Collected Item: “Sara Mount Oral History, 2022/01/26”
Title
Interview with Sara Mount
Who conducted the interview? List all names, separated by comma.
Kit Heintzman
Who was interviewed? List all names, separated by commas.
Sara Mount
Email Address(es) for all interviewers. Separated by comma.
kheintzman@gmail.com
Use one-word hashtags (separated by commas) to describe your oral history. For example: Where did it originate? How does this object make you feel? How does this object relate to the pandemic?
#Arizona, #CDC, #Christmas, #COVIDpositive, #Cuba, #Cuban, #depression, #election, #Europe, #flight, #Germany, #hugs, #languagebarriers, #Maryland, #masks, #masking, #mentalillness, #misinformation, #monoclonalantibodies, #mother, #NewYears, #NocheBuena, #Omicron, #optimism, #PCP, #Spanish, #tourism, #travel, #vaccine, #voting, #weightloss, #working
What is the format of your recording?
Video
In what ZIP code is the primary residence of the interviewee? (enter 5-digit ZIP code; for example, 00544 or 94305)? In what city/town/village does the interviewee live? In what country does the interviewee live? All comma-separated.
Silver Springs, MD
What is the gender of the interviewee? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their gender in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a gender identity to interviewees.*
Ms.
What is the age of the interviewee?
75 or older
How does the interviewee describe their race or ethnicity? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their race/ethnicity in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a racial or ethnic identity to interviewees.*
My mother was a 7th generation Cuban, my father was born in Spain. I have always consider myself Hispanic or Latino American.
Describe the oral history.
Self-description: “I’m somebody that has been affected quite a bit by the pandemic, has kept my work schedule down a lot. But you know, outside of that fact that I have not been able to be with my son as often as I would like too, I don’t feel like it has taken a huge toll on me. I’m sure it has, mentally. I’m a fairly optimistic person, so I tend to look on the good side.”
Some of the things we discussed include:
Being in an at risk category by virtue of age (83 years old), even though very healthy
Not being able to work for the first year of the pandemic; works as a liaison for a fragrance company
Practicing isolation as a very outgoing person and frequent traveler
First hearing about the pandemic in January 2020 while in the Dominican Republic while taking a group on tour
Last pre-pandemic trip in Feb 2020: a large gem show event planned in Arizona with a large international group of dealers and participants; organizers calling the CDC about the show in advance and early sanitation interventions
Similarities and differences on pre- and mid- pandemic travel summer 2021
Watching adult-son from a distance struggle with career related visas in the UK and Europe
Maryland’s quick response to vaccination
Relief associated with getting vaccinated; timing international travel around vaccination schedules
Masking culture in Europe
Helping older Spanish speakers access vaccines and boosters who were encountering language barriers
Vaccine culture in Cuba; having, as a child, watched her mother–the mayor of a small town in Cuba–distribute vaccines
The USA presidential election; voting by mail
Deferring to scientists for safety advice
Increased awareness of touch, becoming more protective of one’s hands, elbow bumps
First post-vaccination hug
Caring for a loved one with depression; son having poor access to medication and doctors in Europe
Testing before social events
Online Noche Buena and New Years celebrations
Catching Omicron, mild symptoms, inaccessible testing; no support from PCP after testing positive
Having an ER physician in the family
Planning ahead for tourism travel in Oct 2022
Misinformation, knowledge and authority
See also:
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/rock-gem/20211001/281526524161932
https://www.rockngem.com/moroccan-aragonite-specimens-by-the-millions/
Some of the things we discussed include:
Being in an at risk category by virtue of age (83 years old), even though very healthy
Not being able to work for the first year of the pandemic; works as a liaison for a fragrance company
Practicing isolation as a very outgoing person and frequent traveler
First hearing about the pandemic in January 2020 while in the Dominican Republic while taking a group on tour
Last pre-pandemic trip in Feb 2020: a large gem show event planned in Arizona with a large international group of dealers and participants; organizers calling the CDC about the show in advance and early sanitation interventions
Similarities and differences on pre- and mid- pandemic travel summer 2021
Watching adult-son from a distance struggle with career related visas in the UK and Europe
Maryland’s quick response to vaccination
Relief associated with getting vaccinated; timing international travel around vaccination schedules
Masking culture in Europe
Helping older Spanish speakers access vaccines and boosters who were encountering language barriers
Vaccine culture in Cuba; having, as a child, watched her mother–the mayor of a small town in Cuba–distribute vaccines
The USA presidential election; voting by mail
Deferring to scientists for safety advice
Increased awareness of touch, becoming more protective of one’s hands, elbow bumps
First post-vaccination hug
Caring for a loved one with depression; son having poor access to medication and doctors in Europe
Testing before social events
Online Noche Buena and New Years celebrations
Catching Omicron, mild symptoms, inaccessible testing; no support from PCP after testing positive
Having an ER physician in the family
Planning ahead for tourism travel in Oct 2022
Misinformation, knowledge and authority
See also:
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/rock-gem/20211001/281526524161932
https://www.rockngem.com/moroccan-aragonite-specimens-by-the-millions/
On what date did you record this oral history?
2022-01-26T16:48