Writing Sample - A Day in My Life in Armenia During the State of Emergency

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic hit everyone hard, and I was no different. During the lockdowns in Armenia, the Repat Armenia team decided to publish a series of blogs with a common theme: life during quarantine. Here is mine!

The morning starts pretty much like every other morning. My routine has not changed. I get up at either 11 AM or 12 PM. Before accusing me of sloth, I should explain that I work in the evenings, from 5 PM to 2 AM, so I get up late every day. These days I usually stay in bed for an extra 30 minutes, checking social media to make sure my friends and people I love are OK. Then I actually force myself to get up, groaning from backache induced by a terribly old mattress. First thing I do after actually getting out of bed is what I’ve been doing for more than 20 years. I make my bed. I don’t know why, but my day just won’t start without this routine. Once that’s done, I pick up a water bottle and sip it up. Apparently, it’s important to stay hydrated. Next thing I do is look out my window. I have a clear view of Sis and Masis. However, these days they are mostly obscured behind the clouds. It’s almost as if the clouds don’t want them to see what’s happening in Armenia, or anywhere else for that matter. Nevertheless, the view is always beautiful. The dispersed clouds give a very relaxing aura to the sky, and the chirping of the birds only adds to that effect. I open a small top window to let the fresh air in, and I take a deep breath, holding it for about 20 seconds to allegedly make sure that I have no build-up in my lungs. Things you read on the internet!

What I do next will probably surprise you. I check my “potential infection” log. You see, many people do not abide by safety guidelines and they put others at risk. It’s not cool, but what can you do? It just happens. That’s why during the past week or so, I’ve kept a log of every potentially infected person I may have come in direct contact with. This could be either a coworker who was not feeling well, or some inconsiderate person on the bus who coughed without having the decency to cover it. I did not meet these people on the same day, so I started to keep a log. The symptoms begin anywhere between 2 to 12 days after contact, and so far, I am doing OK.

I then check to see whether my roommate is awake or not. He usually is. We take turns washing up and by 1:30 or 2 PM, the day officially starts for me. I eat breakfast at lunchtime, which depending on my mood is either toast with Nutella, honey, or some form of eggs. Tea or coffee also depends on my mood. I’ve recently started eating breakfast while looking outside our kitchen window. Makes sense, since we keep the toaster and the bread in there. Unfortunately, I’m greeted by the view of many Yerevanci citizens not following the imposed curfew. They are sitting in the yard smoking, and kids are playing around without parents’ supervision, often touching their eyes and faces after being in contact with various objects. I repeat to myself: “Don’t panic.” I take another bite out of the Nutella toast, enjoying the crunch.

Next comes work. I open my laptop to check Skype notifications. We are not really working, but I am in different departments of the company, so I do have things to do from home. I give assignments, and I take assignments, usually putting them on the backburner until later in the day. It’s about 3 PM now. My roommate usually starts to cook around this time, since he’s the cook in the apartment. Meanwhile I usually call my parents who are back home in Iran, where the virus has hit maybe 10 times as hard. Having family and friends abroad during times like these leaves a heavier strain on my heart. Nevertheless, both my parents are upbeat and we have fun during the video call. Yes, video call. I try to add as much physicality to my conversations as possible in times when we are even more immersed in technology. I don’t agree with the term “social” distancing and would much rather replace it with physical distancing instead. I digress. Anyway, at about 3:30 lunch is ready and we sit down behind our laptops to eat. I’m a slow eater, so I take my time. I watch videos on Youtube or listen to music while eating, and I regularly check Skype for work announcements. There are messages on social media here and there and I check them as well. Around 5 PM is when what I call “dead time” starts. Why is it dead time? Because there is not much to do, whereas on a regular day my official job would start at 5 PM. That’s OK, though. I’m getting used to it. I usually lie down and start to read a book while it is still light outside. I read so much that I end up feeling drowsy and nod of for an hour or so, waking up around 8 PM. I check Skype, social media, emails, etc. I try to get some writing done. It helps with the small portion of anxiety flying around like butterflies in my stomach.

I rarely leave the apartment, unless it’s necessary like taking out the trash or buying fresh bread. When I do go out, I do not wear masks, nor gloves, because I follow the guidelines provided by the WHO. I constantly remind myself not to touch my face in any circumstances. Outside feels the same as every day. Actually, it feels like a prolonged weekend and I think that’s what most people think it actually is. A holiday of some sorts. They do not understand the gravity of the situation. While writing this blog, an ambulance entered the yard and people in hazmat suits walked into a building across from us. Even then everyone remained outside. It boggles my mind, but I try not to think about it too much.

I do not do much during the day. My transition to Armenia was not a smooth one. Many things went wrong, and over time I developed a sort of anhedonia. I am trying to overcome that and the feeling of isolation, even though I have my best friend of 15 years as a roommate. I try to keep in touch with all of my friends as much as I can. I spend most of my free time reading and listening to music. Lately I have been fixated on a piece called The Disintegration Loops by William Basinski as I believe it perfectly embodies the spirit of this age, especially now. When I begin to feel too pensive, I put pen to paper and I write for hours until there is nothing to write about. Then comes night. We gather at the table and eat, usually having a beer along with dinner, cracking jokes and sharpening our tongues. After all is said and done, or in this case eaten and done, we get ready for bed.

Not much has changed. But what has changed has been significantly impactful. I sleep by covering myself with a blanket. I’ve always slept like that. Now, whenever I wake up in the morning, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude overtakes me when I feel the sun on my face after removing the blanket. I am alive. Another day has begun. There are no symptoms. I have survived another day. When I look at the view outside my bedroom window, the colors seem brighter. It is as if I have found a renewed appreciation of everything that many of us tend to undermine in our daily lives.

Fresh air, vibrancy of natural colors, intricacy of touch, the true value of someone’s embrace, the true importance of unplugged, physical communication. So much of this we took for granted. But not anymore. We will have to live very different lives after this dark era has passed. We will have to be more connected, physically, as well as virtually. No longer should we take our loved ones for granted, whether they are next to us or away from us. We will have to cherish every moment. And let this adversity be the coronation of a new era, in which we are more attentive to our fellow beings, our mental and physical health, our surroundings, and the beautiful fragility of our lives.