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The Stories

M.A.A., 53, a homemaker in Menifee, CA

“Aunque sea Mejicana, la vida de aquí en los Estados Unidos es de salir y de consumir demasiada afuera. Creo que es la razón porque el quarantena nos ha afectado particularmente contra otra naciones, con las protestas que ya veas en la sociedad Americana. Pienso que el mundo ya está respirando un poco más, pero todavía nos hace falta mucho por hacer por este mundo. Con tiempo de reflejar, ya veo que necesitamos cambiar las sistemas de gobierno…”

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T.S., 65, a retired librarian in Missoula, MT

“…It is difficult coming to terms with the realization that the world I knew has significantly changed. I remember hearing my grandmother talk about about the changes in her life brought about by the influenza epidemic in 1918. I’ll try to learn as much as I can while undergoing this experience so I will have something to relate to my future grandchildren.”

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R.Y., 52, a professor in Beverly Hills, CA

“The pandemic drove our family closer physically and emotionally. Online especially through Zoom, I’m connected to larger communities and working on making our voice heard. I’m reading and writing more, and feel the pandemic will shape the near future to be more reactive and reflective for the general global public.”

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Y.K., 52, an interpreter in Seoul, South Korea

“나는 집에서 모든 식구들이 갇힌 상태라 오히려 짜증과 불안으로 힘들어 할 거라고 생각했다. 물론 서로와 부딪히는 시간도 있었다. 하지만 우리 가족은 이 격리생활을 즐기게 되었고 그동안 해왔던 사회생활과 그 많은 모임들이 어찌보면 약간 불필요할 정도로 많지 않았나 생각한다… 난 우리 가족과 내 자신을 더 reflect 할 시간을 갖게 된 것에 감사한다.”

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J.W.T., 44, a professor in Teresina, Brazil

“O nosso presidente, Jair Bolsonaro, é um necrófilo consumado, um dublê de tirano sem o talento para tal, e sua necropolítica em relação à Covid-19 consiste simplesmente em rechaçar a voz da ciência, minimizar o valor das vidas perdidas e pregar o término da quarentena a fim de salvar a pele do empresariado que financiou sua campanha à presidência.”

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E.R., 18, a student in Seoul, South Korea

“Being extremely vulnerable to the pressure to feel productive, I forced myself to follow my friends and “make the most of” my quarantine. Without a reason to be busy, I was left alone to ruminate repeatedly over self-destructive thoughts. It was not fun.”

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A.D.W.M., 20, a student in Kericho, Kenya

“Without knowing whether i will be able to fly to the States this fall, i am afraid that i may end up missing out on the college experience that i desired and aimed for when applying. Opportunities such as diversity, internships, and the spirit of exploration may all be diminished. And the financial burden that may come with it is simply unimaginable.”

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S.M., 29, a project manager in Madrid, Spain

“…it is mandatory to wear gloves, everybody is scared and looking at you with skeptic eyes whether you might have “it” ( the virus) or not […] It was not fun at all. […] However, the entire situation taught me many positive things. It taught me to be super creative (during birthday celebrations, during moment of complete boredom and on deciding what to eat)…”

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X.Y., 37, a medical worker in Wuhan, China

“在出征仪式上,我们重温了入党的誓言,又做了宣誓。L就站在人群的最后面,拿着手机给我拍照,一直看我。[…] 他跟我讲,从大方向上看,他是支持我来的。但是关起门来回到自己的小家,谁也不愿意把自己的另一半往火坑里推。“

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Life in Quarantine: Witnessing Global Pandemic is an initiative sponsored by the Poetic Media Lab and the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis at Stanford University.

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