancelation shocked the country and created a necessary shut down of all other sports. Sports create a sense of community in this country and around the world, but this virus took all of these exciting events away from the viewers, creating a gap in the lives of many around the world.

This meme is bringing light and making fun of the price inflation of relatively cheap common items. Once the pandemic officially made its way into America, there has been a shortage of items such as Hand Sanitizer, Masks, Toilet Paper, and other common essentials. This has led to the price inflation in these goods. At one point during the Pandemic, I found a pack of six Purell Hand Sanitizers going for more then 80 dollars.

The coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement are two of the most important things in the US right now. This photo represents both of those things and it's important to me because I'm a young black kid who wants to live safely in a community where I feel comfortable. I, just like many others, have learned a lot about the history of injustice in America towards black people.

Workers from the food bank of lower Fairfield County in Connecticut took this picture This is a photo that I found on CNN of one of the shelves in a food bank. The amount of people that are relying on food banks has drastically changed since the begging of the pandemic to now. From the pandemic, Feeding America predicts that an estimated 1 in every 6 Americans may face hunger due to the conditions. This photo made me think how fortunate my family and I are and how lucky we are that we don’t have to be concerned with where our next meal is coming from. I think that this Is an important photo because it shows how many people are in need of food and are unable to support themselves. since more people are out of jobs because of not being able to come in contact with other people has affected the income of many and the amount they can spend on food.

In late March in the height of quarantine my mom saw a breed of dog that she really liked, a mix of an English sheepdog and a poodle. So, 5 weeks later, we headed into the heart of Appalachia to retrieve our puppy, Annie. Now, while this is a generic story of a family getting a dog, the only reason we went ahead with this was because everyone in the family had significantly more free time on our hands, as a direct result of the pandemic. Her arrival caused a shift in everyones daily schedules, and shows an impact of the virus. This is important to me because it is my new dog.

2. This news article, although short and not very informative, is important to my experience with the coronavirus because it was when I had first learned that schools had started to close. My mother had sent it to me about when as the news had just come out. This was a big moment and a turning point for lots of people because although we had heard lots about the coronavirus and had seen the numbers and read the articles, this would be the first time it would affect us directly. The pandemic, at this time, had finally started to feel real and it had dawned upon me, and likely many others, that this would be something that would really impact me and my life, and it was no longer just something you heard or talked about. This, to me, shows how quickly the pandemic grew and took people by surprise. It also reminds me of times when people would claim that the coronavirus was being exaggerated by the media, or when others would guess that the virus would be gone before summer, because this was the moment that disproved those theories to me.

As a Grandma in rural Wisconsin, I spend hours each week in my garden. After a particularly grueling day, these thoughts came... about weeds, Covid, politics and their relationships. I don’t know how to upload, so am just going to put my poem into the next box.

In the months before social distancing due to COVID-19 started in California, my friend and I had been watching our way together through the series Call the Midwife on Netflix. She'd usually come over to my apartment once or twice a week and we'd watch a couple of episodes together. Once COVID-19 became an issue, this was no longer an option, but we still wanted to continue watching Call the Midwife together. Fortunately, we discovered that we could use Netflix Party to watch the show simultaneously on our laptops in our separate homes. Netflix Party also provided a chat box so that we could easily maintain a conversation about the show as we watched. So now, when we want to watch Call the Midwife, I get on my Netflix account, create a link through Netflix Party, text my friend the link, and there we go! As much as I miss being able to watch with my friend in the room with me, it's nice to be able to watch from wherever I want. Like from my bed with my cat rolling around!

