Items

• 
  2020-03-26

  Introverts During Covid Meme

  As an introvert, I never felt affected by a lot of the changes that took place when Covid struck. I stay at home most of the time if I am not at work, and I don't often go out in large social gatherings. I love my personal space, and I prefer the anonymity of wearing a mask. Sometimes, Covid felt like an excuse to stay home and do the things I love. This is not to underestimate the challenges that everyone faced; I just faced the challenges through my health and job, not social distancing or quarantining. These memes reflect a lighthearted view of what it was like to experience Covid as an introvert.
• 
  2020-04-13

  Earth is closed for business

  A month into the pandemic, society seems to have disappeared due to social distancing and the stay-at-home mandate. In our local communities, if you wanted to dine out it had to be carryout. If you wanted to go shopping, you had to do it online.
• 
  2020-06-29

  The Unpredictable Horrors of Pandemic

  The unpredictable horrors of pandemic “Corona Virus” the most lethal being on the earth that swept a mass population since its spread in December 2019. The Corona Virus had already started its attack and only a few cases had been reported in Wuhan, China until 2020, where it spread like a wildfire taking down millions of people. I belong to Nepal which is a neighboring country to China, so it surely was at higher risk which led to a countrywide lockdown in March 2020. It was then, people started to realize the seriousness of the situation. I would like to share my part of the pandemic experience in the first person “We” because I believe in this time I was with my family and we went through this experience- some bitter and some sweet but we were always together as a single unit. When the lockdown was imposed in Nepal, people were not aware of why it was being done. Why a mere viral disease was threatening nations? People took it as an excuse to vacation from work and school. We were told to stay inside the house, wear a mask and avoid gatherings by the national authorities. We could only go out for buying essentials (food, medicine) in the evening between 6-7 PM. Other times we were enjoying with our family because it is very rare to have this much free time in this busy life. We would cook new dishes, we also started gardening, growing vegetables in our backyard, and sometimes there was even “Movie Time” with the family. So, for the first few weeks, this lockdown was a perfect family time. Then the economy slowly started to tremble. People were left jobless, savings started to dry out. We were getting conscious and calculative on the grocery shopping. We own a garment factory (textiles and embroidery) so with no shops open during the time, we were also struggling with the money. My sister was currently stuck in Bangladesh because she had gone there for her educational studies and was stuck since both the countries were on lockdown. She finally arrived back home in June 2020 in an evacuation flight. She was then on self-isolation for 14 days. In these days of self-isolation, she showed no signs of COVID. Finally, on her last day of isolation, she went for a test and the horrors began. The reports came POSITIVE. This came as a shock to all of us because she had followed all the health protocols both in Bangladesh, during the flight, and after arriving in Nepal. We all were in disbelief and were taken aback. Unfortunately, the same day when the reports came out, there a news report regarding the lab where the reports were tested had cross-contamination, leading to inaccurate results in the hospital that day (the same day as my sister was tested). All of the samples were tested positive. Health authorities had to investigate that matter. But since she had no symptoms whatsoever, we wanted to re-check. Before we could even go to the other hospital, the members from the localities hurdled outside our house. They had been informed that an infected person was there in the area. My mom and dad went out to calm the crowd, trying to convince us that the results were doubtful and we were going for a re-check. The crowd was more like an angry mob and was dismissing all our claims, maybe also because this was the first case in our locality. They didn’t want to hear what we had to say. They forcefully started sealing the gates and the areas of our house, ordering all our neighbors to stay away from the area. They were told not to cross the gate and come in contact with us. Since the coronavirus is truly a big deal, though we had some doubts, we accepted that all our family members should go into isolation. But this was easier said than done. For those 14 days, we had no one around us to help. We couldn’t go out to get groceries or even other essentials. Our neighbors were threatened by the local authorities to not help us. They couldn’t send us the groceries or anything else. We were cast away from the whole society around that time. Luckily, we had an aunt living nearby. She used to leave us grocery items in our backdoors before the sunrise…. before anyone could even see. And we would run outside abiding by proper protocols, get those items and be back inside, panting, hoping no one saw us. At that time we had no money, limited food supply, and many mouths to feed. It was like we were living in an apocalyptic world. Baseless rumors had started to spread around the society stating we were seen partying and having gatherings a few days back. People would ring us up just to blame us as if we were the rotten ones. The most heartbreaking incident was when we were called by the local authority asking us to not come out on the balcony because according to them, somehow, we were exposing the virus in our area. Those 2 weeks became hell for our family. Finally, on the 14th day, all the members of our family members took a PCR test, and luckily, we were all tested negative. So in simple terms, we had recovered BUT society still didn’t accept us. Whenever we used to go to the shop, we were stared at and could hear whispers behind our back. People used to stay away from us and we were regarded (sort of) untouchables even after we had medical reports to prove them otherwise. Then a month later, even my maternal grandmother was infected with the virus. We could not go visit her as the hospital didn’t permit and she was under strict surveillance. She soon developed pneumonia as a complication of the COVID attack. Almost half of her lungs had been severely damaged and on 29th November 2020 she passed away. This pandemic left a great impact on us. We suffered great loss both emotionally and financially. From sneaking in groceries like smugglers to bidding goodbye to someone who loved us the most, it will always be an inerasable memory for us. Even as I write my experience, my words are not enough to emphasize the pain this pandemic has caused. But all I can say is we fought this as a FAMILY. One for All and All for One.
• 2021-01-21

