From things I have not done at all like seeing the northern lights to other aspirations that I have already started working towards, like visiting all the national parks, this is a fairly comprehensive list of the things I would love to do before my time here ends.
I never thought I was going to spend 2020 with my family in a global pandemic where we could not leave our house. To be fair, no one did. Quarantine during 2020 was pretty nerve-wracking and time-warpy. I lost track of time; seriously I thought it Tuesday for like 4 days straight and I ate pizza rolls for almost all of those days.
Anyways, here’s what kept me sane during quarantine in 2020. From things that made me laugh, things I repeatedly did and just simple movement around the house while trying not to annoy the rest of my family at 2am.
Movement in a Small Home in Hawaii
For those who may not know, homes in Hawaii are not that big (except the size of the fancy ones). With less than 1300 square feet and 4 other people in the house 24/7, movement or any type of physical activity was hard.
The solid majority of movement I did during quarantine was from my bed to the couch where I would promptly fall asleep again.
I did some running around my Animal Crossing Island during quarantine too. Does that count as movement? I’m gonna count that as movement.
Some Music and Shows I Found During Quarantine That I Love
I watched the Netflix show “Derry Girls” and I cannot recommend it more. It had me laughing way to much considering its set during a time of political turmoil in Northern Ireland.
I had watched the first season of “Schitt’s Creek” but just never found time to finish it until quarantine, so that was nice! It did bring me that depression though you get when shows are over.
I also highly recommend this German TV series called “Dark.” Sci-fi and mind-bending were just the appropriate themes for a show I binged watch for three days straight during quarantine.
I cannot recommend music without mentioning Tyler Childers. I’m not a big fan of modern country but he is one of the few exceptions. This particular song came was released at the height of Black Lives Matter protests last year. Childers challenges the notion of what it means to be a rural white Appalachian (mostly his entire fanbase) and asks them to show compassion and empathy for marginalized communities.
Conclusions and Some Serotonin
I will admit, there are many more I can add to these categories but most are not appropriate to write in this blog post to be honest. That and I cannot embed pictures yet but feel free to message me if you wanna see some cardboard surfing we did by a ditch across from our house. I also have funnier videos to share if you’re comfortable with swearing.
In conclusion, though, quarantine was absolutely the worst and I could not form any intelligent thoughts. Please wear a mask and have some serotonin posted below:
2020 was a crazy year for the whole world and myself, but I wouldn’t have gotten through it without music. Music brings me so much joy in my life and I decided to showcase my top five songs of 2020 so let’s begin!
5. Lose You To Love Me: Selena Gomez
Every time I listen to this song it makes me feel so powerful and empowered as a woman that you need to love yourself first before loving someone else.
4. Yummy: Justin Bieber
I love the song and the music video is so fun and colorful so why not!
3. Don’t Start Now: Dua Lipa
Hands down she is a queen! 👸
2. Blinding Lights: The Weekend
I feel in love with the album this song is on and would love to see him concert one day🙀
1. Wonder: Shawn Mendes
I have been a fan of him since he started on Youtube a long time ago and have fallen in love with the song and how beautifully made the music video is.
There are still so many amazing songs that were released in 2020, but these are just a few and I have created a collaborative playlist on Spotify so my readers can share some of their favorite songs from 2020! Feel free to add as many songs as you want so we can jam together!🎸
These are a list of things as of January 2021 that my body does very poorly.
Riding A Bike
Even after being alive for 21 years and living in Japan (where everyone rides a bike), I still can’t ride one.
Bikes don’t make sense to me. I can imagine balancing on a unicycle better.
Detecting Threats
If any blowing bubbles get on my skin, my body freaks out. I swell up for a day or two (because, obviously, these cute little orbs are very life-threatening and dangerous).
Does this mean Elmo is stronger than me?
Parallel Parking
Even if it took me SEVEN HOURS to drive somewhere and the only available parking was by parallel parking, I’d literally just drive back home. I don’t care.
FYI they still parallel park better than me.
Growing
Most people in my family are 5’6 or taller, but I’m currently 5’2.
My family keeps track of my height on a door, hoping that I get taller… But I’ve been shrinking ever since middle school for no reason.
An actual photo of what’s happening inside my DNA.
Driving on Roundabouts
If you’re ever in the car with me for one of these, I might give you whiplash or kill us both.
But if you’re ever driving around me at one of these, you better be in one place and one place only. As far away from me as possible.
Contractors and construction workers knowing that they’re ruining my life after they build another roundabout.
Tolerating Milk
I’d honestly have no hard feelings toward natural selection if being lactose intolerant took me out. I need to do better and I know it.
