Items

• 
  2020-07-15

  HIST30060: KEEP YOUR distance!

  HIST30060: This photo of the back of my work uniform shows how workplaces were affected by the restrictions of the pandemic. Hardware stores were able to stay open to trade customers and for "click and collect" purchases during Melbourne's lockdowns, which meant a change to our normal work routines. Staff were charged with the responsibility of making sure customers wore masks, checked in with the QR codes and practiced social distancing throughout the store. These necessary rules were challenging to enforce sometimes and customers could often be disgruntled and unhappy with these changes. This message on the back of the uniform was in keeping with the atmosphere of working during this period and symbolises our adjustment to "covid normal" practices.
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  2021-07-05

  Gonna Dolly Myself Up

  For the past year, I cycled in and out of a few uniforms. At the start of the pandemic, when the weather was warm, I wore a simple, roomy, tan linen dress that could have fit in at a nice restaurant for lunch, if I'd dressed it up with accessories. A chic friend recommended it over a Zoom call as her Amazon "find". During a year of lock-down, it became more of a "housecoat" than a chic dress and I wore it a lot, usually barefoot. If I wasn't wearing the tan housecoat, I wore the green or black one. (I'd bought three at my friend's exuberant recommendation.) As the weather changed, oversize jeans (my husband's hand-me-down) and my favorite navy sweatshirt from Paris became my go-to. This outfit coincided with learning how to clean the house (nobody was allowed to come inside, not even our cleaning ladies). I got a bleach stain on the sweatshirt and eventually a hole formed at the elbow. It's still my favorite. Another pair of loose jeans and a couple of other sweatshirts bought on Amazon got me through the rest of the winter. Socks were usually all I put on my feet. The weather is warming up and I've started shopping again, in-person! I've bought a few wide-brimmed hats, a couple of skirts, and even a silk blouse. I'm eyeing some nice sandals. I won't be cleaning the bathrooms in these new clothes. I'll be wearing them out to museums, to lunches with friends, to dinners on new outdoor dining patios, and maybe even on airplanes. I'll be mixing and matching, accessorizing, dolling up and down. When I'm home, though, I'll be back in my uniforms. I've grown to love them.
• 2021-01-15

  The old gray mask

  I would like to submit my gray, cotton face mask to the COVID-19 Archive. It is perhaps not as the most important item, but certainly it is the most present item for me throughout this pandemic. At almost a full year into this adventure, everyone has a keen familiarity with and opinion of face masks. I got this one as a gift. It feels about the same as getting socks on Christmas, except more useful. I have used this thing every single day unless I forget it—which sends me into a chaotic panic. I am a teacher in a suburb of Nashville, TN. Our school district insists on teaching in person, despite having alarmingly high infection rates in our community. This mask is now part of my daily uniform, a non-negotiable. It serves as a role model for students. A sign that their health is of paramount concern to us. It is part of everything I do. I have dozens of paper replacements in my desk. Those aren’t as good. They straps hurt your ears. The cloth ones are better, more comfortable. I thought about getting one with my favorite band’s logo, but I am going to stick with this old reliable gray, cotton mask. The smell of this mask will haunt me the rest of my life. I wash it multiple times per week. It often smells like laundry detergent. That is a good thing. However, by the end of the day it often smells like whatever I had for lunch. The masks gets hot. It is blasted with my carbon dioxide for eight hours straight. It gets really bad when I have to lecture during the day. When you inhale sharply to talk, it sucks in the material. I’ve learned how to breathe differently when I have the mask on. Sometimes I just pinch the end and hold it with my fingers while I talk. I can rarely take it off. I panic if I forget to put it on when I leave my classroom to go anywhere. Who would have ever thought this little cloth mask would be so important? I often doubt that it is effective at preventing the spread or contraction of infection. I am certainly NOT an anti-masker. But it’s a piece of cloth. I guess that it’s better than nothing. This gray cotton face mask, sometimes imbued with the glorious smell of fresh linen in the breeze or Last night’s roast and mashed potatoes has become a source of loathing and resentment, but simultaneously an anti-viral security blanket (if only in my imagination). Yet, I can’t wait to get rid of this vile thing.
• 2021-01-15

  Covid 19 Virtual Learning

  After months and months of online school I developed my daily routines. Roll out of bed, get ready and hop on the zoom call at 8. Take a break, make a snack and get back into class. Online school was difficult because everyday felt the same. Over and over days up in my room finishing assignments, watching a zoom, and talking to teachers. FaceTime and Zoom were the closest possible thing to interacting with friends which posed as a difficult obstacle for everyone. Although we were able to wake up later and not have to wear uniforms, I was never more upset about not going to school. It seemed like it was all bad but there were a few things that especially brought me joy like spending time with family, playing video games with friends, setting up zoom calls on holidays with relatives. It seemed as if the world had shut down for brief period of time. Businesses, airports, restaurants and even some grocery stores were closed. Here we are now slowly returning back to the new normal and adapting to a new way of life. Things were tough but overall I think we came out stronger together than before.
• 2021-01-15