Back at the beginning of April, when the CDC had just finally recommended that the general public wear masks when going out, I was eager to follow this guideline to the best of my abilities. Unfortunately, I didn't have any masks nor any good way of purchasing masks. (Online orders of anything were taking very long at that point in time, and masks weren't readily available in most stores not that I could get to one anyway.) So, I decided to try to make myself a mask. I wanted to make a really good mask. I did lots of research to find out what the best mask materials were for blocking the virus and everything. I searched my home, looking through my clothing, my towels, my reusable bags, trying to find the "right" material. I wasn't satisfied by anything I found. Given that, I decided that my best option was a relatively thick hand towel. I found a template online and proceeded to spend a couple hours hand sewing the mask that you see on my face in the picture. (I have very little experience hand sewing, so I didn't do a very neat job at all.) The final product was this huge mask that covered the entire lower half of my face. I mean, it worked, but it looked pretty hilarious. I did wear this mask out a number of times. It was basically my only option until I was able to order some better masks off the internet. I'm glad I don't have to wear that ridiculous homemade mask anymore, but I'm actually pretty impressed that I managed to make one at all.

As California moved from the "watch list" system to a "color-coded tiered" system, San Francisco Bay Area businesses are still navigating re-opening plans. Only 2 counties in the Bay Area are currently in the "red" zone which allows for some non-essential businesses to re-open. All others are currently in the "purple" zone. While the time frame and requirements to re-open continue to create confusion across the region, San Francisco hair saloons were able to operate outdoors for the first time since March shelter-in-place orders. Aside from the important re-opening information in this article, the image of hair stylists operating outside of their establishment in San Francisco, with Pride flags displayed proudly in the salon's windows, caught my attention. While life as we knew it has completely changed in the San Francisco Bay Area, this image feels very "San Francisco" to me. I am curious what aspects of the COVID-19 world will stick with us long after the pandemic is over. Will some businesses, like hair salons, continue to offer outdoor services?

2 nights. 8 hours. 2 school board meetings. Wow. Nampa School district decided early in August to push their start date back to 8/24/2020 to allow for extra planning time and to start the year entirely online. Included with this decision was the responsibility for the board to reevaluate this every two weeks. Well, this week we hit that mark. There have been many rumblings regarding what was to come in the decision. The biggest community push seems to come from parents who want their students involved in athletics. As of last Friday, 8/28/2020, one of our local hospitals was reporting 17/18 bed occupancy in their ICU unit due to Covid. The situation in Idaho is not stellar. Tongiht, at our board meeting, 2 trustees fought and fought for schools to reopen and athletics to continue. However, our superintendent held strong. She continually cited information from the health experts in our area. She noted the tremendous work our teachers are doing. At one point, early in the meeting she said, "teachers are working twice.....three times as hard as usual. They are working harder than they have ever worked before and we need to acknowledge that." - Dr. Paula Kellerer, Nampa School District. WOW. I am submitting this item to the archive to write Dr. Kellerer's name down in history. She is a champion for teachers, all students, and the well-being of our community. In a time where the teaching profession is under attack and districts are fielding those hateful Facebook comments...Dr. Kellerer stands strong. She advocates. She's thoughtful. She listens. I recognize how tremendously fortunate I am to work in a school district with such tremendous leadership. So, tonight, I wrote thank you cards. I know I could easily email Dr. Kellerer and other trustees but there's something about a thank you card that has extra 'umph'. Dr. Kellerer, we see you - we appreciate you - and we thank you for being an advocate for education for all.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine submitting a picture of my sock and underwear collection - but here I am. In the name of history! I am a teacher. I teach 7th grade social studies for the 3rd largest school district in Idaho. Our school board voted to start our year online as our COVID cases were spiking. Additionally, they decided to push our start date back a week. Our superintendent made the argument that we normally give teachers about 5 days to prepare for a normal school year and this was not a normal school year, so we got some extra time. Our district has been amazing. They are allowing the teachers to decide if they work from home or school. During the first week I chose to work from school. So, on August 23rd I was preparing to return to school. As I laid out my 'first day of school' outfit I realized it would include a mask. Well, here it is pals. Masks, socks, underwear....check! I am ready for my first day!