This past year has been a trying one for nearly everyone– from a global pandemic, an exhausting election, a climate in crisis, and a seemingly never-ending battle for systemic justice. It’s natural to wish for an escape to somewhere far away, taking in the beauty of uncorrupted nature and simply enjoying life. Unfortunately, travel during the pandemic is greatly limited, meaning that most folks rely on what’s nearby to fulfill their wanderlust fantasies. This post details some of the ways I have personally managed to get out and about during this quarantine.
1. Take a picnic to a local park
Going on a picnic is a nice way to get outside the house and maybe evening reconnect with friends and family– from a socially safe distance, of course. It’s also a great way to support local business by taking food to-go and eating elsewhere.
This video has some great ideas of what you should pack on your picnic:
2. Go take a hike (literally)
One unexpected perk of quarantine is that it actually forced me to leave my house and venture outdoors to maintain sanity. Hiking is a healthy and safe way to get some fresh air and see the world free from the fears of large crowds during a pandemic. No matter what type of hiker you are, it is definitely a good way to escape the world’s problems for a few hours.
When you feel like you are cooped up inside during quarantine, houseplants are great companions! They purify the air, give you something to take care of, and they won’t infect you with a deadly virus. My houseplant collection has definitely grown since the pandemic hit, and it makes me feel like there’s a bit of the outside world in my space when I am not able to go outside.
My favorite local nursery is Cornell Farms! They are located in Southwest Portland, and walking around the farm is a fun outing all on its own.
I have found that most of my desire to get out and do something comes from the ever-present monotony of the online world. I am staring at a screen almost constantly throughout the day. From teaching to attending class to FaceTiming friends, my life revolves around my computer. But too much screen time can be bad for your mental and physical health, so I have tried to spend some time finding hobbies that I enjoy away from my laptop.
Some specific screen-free hobbies that I’ve personally dedicated time to are:
Baking
Embroidery
Crochet
Running
Yoga
Doing jigsaw puzzles
Reading novels
Listening to podcasts
This article has some other very helpful hobby suggestions!
Sooner or later this all will end…
… so we might as well make the best of the time we have while we have it. While so many popular activities and pass times seem limited, there are still a whole host of different options to keep yourself mentally healthy and happy during quarantine. Take care of yourselves!
March of 2020 marked a big change for many people. COVID19 shocked the world. Many people were left feeling isolated as we navigate a new lifestyle of social distancing. COVID19 changed my life and sent me back to Alaska and instead of leaving me isolated in a singular home. It left my community isolated on our island.
So, here is a wrap up of my life during the 2020 Pandemic on an Isolated Island.
First thing is first, I had to leave Portland and head home to Metlakatla, Alaska.
To start I packed my things and hopped on a jet to Seattle.
Then I had to take another jet from Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska.
Once I landed in Ketchikan, I got off the plane and sat in the baggage claim for hours waiting for my parents to pick me up on our fishing boat and take me back to our island.
Normally when traveling home, I would take two ferries. One from the island the airport is on to Ketchikan, and then another from Ketchikan to Metlakatla.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B93FXEmFD0Z/
Once I got home, I spent a lot of time fishing, hiking, and on zoom courses.
I continued and finished the spring semester online and then continued with classes online for the summer semester and then the fall semester as well. This picture describes how I’ve felt almost everyday.
Strangely enough, I listened to this crime podcast to relax when I wasn’t in class or doing homework.
We had minimal COVID19 cases (less than 10 for the entire year), so I was still able to see friends. If I wasn’t in class or listening to my podcast, I was most likely with my friends on a car ride.
This work covers a lot of the amazing loves I have adopted over the years, both of the animate and inanimate kinds. Sadly, not every item that brings me joy can be covered here. So, I have limited it to the following topics:
Jokes
Music
Animals
Travel
Books
Television
Arts & Crafts
Family
… Jokes
I cannot help but laugh at jokes, especially nerdy ones. I have begun to collect chemistry-related jokes. Here is one: I don’t trust atoms. They make up everything!
I know. That was fantastic right? It might have already brightened you day. Maybe not. Chemistry humor is not for everyone.
I also include parodies in this section. This one might be my favorite. Yours too, especially if you like Star Wars.
… Music
Sometimes the right song speaks to your soul and you feel so positive, maybe even happy. Maybe it is the words themselves or the simple cadence of the notes. One of my go-to uplifting songs is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. Here is the video:
Another good one is from the musical Wicked. Click below for your viewing pleasure. You may even recognize the singers from their more recent works.
Don’t you just feel inspired after that? I do. Maybe I can go wash that pile of laundry or do one of my assignments now.