  School During Covid

  During Covid-19 our school shut down. We had to stay home, and just worry about how bad this virus could really be. They extended our classes to 90 minutes. This could benefit the teachers by giving them enough time to complete a section we were currently learning. Most students disliked this however since now they have to give their full attention for 90 minutes.Instead of the regular 30-40 minutes, Not having to wear uniform or starting class somewhat later was a benefit for me and others, but it came at a cost.
• 2021-01-15T10

  Virtual Learning during Covid-19

  At the start of Covid-19, we had to do virtual learning for the rest of the last semester until now. Online learning was better in my opinion. I liked it better because we got to sleep in, and also we didn't need to get changed into uniforms. But I also liked it because we had more free time right after school ended right at 2:45, but now I only have free time at 3:30 because that is when we get home. I liked it because everything was online and we didn't have to write on a piece of paper and get our hand tired. But I also like seeing my friends in-person school. I like online leaning better than in-person school.
• 2021-01-15

  Online School

  Online School has been rough it has its ups and many down. For Example its so hard to pay attention when you get a buzz on your phone and go to check it next thing you know your on it for 1 hour. The up side is that you dont hto get ready becadsue at my school you have to wear a uniform but in online you can wear whatever. Its also so much harder to learn because you can ask you teacher a question and have them show it to you. What makes it even harder for me is that im a visual learner. These are my reasons why i like and dislike online school
• 2020-12-14T12:39

  covid 19 experience

  During this pandemic, I started doing online school, which is horrible. I had to sit on zoom ALL DAY LONG which is just as awful as it sounds. The only good thing was that I didn't have to wear a uniform hehehe. I actually had a good summer even though everything in my state was closed. I went to Wyoming, Utah, Newport, and Lake Powell. In the middle of 8th grade this past month I found out I was moving from California to Utah, which I was happy about because I like Utah a lot better than California, even though I'm sad to leave all my friends and family behind. My parents were lucky enough to keep their jobs when a lot of other people aren't.
• 2020-12-10

  The day it all began

  It was a normal day like any other. I got up, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and put on my uniform. I then headed downstairs to go eat breakfast. I got downstairs, had an egg, and then I got my backpack and got in the car. My dad dropped me off and then I had my classes. After school I heard people talking about a sickness but I kind of ignored them and proceeded down the stairs to carpool. My mom picked me up and then we headed home and I did homework and relaxed. The next day I got up did the usual and headed for school. I heard more people talking about this illness and I was kind of like. Oh well its flu season so it's probably the flu and so I cared on not expecting what would come next.
• 2020-06

  A Difference Between Blue Lives and Black Lives.

  This experience was a phone call I had with my mother in June. My mother is a corrections officer and works in the local jail. Amidst the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, I was discussing with my mom that I value her and the work she does, yet I fully support the BLM movement and the demand for justice. The conversation shifted to white privilege and I shared my ideas on what white privilege is and how it shows up. Towards the end of the conversation, my mother stated that she should be able to wear her uniform in public without being criticized, judged, or feeling unsafe, and how it was ‘unfair’ that the BLM movement targeted police officers. My response was, “at least you have the option to take your uniform and feel safe, whereas black people do not have that option.”
• 
  2020-09-19

  Covid doesn’t stop the military

  After eight years of active duty service for the US Navy my husband decided to get out and join the reserves. Since March he has been required to check in remotely and do all work online. One of the perks not having to wear his heavy boots. This has slowly started to feel like a new normal for our family. I’m not sure when he will be able to return to base and resume his normal duties there but until then he’s doing the best he can. HST580 Arizona State University
• 
  2020-06-16

  Masks On the March

  This private first class deploys the US military's newest weapon, as the Army continues to train to fight the enemies of the future while defending against an enemy it cannot see. Prior to the pandemic, mask-wearing proved exceptionally rare in the USA, but with no mitigation effort being spared in the quest to arrest COVID-19's global march, both civilians and soldiers alike rely on them to keep the contagion at bay.
• 2020-02-12

  Doctors with the special uniforms

  Usually, doctors only wear white coat in their office. However, due to the danger of COVID19 decease, doctors have to wear protective suit from the head to the bottom. Their dressing code is totally different from before. It showed the severe danger of COVID19 for human in this year.
• 
  2020-06-01

  Quarantine

  So far I've been staying at home and going on many walks. This image i upldoaded describes how bad 2020 has been so far.
• 
  2020-04-10

  Cat Nurse with Ken’s PPE

  Created during quarantine, the object sheds light on the social uses of crafts — and the meanings of girls’ play — to manage anxieties about the threat that the virus poses to ill protected health professionals. She is wearing a vintage Ginny Doll uniform but the mask belongs to a Ken doll.