  Symptoms

  I mean I don't really have a personal story. But my buddy did get it and he says it's not that bad. He just has to stay at home for a while. The symptoms of Covid are as follows, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, and Diarrhea.
• 
  2021-01-21

  When Mundane Days Become Commonplace

  To be honest, when it was first announced that there would no longer be in person school last year, I was pretty excited. I knew about the terrible things happening where Covid originated and that it was spreading rapidly, but all I could focus on was that I had been gifted a second summer break. However, like most things, staying at home every single day eventually turned into a negative. Everyday seemed like another day and the weekends lost their value. The situation really dawned down on me when Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year came and went without even a second look. Holidays I tremendously enjoyed in the past no longer had the same spirit and it felt just like another week. Yet I should feel grateful since nothing has changed. I've been lucky to avoid the serious effects of the pandemic so I guess I should count my lucky stars that fate handed me mundane days instead of no days at all.
• 2020

  Rules and Procedures 2020

  Some rules and procedures are you wear a mask at all times, stay six feet apart, and stay home. At first I was annoyed with masks because they were uncomfortable but I got used to them. Staying home was fine except I missed my friends. Now we can zoom its not the same as in person but, its still very fun.
• 2021-01-20

  Covid Procedures

  To start, I understand that these procedures were made to try to keep people as safe as possible, but some of them just don't make sense to me. As of now we can go out of the house, we can not go to restaurants, but we can go to stores, and essential businesses. My problem is that we can go into grocery stores and stay around 3 feet apart, and not go to restaurants, the legal way. Then if you go three major cities away to Las Vegas, the rules are completely different, it is almost normal, just with masks. The problem is that people should be staying home as much as possible, but with the policing not being good enough, people are getting away with still going to parties, restaurants, and other people's houses. I also think that people are just trying to get into spotlights, everyone is trying to get to the top page of the news, it sucks. Anyway, today is inauguration for Biden, so we will see what will happen, thank you for reading my archive.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules, Rules, Rules!!!!

  When Covid struck in the United States on March 14, 2020, I wasn't worried that my school had been shut down. I thought it was a chance to get out and see new things. Boy was I wrong. My mom and dad were extremely nervous, as scientists had found Covid-19 affected the lungs, and I have a massive problem with my lungs, as I only have half of a right lung. I also have type 1 diabetes, so it would be even more of a problem if I got it. The government told everyone to stay home, and go out only for emergencies or supply runs. Stores could only have 20% capacity, so my mom had to wait outside of stores for hours just to get in! They also told us to wear a mask whenever going into public scenarios. Our current president at the time, Donald J Trump, refused to wear a mask, and he tested positive 7 months in to the pandemic. Over the summer, the numbers in our area started to go down, so my mom and dad decided we could resume normal life cautiously. The first time I had gotten out in months was a mountain bike ride around our neighborhood. It was good to get out after months of staying in! I had also noticed a decrease in my health, as I had been sitting inside. for most of the summer and fall, things were good. But then in December, disaster struck even harder. My neighbor got it, and we did not wear a mask at all! Thankfully, we were not in close enough contact for us to contract it. After that, I had become a whole lot more conservative on going out and seeing others. As you can see, Covid has affected me heavily, and I am done with having to wear a mask 24/7 365.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures

  When I heard that we had to wear masks and keep 6 feet from each other, I didn't really mind it and thought it was a good procedure. I didn't think anyone would follow the 6 feet apart rule, although they would still wear their mask. About self-quarantining, I also though that it wouldn't have been much of a problem other than having to stay home from school. Even now the masks and social distancing don't bother me at all and I can follow them pretty well. I just think of it as keeping others safe if I dont really care about my own, which I still do though. But, if I dont for whatever reason I'll keep in check by reminding myself to care for others too.
• 2021-01-19