In this photo caution tape was put up around the playground to prevent any kids from going onto it as well as a sign that said that the playground was closed due to the corona virus. Generally during that time of the year (the spring) the playground is always inhabited with children and families. Usually in the afternoon, kids from the school behind it always played on it. The shutting down of schools and effort to prevent the spread of germs caused this playground to be also be shut down. It felt weird to me when I walked past the playground and the basketball court that was next to it, to see nobody there and it reminded my family of a ghost town. We walk past that playground almost every day and to see in empty was a weird and eerie sight.

After 5.5 months in quarantine, we are bored. Like really bored. My kids starting asking if we could put up Halloween decorations around August 10th. We love Halloween. My birthday is even on Halloween. But Halloween decorations in August is a bit much - even for me! After a few weeks, asking turned into begging. By August 29th I decided "What the heck?! Let's do it. Halloween in August it is!" The kids, in their matching candy corn pajamas, had a blast decorating the house and trying on old Halloween costumes. Now let's hope we can keep the excitement up for 2 months until Halloween actually arrives!

In the middle of the lockdown in Italy, things were looking pretty grim. Other than the obvious fear for the outcome of the pandemic people were feeling pretty on edge about police who were (rightfully) being very strict about abiding the laws about quarantine. People weren't aloud to see anyone other than the people they shared a home with and were supposed to stay inside at all times they weren't providing to their basic needs. One day I was looking through my window and I witnessed probably one of the funniest but surreal scenes of my life. A group of my neighbours were in the process of washing their car,there were maybe 8 people there between friends and family and they were very close, getting on top of the car and having fun. All of sudden they hear an helicopter approaching (police used them to spot "fugitives") and straight up jumped off the car and ran home all panicked. I couldn't stop laughing for an hour, it truly was a moment of release in the midst of worry and depression.

One of the oldest performing arts venues in Jacksonville, Florida, is the Florida Theatre, which over time has been an opera house, a movie theater, and a venue for concerts and plays. Even though under Florida law, they can reopen at 50% capacity, the layout of the theater is so small they could only operate at 25% capacity to maintain social distancing. Because of this, they have to remain closed as 25% capacity is not financially viable enough to open the theater. The Florida Theatre is a building rich in local history, and in the past they have stayed open to the public because of the concerts they host. Not only that, it is a major local employer, employing people directly and also contracting work from other local businesses.

This news article from Jacksonville, Florida, talks about Red Alert Restart. Over the course of the pandemic, performing arts and venues for performing arts have suffered economically. RESTART (Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards A Recovery in Twenty-twenty) is currently a bill in Congress waiting approval. To raise awareness of their financial problems, theaters across the country on September 1, 2020, lit their exteriors in red to represent their financial losses due to the pandemic. Many of the participating theaters in Jacksonville are places I have seen concerts at or are places I have driven by many times.

Aliento is one of the organizations receiving aid from ASU's Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict program through the Luce Foundation. This program provides rapid relief to communities hit particularly hard and uniquely by the pandemic. Aliento provides resources to DACA/undocumented and mixed-status families. This link specifically is to the Covid-19 resource page on their website.

More political cartoons from artist Andrés Edery featuring humor or at least political cartoons regarding no escape from COVID and the COVID-19 vaccine trials.

This picture resonates with me for a number of reasons. Firstly, both of my parents are cardiologists and my grandmother is a nurse practitioner, meaning that they have had to deal with the effects of the virus up close. This has put a new reason to worry as my parents and grandmother could be at risk for contracting the virus should something go wrong. This picture says a lot about the severity of the pandemic. Life-saving and even basic medical equipment, such as the ones utilized in the photo, are in short supply. Doctors and medical personnel are called upon to risk their health to help save that of others. Hospitals are plagued with the sea of new patients flooding in, so much so that, overcrowding has become an issue in some hospitals. This picture is important to me because it demonstrates what our medical workers and hospital staff are sacrificing in order to help combat an enemy that surrounds us.

