Our readers share their ‘lockdown’ experiences |20 April 2020

COVID-19 has forced many of us to take a break. Take a break from everything else and focus on ourselves, our lives, our families and our immediate needs. Many people are discovering new talents and hobbies and many of us are rediscovering our spouse, our children and family. Some of our readers shared with us how they are living life in ‘confinement’.

Yhoni Vahad Farabeau: “Well it’s not really easy to adapt to life in confinement. You always have to find new things to do daily to keep yourself busy such as cleaning etc. You can only chat with your close friends and family by video calls or text messages. We also have to prioritise as to when to go to the shops as well and with only one or two family members. It’s not something that we are used to since it’s a whole new way of living that we have to adapt to. On a positive side we know it’s to protect ourselves, our family and our country. If we maintain the social distancing and respect the regulations we might overcome this. We must know that it starts with us.”

Enjel Duseur Savy: “We are at home trying to keep our heads up above all. I am feeling very tired physically for unexplained reasons. Our family is cooking more and trying the home schooling as we can. The kids are having anxiety for not being at school. We have to improvise activities to do with them as they are still small.”

Sylvie Francoise: “Hi everyone in Seychelles. My name is Sylvie, currently studying in Malaysia. For more than a month, the Malaysian government has put in place a Movement Control Order (MCO) and no one is allowed to go out after 8pm. In the meantime, I busy myself with my dissertation. I also meditate and read a lot. Moreover, I have just created a facebook group called ‘The Ladies of the Islands’ and I seek comfort with the rest of the ladies in there. All-in-all, I am taking the time to do the things that I have always wanted to do. I do hope that everyone is keeping safe and staying home. This virus is real and it is killing a lot of people here. So please listen to Dr Gedeon, Dr Louange and the rest of the medical team. Sending you all lots of love and light in this trying time!”

Hazel Shireen Jacques Mathiot: “I am a skipper by profession and every Wednesday I have to go on the island to bring supplies for workers staying there. Other than that I stay home as usual taking every advice from the health department. I stay home with the family and spend more time with them which was not the case before.”

Flavie Cetoupe: “I live with my two daughters, Kelly and Kim Laporte at Perseverance. It has taken some time getting used to the situation. I would have thought it would be difficult being forever in each other's feet but it is not really. We are taking this time to bond given that before I was extremely busy with work life, political life and other voluntary work in which I am engaged in at community level. We actually spend a lot of time together ... we watch movies which commonly interest us ... We also do fellowship together and listen to preaching that does help a lot in growing our faith. Oh! we do have so much fun moments and share some good laughter. Amazingly there seems to be no tension and no arguments between the siblings (which were being expected as we are stuck in the house ... not that they are used to it). I have actually gone back to developing my cooking ... I seem to be always in the kitchen and the girls just seem to love my dishes. Even the girls are enjoying the kitchen. They are now baking. We are also using this time to catch up on some chores that we keep postponing. I am also developing course programmes ... I had one day per week to do that when at work but now I have loads of time on my hand. No complaints there. Somehow the confinement is also an opportunity for one to reflect on one's life itself ... One thing I have realised is that I actually may be a good stay-at-home mum but the boredom of the routine will kill me since I am more of an active person, a doer. I do catch up with my friends on the phone, on FB ... the only thing missing is their actual presence where we all sit and relax and just enjoy each other's company. But then I guess being away from them just makes you appreciate them more. I am truly learning to appreciate life itself in its splendour. The key is to live each day at a time and learn to appreciate each other in the house. After all we are each other’s support and encouragement at this point in time.”

Farana Jeanine Commettant: “Well as a mother with two kids and currently self employed the corona situation at home has not been easy, because I am not receiving any weekly income like before. However I am taking the ample time to reflect more on my spiritual growth, AND focus more on my plans for the future especially with the construction of my house. Apart from this I am taking the chance to know my kids better. Every day I wake up, pray, do some chores, take care of the kids and then I will chat with my friends on Facebook . On certain days I will also dress up as if I am going out, put some music on and dance the night away.”

Charles family: “We live on La Digue. Our family is using this lockdown for new innovations! We are trying to bake some pastries and the kids are taking turns at cooking the family meal each day. We also study and pray together. So far so good!”

Vidya Gappy