  The Procedures

  The rules starting out felt kind of weird in the beginning. It felt kind of extreme whilst at the same time, understandable. I can recall that some rules were that we must stay at home unless absolutely necessary (food, gas, anyone in the medical field, officers, most jobs).
• 2021-01-15

  Virtual Learning During Covid-19

  At the beginning of 8th grade year, we were all virtually doing school which was hard to focus. My room is filled with so many things and it was hard for me to pay attention to the teacher on my screen. My computer had many mental breakdowns from overuse. A benefit is that I got to stay at my house all day, but it was hard to stay focused and engaged. I did not like virtual learning because everything was on the computer rather than on actual paper. I would much rather be in class for learning and school work.
• 2021-01-15

  School during COVID😢

  School during COVID is okay because there is a lot of ups and downs. For example School is quite simple but I want to go on campus. Stay home gets kinda boring and thats one of the down falls.
• 2021-01-14

  Virtual

  The computer represents us virtually learning. Virtual learning was definitely a challenge, not being able for the teacher to observe our work was a free gap for us not to do it. I think a lot of students thought that. I think it would be better if all my classes were like Spanish. In Spanish we had to stay off mute and engage the whole time, the only thing I didn't like about this was staying the whole 1hr 20min. The benefits was I didnt have to wake up at 7:00 every morning at be drove to school. Also being able to automatically be home after school was also a upside.
• 2021-01-14

  virtual learning experience

  My experience with virtual learning wasn't so terrible but still not good, i couldn't leave the house making it so i couldn't talk to my friends, plus, its on computer which is greatly distracting. During quarantine, i was in the house so long that my eyes hurt when stepping outside. But other than that it was ok, its not like we were starved or sensory deprived.
• 2021-01-14

  Remote learning

  Quarantine makes people stay at home, especially for students. During this particular time, schools provided us remote learnings. We discovered many technologies online, and it also made turning in assignments easier. On the other hand, students spent too much time on electronics during remote learning, and collaboration is always difficult.
• 2021-01-14

  Remote Learning

  When I first started online school in march I thought we would be off-campus for 3 or 4 weeks, and then we would go back. I didn't know much about covid-19, so though I would still be able to see my friends. We had plans to do online school at each other's house, and hang out all the time. We went into a state-wide lockdown 2 days after and I wasn't allowed to go anywhere or hang out with anyone. It was fun at first, we watched shows, we did puzzles, we cooked a lot. But once we hit late may and I still hadn't seen my friends, I was getting really sad. As for online school. I thought it was nice because I didn't have to get up so early. The first week or so, we got up I got dressed, I did my hair, but they somewhere along the way. I rolled out of bed, still in my pajamas, and turned my video off. During classes, I was always so bored because school wasn't really interesting because we weren't learning as much. I was fine with online it was just the fact that I wasn't eating lunch with my friends anymore, or that I couldn't talk to them during passing periods, but I did love being able to eat in class or getting a snack whenever I wanted. It was also hard in the fact you couldn't really get one on one help with the teacher.
• 2021-01-10

  A COVID Virus Christmas

  Christmas of 2020 is approaching fast. Faster than usually, as this year has seemingly sped by quicker than any year before. Perhaps the first sign of the coming Christmas season is when I open the fridge to find a bottle of Califia brand eggnog. Just as I think that Christmas will be perfectly normal this year, I hear some disappointing news. My cousin Michael is coming home from the Marines... With COVID. This means that I will not be going to my cousins house in Burbank like always, but that I will be spending Christmas at my own house. I don't like the idea of Christmas away from my cousins at all. I have been going to Burbank for Christmas for as long as I can remember. That being said, I can't do anything about my cousin getting COVID. On Christmas Eve, my mom grilled some steaks for dinner that she had gotten from Gelsons market, and we watched Four Christmases and Die Hard. In the morning, I woke up without the usual anticipation and excitement that comes with a typical Christmas morning. I walked down the stairs to discover the presents my parents had ordered online. I opened them, thanked my parents for the wonderful gifts, and started playing the new game I had got: Call of Duty Cold War. The rest of the day seemed like any other, and so did the rest of the week, and rest of the month, and the rest of the year at that. Now it's 2021. Everyone is filled with hope that this year will be far greater than the last, but I seriously doubt it. Especially with the news we all got on Tuesday, January 5th. That said, all we can do is stay positive and keep our heads up. As Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going."
• 2021-01-06