This photo, specifically taken in a town in Wales, shows that there are so little people and cars out on the streets that the goats find it safe to wander them. Apparently the goats are very cautious around humans so this is one of the only times they’ve even dared to come into the town. Artifacts like these are important to remember because they show the lighter side of things during the pandemic. Other animals such as coyotes in California and monkeys in Thailand have also been seen making their way into cities amidst the lockdown.

Screenshot shared on a friend's Facebook page. She writes that there were over 700 confirmed cases in the first two weeks of school, and yet the college campus remains open. Arizona State University also remains open, we'll see if rising infection rates change the way administrators cope with a public health crisis.

The emotional malaise that, for many people, accompanies winter has now become a year-round morass. Many of the people I know associate summertime with social gatherings and a greater sense of community, and due to restrictions on social gatherings in accordance with social distancing, we are left feeling hollow from prolonged loneliness. The most severe affliction of a pandemic is the effect on our health, but like in the treatment of many diseases, the measures taken to stop the problem often feel as pervasive and unpleasant as the problem itself. There is no choice but to stay committed to social distancing until the situation changes, but for the first time in my adult life, I am feeling what it is like to live in a society that is under a great burden akin to wartime or economic depression.

I've written this personal essay that details my experience with the pandemic, in light of my past and present struggles with ADHD and what it's taught me about how to deal with this uncertain time.

The last time my book club met in person, March 2020, we talked about what we would read next. I noted that I had a few books about pandemics already on my shelves and we should read one of those. Camus' "The Plague", "Pale Horse, Pale Rider" by Katherine Anne Porter, "Journal of the Plague Year" by Daniel Defoe, "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel García Márquez... why did I have so many books about plagues...? We decided on Defoe and I said "Well, maybe we will be meeting by Zoom next time." The group was incredulous (I live in a small rural town in South Dakota) that we wouldn't be able to meet in person in April. If I had read this book in non-plaugue times it certainly would have been good read but it took on a lot of added meaning when I read it at the beginning of the quarantine. Thermometers may change but people never change.

This story details my experiences with quarantine in my hometown of Palisades Park, NJ, and how I've tried to make the best of this situation.

Of course the pandemic hit everyone's motivation and zest for daily life pretty hard, but as an artist whose social circles are mainly comprised of other artists, I noticed an especially hard hit to the creative output of my peers. I've heard before that suffering and despair is supposed to bring out the best artists have to offer, but in reality the inverse is often true- Van Gogh painted the Starry Night while he was getting specialized care in a mental health facility, after all. It's hard to find your spark when it feels like the world is caving in on all sides, but I was determined to find a way to keep myself from falling into a months long creative drought I knew I'd find myself in if I didn't do something about it. I didn't have the energy or desire to touch full sized pieces, but I reasoned with myself that I could stand to go smaller scale to save on both energy and time without sacrificing the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a finished piece, and so the day before every non-essential business in town shut down, I ran to my local Michael's and picked up the cheapest acrylic paints I could find and 3 packs of six 2 inch square canvases. I tried to think of a subject that could easily be captured on such a small surface, but was also sure to spark joy in myself and perhaps others if i chose to share them, and landed on the topic of pets, since they were easily one of the biggest comforts for myself and everyone else I knew during our prolonged stints sitting at home. It was a good move, I think- looking at an an image of an animal for long periods of time never hurts your mood, and sharing photos of the finished paintings with my friends who own the animals pictured brought a boost of serotonin to both parties involved. More than one person suggested I start an etsy page and sell them, but I think I'm content to just let them be a quarantine hobby and act of kindness during a deeply depressing time.

This Article shows how Mainstream news sources (for example CNN or FOX) can show its viewers misleading photos. During this Pandemic it is very important to get the full story of everything that goes on across the country involving Covid-19. This causes these images do more harm than good, when educating viewers on Covid-19. I feel it is important to stop the spread fake news, especially when a deadly virus is involved.

