How Coronavirus Changed your Life and Mine?

Through my personal experience with the global pandemic and quarantine, I have learned quite a lot. When the virus was first announced publicly, I thought that the news made it sound like a big deal to have an attention-grabbing topic on the news headlines and that this virus would vanish sooner or later like any other virus. Subsequently, I was pumped up and busy and ready for my second semester at DIDI but unfortunately, I was wrong, this virus is a big deal that even government announced a lockdown so they could control the virus and prevent it from spreading rapidly and to have the city disinfected. Since then I realized that this is a serious situation, DIDI starts the first ‘Online meeting ‘, wow I was thrilled when I knew that we are going to continue studying from our houses.

At that time, I was trapped in the student’s residence in Dubai, I used to go back to see my family every week or two. Because of the full lockdown in Dubai, it was tough to transport, and it was unsafe too, so I was feeling bored and down. Then, that day I was on my bed thinking about what could happen next.

I said to myself that I need to take some actions to make the quarantine enjoyable and useful, I started to learn how to cook, and how to make healthy delicious food specifically. Day after day I found myself energetic so I started to go to the gym to maintain my body’s energy. I decided on a life-changing decision which is quitting nicotine, since quarantine is the best time to quit smoking. I am trying to work on mental and physical to leave quarantine with positive memories and habits instead of slacking off and not taking care of myself.

Ramadan Kareem !

Since its Ramadan and us Muslims have religious rituals at night with our families it's interrupting my sleep schedule even though I have online classes to attend which is an issue that I am unable to adapt with. I admit that I missed some classes, but I always watch the recording to keep myself on track. I enjoyed working with the 2nd year students, one of the most important things I learned from this exercise is time management. In the end, I’d like to say that the past 3 months were a time to self-recovery and I have also learned through this experience to appreciate the little things we take for granted in life such as; going for a walk, shopping, meeting with a friend, etc..

We learned also that we are truly members of a global structure. The virus tells us in a very profound manner how we are intertwined and how we can live and prosper together or fail together. A single entity will corrupt hundreds, undoing the efforts of thousands working to separate themselves socially. The feeling is enhanced by realizing that we’re not alone in it. And, when we are united against a shared threat, the minor discrepancies between individuals or countries fall away.

So everyone is responsible, and we all affect each other.

By: Mohammad Al-Saleh