  A Covid Christmas

  Usually for Christmas, we travel a lot. The last time we stayed home for Christmas was when I was in 5th grade and I absolutely hated it. We then decided that was the last Christmas we would stay home. We don't have family near us, so it was relatively normal to what I think most peoples Christmas are. We went skiing which was so much fun, but it was different. If you didn't live with them you could do on a ski lift with them. You also had to wear a mask, but it was actually pretty nice because it kept your face warm. I wanted to see my friends before Christmas, but I couldn't because of covid, but I did get to see them after Christmas, (outside, socially distanced, with masks). Usually, Christmas break seems really short because were are traveling and going on planes, or we are driving all over some foreign country. Even though I love traveling, it was nice to have a normal Christmas where we had presents and we made cookies.
• 
  2020-01-06

  Christmas during 2020 (covid season)

  During the pandemic of 2020 (covid-19), my Christmas was very different from the past few years that I had Christmas with my family. One of the reasons because my Christmas was different at this time was because we couldn’t enjoy going different places to enjoy with family except from home. Another reason about this topic, it was that my aunt family hang out together in my house, but it was awkward because we had masks on.
• 2020-12-25

  Lonely Christmas

  This Christmas was a lonely and strange one. My family usually goes to San Antonio and Austin Texas to see all my mom's family. Though, this year my family and I have to stay home to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It felt weird this year also because on TV everything is virtual and nobody is together. Finally, this year it felt that the 'Christmas Spirit' was less than in years past.
• 2021-01-06

  My Covid-Christmas

  During Christmas of 2020, it was not the usual one, but still a great one. Instead of the usual traditions, of going to my family's house, we had to stay home by ourselves. One way we did meet up with family though, was through the app zoom. We all went up to zoom and talked for an hour or so. We were still able to open gifts with cousins, but outside, socially distanced. I really enjoyed Christmas this year, despite the unusual circumstances.
• 2020-12-25

  A COVID-19 Christmas

  This Christmas was very different from any other Christmas. I am a 14 year old girl and I live with my parents and my two sisters. Every year my family goes skiing right after christmas for about two weeks but this year we couldnt go. My family and I stayed home for christmas eve and christmas. On christmas eve we had a home cooked meal and played boardgames together. The next day it was a very quiet christmas, we didnt do much, we made hot chocolate and opened presents from eachother. My birthday was the 28th right after christmas and it was very similar. I was kind of sad over the holidays because we couldnt see family and we couldnt travel.
• 2021-01-06

  A different Christmas

  If this year was normal, we would have flown to Gurnee, Illinois, and spent Christmas with our Grandparents and aunt on my mom's side. We always enjoy this, as we get to see her Bernese mountain dog named Jasper. However, due to Covid 19 we had to stay home. I enjoy staying at home, because I feel more relaxed then having to go different places and feeling rushed to do things. My dad normally prepares Beef Wellington, A traditional English dish. It consists of sirloin steak brushed with mustard, crushed mushrooms, and then wrapped in pastry and prosciutto. It is truly delicious! This year we decided to mix up because this year has been pretty mixed up. This year, we had lobster fettuccine with Filet Mignon! My father is an excellent chef, and comes up with ideas out of nowhere! My mother helps plan and execute them, and she is my dad's sous chef. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner, and I am blessed to have such an amazing life!
• 20201-01-06

  A 2020 Christmas

  My winter break in the year 2020 was drastically different compared to the other years. I usually take a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Shenzhen, China, sleep and watch at least 2 movies on the plane, and arrive at the destination all tired and jet-lagged. My dad would welcome my family and me and promise to have a good dinner tonight when we got home. I would see all the skyscrapers in the city on the way, sometimes being too tall to see the top just from the car window. I would admire all the lush green hills, for LA, had brown hills with dried out bushes and dead trees. When we arrived and rang the doorbell, my grandparents would open the door and say how much they missed us. This year was different though. Instead of packing clothes and gifts for my relatives overseas, I stayed at home, playing card games with my family. Instead of getting together with grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins and having a big Christmas dinner, we made steak, mashed potatoes, and a pie while listening to Christmas music. Instead of playing my first round of golf for a new year at Mission Hills in Shenzhen with my dad and mom, I played with my mom, getting ready for a golf tournament I had in two days. I missed my overseas family and was able to see them over facetime and in photos. But this Christmas was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. My family got playing cards and different board games to play. We would laugh at each other when they had bad cards, or argue at each other when they wanted to trade property with each other in Monopoly. This Christmas was different, but I enjoyed it like always.
• 2021-01-06T10:00:00