This image shows what precautions retail stores are taking relating to the corona virus. Though I found this picture on the internet, I have also experienced going to the stores and seeing how they have changed because of Covid-19. For example, when I walked into the store, the employees were keeping track of how many people were in the store at a time and limiting the max occupancy. After waiting in line outside, they provided hand sanitizer before I could enter. There was a sign similar to the one in the picture that explained what they were doing to protect their customers, such as requiring masks and marking places to stand throughout the store to make sure I was social distancing. This image outlines the extremities of the pandemic and how stores are taking measures to ensure their customers are safe.

The curious history of Melbourne's Jewish community means that it has a significant population of traditional Jews who align with orthodox synagogues but are not observant. Will they access alternative community events this New Year as the pandemic keeps shuls closed?

This article is from March 16, very early on in the pandemic. Its around the time all of the shutdowns started to occur. Its really Important to look at this because its a important part of the timeline of covid-19. I had a vacation planed the month after next to Paris. I live in the United States and had no chance of be able to go there during June.

During the pandemic, to help deal with the new stresses my family decided to adopt a cat from a family friend. This animal actually helped to relieve some of the newfound issues that quarantine has brought on (fear, loneliness, etc.) . I feel this photograph is important because it shows a valuable tool that can help people to better make it through quarantine. It also helps to showcase the struggle I am going through in quarantine and what has helped to keep me going.

This photo is symbolistic of the fires that we now must deal with in California. As people remain at home to work, energy usage is at an all time high. Thus, the potential for wildfires, lost lives, and damaged neighborhoods/homes is also probable. We are now seeing this disaster play out and hope for the best. This photo was taken during a walk in San Francisco around sunset. The orange and pink glow filled the sky and the aroma of smoke was everywhere.

With the lockdown measures in place this summer, my friends and I found ourselves hiking and exploring much of Arizona in an effort to escape the indoors for a while. As a native Arizonan I have never had the pleasure of experiencing the Grand Canyon first-hand, but this summer, I was able to explore one of the world's most beautiful natural landscapes. Truly an adventure, we camped on Horseshoe Bend and kayaked down the Colorado River (in which I unfortunately dropped my phone). As busy students who had scattered across the world for college, we were able to reconnect and remind ourselves of what is truly important in the midst of this pandemic: family, friends, health, and the natural beauty of the one world that we all share.

When I left San Francisco in March (due to USF closing), I knew I was coming back for the summer. I thought maybe I would find a nice research position at the school once things calmed down. However as CO-19 progressed I quickly realized that my goal of getting a research job was nearly impossible as almost every position had a hiring freeze. I returned to San Francisco on the last day of May to move into my apartment and begin a tedious job hunt. I applied to around 20 jobs at UCSF, the only place I could see hiring for in-person research. Unfortunately I never heard back. Saddened by the lack of job offers I quickly became consumed by self-doubt. How will I ever get into medical school if even entry level research doesn't want me? How will I set myself apart? Over the next week I decided to broaden my job search to not just research but different healthcare positions. Even positions I wasn't qualified for, but willing to learn. At that point I had applied to twenty-five more jobs and almost immediately started hearing back...from ALL of them. This past summer I held three jobs. One as a dental surgery assistant, one as a clinic and research intern at the Stone Research Foundation, and one as a receptionist at an orthodontic practice. These positions I could have never have gotten under normal circumstances. With a combined total of almost 60 hours a week dedicated to work I can say I have learned so much and am proud to be a part of the health care field. While this summer was one of the most difficult, it lit a fire under my butt. It taught me that there is always another way to get where you want to be in life as long as you don't give up and keep trying.

This photo really captures how reckless state governments were in the pandemic, opening schools despite it not being safe. Captured here is the danger of having schools open during a pandemic.

