Today is my first day experiencing “Online Learning”. This shift was made due to the infamous COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus. This happens to be the first assignment that I am completing remotely form the comfort of my home. But am I actually “comfortable”? The answer is no, I’m not. This is so new to me. I might even say it’s scary. I don’t know what to expect from my classes, I don’t know how some of the instruction is going to take place.
I put myself at ease by reminding myself that we are all experiencing the same issues together as we navigate through this. I remind myself that I can spend more time with my puppy (who is almost 1!!) and I can tackle my never ending pile of books “TBR” (to be read).
As news surrounding the virus began to emerge, I was lost. There was so much information but I had no idea where to start. Through our discussion about the virus, its symptoms, and effects on our world, I made sure to do some research on my own. I started with a podcast my cousin shared with me, “Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction” hosted by the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. What I appreaciate about this podcast is that he puts all the horrors and myths surrounding COVID-19 into human language. He makes it extremely easy to understand the technical and medical terms he uses throughout his discussions with other professionals. Each episode is short and informative. His insight and the facts he shares put me at ease. I listened to about 6 episodes before stopping myself because of too much media exposure at once. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed and sometimes shocked by the new information I was learning.
I read occasional articles and would of course see the memes online making fun of the situation at hand. But it all became too much at one point. The frequent updates on the number of deaths in certain countries, the growing list of company closings and city-wide shutdowns. I chose to distance myself from the center of the information.
I’ve decided to take a step back and immerse myself in this virtual learning experience. I am excited to see what these two weeks will bring for me. I have a few plans and DIY projects in the works. I hope to turn this into a positive time at home.
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