  Christmas with covid

  for Christmas the year, it was definitely different. Since I have divorced parents, I was spending this year with my mom. On Christmas Day, we would usually wake up at 8 or 8:30. but this year we ended up waking up at 9:30. it went by very fast. we went in the living room and opened our presents. then we had bacon and eggs while we watched the grinch. the day went by very fast and before we knew it, it was already 6:00. we had our Christmas dinner, which was, steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberries. just a standard traditional Christmas dinner. then, I FaceTimed my friends to show them what I got. I would usually go over to my cousins house but this year we stayed home and didn't see anyone. I ended up taking a shower and then going tom bed at around 11:15.
• 2020-09-29

  Our New Normal

  I think the biggest challenge I have faced because of Covid-19 is coping with the fact that this is how life is going to be for a long time.. Personally I don’t like the unknowns. We don't necessarily know when we'll go back to school or when well be able to play sports games. My family has always been very active and loved to go out and do things, so it has been different to just stay home all of the time. Luckily we have gone on some short day trips to the beach or to different restaurants but to be honest things are just not the same. Sometimes I find myself thinking what I’d be doing at that exact moment if Covid-19 wasn't a thing. Last Friday I was driving to my moms house around 6pm and I realized that if Covid wasn't a thing that I would be in the Cal parking lot tailgating for a football game. These are the type of things that unfortunately us as Juniors haven't really experienced yet and I don’t think we will be able to this year. Hopefully things will start to return to normal soon so we can finish our High School experiences the right way.
• 
  2020-04-10

  Social Holidays: celebrate together but apart

  Pictured is a flower wreath which is titled, "Celebrate together but apart" against a pink background.
• 
  2020-11-26

  Social Holidays: Christmas How to tell family their Christmas gathering is too risky and you're not going

  This article provides tips on how to best celebrate Christmas holidays and encourages Canadians to stay home.
• 
  2020-03-26

  Stay Home

  The photo includes a pie with the caption "stay the f*ck home" and therefore provides an insight into the mentality of many Canadians during the long months under lockdown. The pie also includes flowers and leaves which contrast to the firm caption.
• 
  2020-10-01

  Changed Summer Plans

  This story discusses what changed in summer plans. Like many other people I stayed close to home and did more outdoor activities with my family.
• 2020-10-27

  Lonely life at home

  Due to pandemic restrictions, I had to stay at home for very long without meeting anyone outside. So there was a lot of time being alone myself in my room doing school work through online and playing some games. After a few days passed, the life was getting bored and I wanted to meet my friends. I felt no longer joy I used to have with my friends. So I started getting used to a voice chat to have some talk with my friends who are very closed with, which I felt little better. I also spend my time talking with my family. And I’m grateful that I could feel my life was getting better.
• 
  2020-04-23

  Pandemic Poetry

  When I read this poem by Don Arbor called “For Better or Worse”, I instantly felt connected because we all are facing the same problems throughout this pandemic. We feel the need to stay home and stay away from others but are able to still virtually be there for one another. We might not be able to experience life in the same aspect as we use to, but we have to expect for better days to come. One thing that stuck out was how he was still able to appreciate what he has in this exact moment instead of being negative. He states that he is grateful and lucky, but he will never be able to forget something so disheartening. In the fourth stanza all the way to the end, he starts to get into politics and describes how things were a few yeas ago when Obama was president. Don Arbor discusses how Obama cared about the American people just as much as he cared about himself. He was willing to stick to his morals and be active within the government compared to what is happening right now. Don believes that most individuals feel how he is feeling and that the possibility of better days are yet to come.
• 
  2020-06-03

  Tweets from San Antonio's mayor Ron Nirenberg throughout June, 2020

  These series of images are tweets from or about San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg and his administration's response to COVID-19 and the social justice movement triggered by the murder of George Floyd throughout the month of June. These images illustrate the way local government mobilized to disperse political, economic, and medical information through social media. These also give insight into how the Mayor and his administration participated in the dialogue about systemic racism in San Antonio and across the United States. Information such as public and private programs, COVID-19 case statistics , protests, warnings to remain vigilant amid the reopening of the state, and where to get tested for COVID.
• 
  2020-05-01

  Tweets from San Antono's mayor Ron Nirenberg throughout May, 2020

  These series of images are tweets from or about San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg and his administration's response to the COVID-19 crisis throughout the month of May. These images illustrate the way local government mobilized to disperse political, economic, and medical information through social media. Information in these images includes executive orders, public and private programs, COVID case statistics, updates on closures and reopenings, how to stay safe, and where to get tested for COVID.
• 
  2020-04-01