As I was driving on Saturday morning, I saw a panhandler at the corner of Priest and the 201 exit. A female cop was talking to her, I was afraid that maybe the cop was telling the woman not to beg or to move, but I saw the woman in the same spot a few hours later. The cop was wearing a face mask. There have been, subjectively, a lot more homeless people on the streets lately.

La tía de mi esposo se murió hace una semana de COVID en Arequipa, Peru. Ahora, su tío también tiene COVID. Mi esposo llamó a su primo para conversar de los eventos, y grabé la última parte de la conversación. Lo que me impresionó era que decía que había tantas bolsas des cadáveres, y que la gente moría de asusto o paro cardiaco porque el temor les consumía.

Over the past five years, Venezuelan migration to Peru has really picked up. With an impoverished country, political corruption, and sometimes no food, Venezuelans have exited in mass. Now with COVID-19, people have found themselves in dire straits and wishing to reverse migrate. This tweet of a WSJ article captures the story of a father and mother who trekked for over 3 months from Peru to Venezuela with their infant son.

I think this picture can be up for interpretation but I see it as all of Earth needs to wear a mask and be together in the fight for Covid because it comes for everyone. Simply put, we need to have a universal plan to fight this together. This is a drawing I found on the hindu.com

Back in March 2020, when we were first placed under quarantine, I was scared. I decided that in order to protect myself and the ones I care about, that it was better to stay home. I got my food delivered, if I had to go out, I made sure that I had my 'N95' mask, face sheild and gloves, took all the necessary precautions. Towards the ended of may, when the police shooting started happening again. I realized that even though we are in a pandemic the world hasn't stopped moving like I had, people were fighting for their brothers, sister, and families lives. They weren't fighting for better health care nor more food. They were risking their lives to protest against police brutality in their communities, and everywhere in the world. For the first time in months, I choose to get up and leave my little street, and join the people who were fighting for Black Lives. I found this so interesting, because no one could have told me that I would be marching through NYC during a pandemic. I wasn't only risking my health by protesting, but also my life. I'd seen the news showing the violent protests, cops body slamming people, tear gas in the air, and most importantly people showing solidarity to fight for what was right. And that when I realized time doesn't stop, because you do.

Ever since I got my own laptop, I stopped reading books. It had been almost 5 years since I started reading again. The reason for picking up a book was the boredom that came along with the lockdown and being alone for a little more than a month. Once I started with the first it was really hard to stop. It is a skill I am glad to have regained as it excites a part of mind that movies or videos never do. The vast amounts of information that is carried in a single book just makes the day better for me. It has been months since the lockdown started and the thirst for knowledge has not stopped.

The current pandemic has created visual devices that highlight: the growing severity of COVID, and the community's collective responsibility and attitude towards keeping everyone safe. These signs allow individuals to reflect that they aren't alone, and that they, being a part of the community, are both directly and indirectly accountable for keeping others safe. These signs encourage those to think about the community at large and inspire those that have waning spirits, to remain strong. Photographs taken in San Francisco's Inner Sunset and at Cowell Redwoods State Park

The COVID 19 hits the world like a disaster and caught people off guard. As a student, I don't need to go out a lot since all my courses switched to online modality. But there is only one exception, and that is to go out and buy food. Be sure to wear a mask and maintain a social distance every time I go out. Above all, it seems that the strains of the epidemic had spread. If you get to the grocery late, the shelves will be empty. Target and Trader Joe's, two of my most frequent grocery stores I usually go to, best represent this example. The sight of grocery shelves bare of food perhaps makes people’s hearts flurried.

This meme sheds some humor on restaurants and the pandemic trying to make light of a bad situation. Humor can lighten the mood and put a smile on people’s faces when so many people are going through this. The meme states “If you’ve eaten at Casa Bonita you’re immune to the coronavirus.” Implying that if you eat there you can handle the virus.

This article focuses on the pandemic and how it has affected the mom and pop restaurants in rural America, South Dakota. It is important to note that all communities, large and small are dealing with this pandemic and restaurants are struggling for survival, but especially in rural areas.