  Tweets from San Antonio's mayor Ron Nirenberg throughout April, 2020

  These series of images are tweets from or about San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg and his administration's response throughout April 2020. These images illustrate the way local government mobilized to disperse political, economic, and medical information through social media. Information includes emergency orders, public and private assistance programs, case & hospital statistics, and where to get tested for COVID.
• 
  May 5, 2020 - August 31, 2020

  M.A. in Zoom pt. 2: The Myth of Summer

  This entry is the second part to capturing what the first six months of my graduate school experience was like. I’m a graduate student in the public history program at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. I, like many students throughout all levels of education, felt a dramatic shift during or following spring break 2020. As the world began to catch on fire, I was just starting to piece together my final project which would enable me to graduate with my M.A. degree. Despite the chaos, I managed to survive the rest of the semester, and actually get a good head start on my project. I achieved two new job opportunities and reunited with my boyfriend after going two months without seeing each other. Things were going really well for me and I found a sense of confidence I hadn’t felt in three months. A confidence that might’ve crossed the line into arrogance. This is when I actually got serious about the pandemic. I chose to forget that just because things were going well in my world, didn’t mean things were going well in the real world. I, along with many of my fellow citizens, gave in to the idea that the south Texas heat would significantly curb the spread of the virus. As Texas began to open up, I began going out–not just for academic purposes but also for my own selfish desires to feel myself again. I returned to my local gym. I ate out (in doors) at restaurants. I went to an outdoor bar with my parents (one that was not abiding by the six feet separation policy). I heard the medical experts’ warnings against the loosening of restrictions; I was aware of the slowly but still increasing COVID cases in the city, but chose to act selfishly. This selfishness transferred over to my academic goals. I was blinded by my ambition (or anxiety) to hit the ground running with my capstone. Maybe I knew that after a certain point, it would no longer be safe nor socially acceptable to meet with people outside of my immediate community. The second and third photos were taken from the first sets of oral histories I conducted with my community partners, the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio. This is Bonnie Ramos and Mark Molina, the head creative directors of the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio. Prior to these interviews, I had to meet with these leaders to plan out these interviews. We were all fully ready to conduct in-person oral histories not only with these two, but also their friends and family members. In the second photo, we were more conscious of the virus as you can see Ms. Ramos is wearing a mask. However, in the following interview with Bonnie and Mark, done just [two] weeks later, you can see that we chose to let our guards down (falling in line with the rest of the San Antonio, and overall Texas, community). In both photos we made sure to keep a distance between us, but we did not measure exactly six feet. Off camera, we also made sure to interact at a distance, however, we all chipped in to set the interview setting. In between interviews I came down with a case of strep throat. I had to get tested for COVID and the results came two days later, which means my family and I held our breaths for two days. Thankfully I was negative, but strep really kicked my butt. I thought to myself, “If this is what strep feels like, I don’t want to know what COVID feels like.” The doctor was very sure that I only had strep because I had no other symptoms (such as respiratory difficulties). However, COVID is different for everyone – so I heard. I began to drown myself in COVID statistics which made me feel even worse; but also made me snap and understand that I cannot be my control freak self in the midst of a pandemic. Included are some images of COVID statistics in San Antonio from the point that I contracted strep until the end of August. I thought about all the times I had gone out, regardless of being aware that I shouldn’t; I thought of all the people I had interacted with and how ashamed I’d me if I would have to call them; I thought of what I could potentially be putting my parents through because they have underlying conditions (diabetes and asthma). After a few days on antibiotics I was alright, but this was a wakeup call and my Ballet Folklórico project came to pause. Then Fourth of July hit, and San Antonio really milked the reduced restrictions. In the following weeks, San Antonio saw a spike in COVID-19 and the city promptly regressed back to prior restrictions. I cancelled my gym membership, my family cancelled our annual trip to the beach, and abstained from interacting with some friends and family. My household became a little blue; I felt a mixture of shame, fear, and frustration (towards myself and the state of Texas). As a public historian, I felt like I failed the community I serve by acting in my self-interests. Public historians share a larger responsibility to treat out community justly and with respect. However, I chose to contribute to the problem that I knew was still there; I gave in to my selfish desire for “normalcy” and potentially put my community partners at risk. Luckily, neither of us (myself, Bonnie & Mark, nor my camera man) have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms following our interviews nor up until now. Throughout the rest of the summer, all of the oral histories I conducted for my capstone were done via Zoom. My project was slowly transitioning to become a digital project, but I’ve come to see this as a strength and necessary change. It does not seem like Texas will have this virus completely under control, and many individuals will be hesitant to interact physically or outside their homes. Creating something digital will meet the needs of individuals while still taking precautions, as well as be more accessible to other researchers beyond San Antonio. COVID had made me acquaint myself with advanced-ish technology that will make all my projects throughout my career more accessible and therefore more equitable
• 
  March 8 2020 - May 4, 2020

  M.A. in Zoom pt. 1: Initial Anxieties & Adaptation

  This entry is part one of two entries that capture the first six months of my graduate school experience. I’m a graduate student in the public history program at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. I, like many students throughout all levels of education, felt a dramatic shift during or following spring break 2020. Most institutions, like mine, extended our spring break by a week to brace campus for transitioning fully online. At this time, I was enrolled in a course called “Conceptualizing your Capstone.” As the world began to catch on fire, I was just starting to piece together my final project which will enable me to graduate with my M.A. degree. Perfect timing. These are images of what my first semester of graduate school kind of boiled down to: completing the initial, most crucial, stages of my capstone virtually and completing my fellowship with what I felt were limited resources. What is not pictured was my constant fear of the unknown. Initial Anxieties For my capstone project I’ll be looking at the development of ballet folklórico in San Antonio and its influence throughout the state of Texas. I was looking forward to digging in our university and local archives; Fiesta was around the corner and I would’ve used that as an opportunity to document the different folklórico groups set to perform; and most importantly I had planned on meeting with the community members I’m working with face-to-face. The last point there was particularly concerning for me. I’d have to reach out remotely to a community who seldom opens their vaults to outsiders. How was I going to establish credibility and convince these groups that they could trust me via an email or Facebook message? The whole concept of my capstone project also might’ve had to change. I was originally looking to create a narrative history of Ballet Folklórico in San Antonio by drawing on the experience of my community partners–they are the earliest 501(c)(3) groups established in the city. In regard to my schoolwork, how was I going to produce legitimate work from the confines of my house? Was I even in the right place mentally and emotionally to perform at graduate level amidst social, political, and medical disarray that was being broadcasted? I was starting to get cabin fever; I could’ve ignored the commotion outside so I could focus, but that felt selfish. How could my mind be everywhere at once, yet my body needed to remain indoors? (These are actually a bunch of large questions I’ve had swirling in my head throughout the rest of March.) In late March, one of my brothers who’s a Texas State Trooper was ordered to quarantine for two weeks after someone in his unit contracted the virus. Then in mid-April, my other brother came down with something that gave him body aches, chills, fever, and made him sleep all day. No respiratory issues, however, we had no idea what was going on. He got tested for COVID and his results took four days to come back. Both my brothers tested negative, but these two events made it seem like the virus was everywhere and inhibited my ability to think and produce sound work. Adaptation After a couple of dramatic weeks, I got to a point where I could realize the amount of privilege my family and I managed to hold on to regardless of the dystopian-like transitions we were going through as a society. My dad and brothers could still commute to work (that has never been compromised throughout the past nine months), and my mom and I have been able to work from home; neither of us experienced a cut to our pay nor hours; I could get back to a regular sleep schedule because I no longer had to commute from campus, which is on the other side of town, late at night; we have stable WiFi; we have insurance; we’ve been able to pay our bills on time. In terms of academics, contrary to my initial anxieties, my experience in graduate school wasn’t really compromised. I had already established relationships with my peers and professors so Zoom classes and weekly meetings for my fellowship didn’t feel so awkward. Even if I didn’t have the first half of the semester to acquaint myself with my classmates, my generation is very much accustomed to digital communication. We literally grew up on it; we witnessed the evolution from wall phones to smart phones. Making digital connections isn’t a foreign concept to me. The pace of graduate school also didn’t change much. Yes, not having to commute to campus really alleviated a lot of my stress. However, the sense of urgency in graduate school did not fade one bit. I also underestimated the digital literacy of older generations. Specifically of the ballet folklórico community throughout Texas. Through the power of Twitter, Facebook, JSTOR, online university archives, and Zoom, I was able to build upon my research for my capstone. The individuals and groups I reached out to for help were surprisingly eager and generous. Maybe we were all craving some new faces or voices to interact with, or maybe I underestimated the power of engagement. I was able to build upon my capstone, and was probably more productive with it given that I had to stay in one place and work. Optimism was in the air. The first photo is a screenshot of our final presentations where we pitched our capstone idea to the St. Mary’s history department. We were originally set to present our capstone idea to the public history department (staff and students). Initially, I thought this experience would be compromised. I thought I’d miss out on forming connections with other professors in the program. However, there was a collective understanding these young academics (my peers and I) are in the midst of creating one of the most important pieces of our careers under unimaginable outside challenges. All hands were on deck in making sure we received the most help and access to whatever resources. It reinforced that I belonged to a community grounded in the belief that regardless of the circumstances, our duty is to assist each other in our pursuit to public history. I hope other graduate students across the city, state, country, and world experienced this same empathy.
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  April 27, 2020

  Newburgh IN Words of Encouragment

  These photographs were taken to document some of what people in Evansville and its Tri-State region saw and experienced as the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic came to the area in the spring of 2020. Many of these images represent literal signs of the time, while others figuratively depict signs of the pandemic.
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  2020

  Political Cartoon, Man Protesting Stay-at-Home Orders Before/After

  This cartoon shows a man fighting against government mandated stay-at-home orders. It then shows him in the hospital with a nurse caring for him.
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  2020-03-19

  The Fog Will Wait For You

  This TikTok video encourages San Francisco Bay Area residents to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19. There is a sense of community portrayed in the video. The overall message of the video is to relax, enjoy being home and know that everyone else is at home too. The video contains iconic San Francisco images, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Victorian homes, sea lions, the Castro Theater and Twin Peaks neon signs, and a trolley. This video was produced at the start of shelter-in-place orders when many believed that if we all did our part, life would return to normal in a matter of weeks.
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  2020-04-17

  Life In Isolation: The Coronavirus... Daniel Edward

  A virtual exhibition by the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science
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  2020-04-07

  Vacant Waiting Rooms

  Waiting rooms across the country, like this Emergency Room at West Virginia's Veterans Affairs hospital, are a common sight amid the COVID-19 pandemic as people opt to not seek treatment for fear of contracting COVID-19.
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  2019-03-31

  #SAVETHEREZ: Leupp Family Posts Signs As Reminder To Stay Home and Protect Elders

  “This COVID-19 has threatened all of us, but has bigger threat on our elders,” Jenny Yazzie Buckinghorse wrote. “It also has potential threat on our front line medical personnel, law enforcement, store clerks...etc. Many of them are our own people – sisters/brothers, aunt/uncle, mother/father, and grandmother/grandfather.”
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  04/24/2020

  A Public Safety Alert on a phone from the City of Beverly Hills

  Although I live somewhat distant from Beverly Hills, I received an alert on my smart phone reminding people to stay at home and to observe mask and social distancing guidelines when necessary trips are made outside. #HST580 #Arizona State University
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  03/18/2020

  Can I come into the out?

  The phrase, "can I come into the out," is from a movie that was released in 2015. The movie was about an alien, the one pictured in the freezer, that came to Earth and was learning about the world. In this scene he visits a convenience store and climbs into a refrigerator and then asks his human friend "can I come into the out now?" This meme was particularly funny when everyone was staying home to avoid exposure.
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  03/18/2020

  Stay Home for Us

  This image shows hospital workers expressing their wish for the public to stay home to lessen the number of people that would contract covid and become their patients. Basically asking people to "flatten the curve". This was the phrase that became the tag line for the second half of March.
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  04/30/2020

  The Impact of Virtual Story Time During Coronavirus Stay-at-Home Orders: "Why We Stay at Home" Book for Children About Coronavirus

  A woman uses her YouTube channel dedicated to virtual story time to read aloud a book about Coronavirus written by two doctors who hope to help kids understand why it's important that they stay home during this time. Fordham University, SOCI 2800
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  05/02/2020

  Save Lives. Stay Inside.

  This particular message in east Wichita, created by Lamar Trailers, calls upon citizens to save lives by complying with the state's "shelter-at-home" order. #NortheasternJOTPY
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  04/03/2020

  Stay Home

  While temporarily closed during the Kansas Lockdown, this local car wash sign advised passing motorists to re-think their travel plans if they were feeling sick. #NortheasternJOTPY
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  03/17/2020

  Finding Alternative Ways to Exercise

  As the pandemic first began to spread and garner attention, gyms in Orange remained open. At the beginning of March, I first began to notice that the number of people in the gym during peak hours was beginning to decline. Hours were still the same, but the staff also took up the practice of roaming throughout the gym with disinfectant and paper towels, trying to clean down each machine after it was used. On March 17th Governor Newsom declared a statewide stay at home order, and when I tried to get one last workout in I came across this sign. *Original text in Creator: Fitness-19 posted the sign *Original text in Contributor: Joey Dorion took the photo