… Animals
I have lived with pets all of my life and could not imagine their absence. With their adorable faces and beautiful personalities, what is not to love?
I cannot help but smile at these adorable puppies as they explore the outdoors. My family just recently adopted a new puppy, a red heeler now named Raiya. She is the cutest. She makes these little yips when she wants to play with Mae, one of our other dogs. She loves to snuggle too. Even our senior pup, Shamrock, wants to be pals with the new addition. In addition to these three cuties, I also have 4 miniature rabbits. Their names are Vader, Ice, Ash, and Mouse. Each has his/her own personality. I love cuddling with Mouse. She will sit with me for hours while I watch a movie.
… Travel
New places and their cultures have always excited me. My favorite part about a long-distance trip is when the tires come up and the plane leaves the run-way. It means I am going somewhere new, somewhere different, with so much to see. I love discovering parts of places that I will miss and want to bring home. Often, it is food-related. When my family went to Amsterdam, we discovered poffertjes, a small pancake-like food. They dust them with butter and powdered sugar. Boy, are they tasty! We now have the special pans required to make them along with the mix used to make them. I have also picked up a love of honey from the Russian market, tredelnik, baklava, and couscous, just to name a few.
… Books
Now, sometimes, the funds to physically travel other places is rather… lacking. With novels, however, you can travel to another world in a second for a fraction of the cost! In all honesty, I haven’t always loved reading. When I was in grade school, it took a miracle to get me to read. All that changed, however, with the promise of a puppy. My parents made me a deal where if I read 3,000 pages, I could get my very own puppy. And so I did. That puppy is now 15 years old and her name is Shammy. During those 3,000 pages I discovered a few books that I actually enjoyed. One was the Prophecy of the Stones, though I forgot the author. Now, I am a bookworm and I dream of having a library like that in beauty and the beast.
… Television
Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the story of a novel as it unfolds. It is also difficult to share the experience of living in the author’s creation. TV can now address these problems. With minimal effort on your part, you can be transported into another dimension. You can watch superheroes as they defeat injustice. Or feel the pressure of an ER doctor. You grow attached to characters or cement your disgust of others. All of this happens through the use of a screen. One of my favorite shows is Criminal Minds. It has beautiful gems like the following:
… Arts & Crafts
This is a rather broad topic, I know. It covers everything from wood working to painting to sewing. To me, though, it is always fun to get a little messy. In high school, I took an art class and discovered the joy (and also the frustration) behind both oil and acrylic painting, and drawing. My mom introduced me to acrylic pouring and it is so much fun!! I have included a short video for an idea of what it is like, though there is so much you can do with it. Other projects on the docket include: painting on (birch) bark, creating and painting ceramics, and even beading.
… Family
My family is my core. I cannot imagine life without a single member, though 2020 had me contemplating that quite often. They are always there for me. I love my dad’s ability to charm and host. I admire my mother’s firmness in her beliefs, even when it costs her popularity. My brother is always there when I need help. I take for granted the bond I have with them. Being around them makes me smile. At least, most of the time it does. I do have my limits for social interaction. 🙂
In these times, I hope you can find something that bring you joy, if you haven’t already. Sometimes, it is too small to see. Sometimes, it is too big to miss and has been staring you in the face the whole time.
Teaching virtually isn’t what I had expected my student teaching year to look like, nor did I think I would ever have to live through a pandemic. Although there are many challenges that this year has brought, there are also many motivating things that have helped shape this year to be a year full of growth and new understandings. Here’s to the things that help us remember that teaching isn’t all about zoom! This post includes quotes, Youtube videos, Instagram posts and more that all give me a glimmer of hope or a laugh when I need it!
Rita Pierson tells us about the impact that teacher can have on their students.
Here are some things that keep me smiling in 2021, despite this never ending pandemic. : )
Moving back to Portland
It has been great to come back to Portland after winter break. I am so grateful to be back in my house that I live in with my friends off-campus. I love being independent and cooking for myself.
Plants
I have a growing addiction to buying plants. I love taking care of them and have recently been learning how to propagate plants. This means taking clippings of plants and growing them in water so they can develop their own roots. I was also grateful to discover when I came home from winter break that all my plants were still alive.
TikTok
TikTok has actually been a fun way to keep in touch with a lot of my friends and family that I haven’t been able to see during this pandemic. I can never remember to text people, but my friends and I always send each other funny videos. I also love sending TikToks to my sister to keep in touch and have a laugh. Here are some good ones from the past month.
I have been listening to a lot of good music lately as well. Here are a few of my favorite albums, songs, and artists that I have been listening to lately.
Album: Three. Two. One. by Lennon Stella
Artist: Men I Trust
Artist: Still Woozy
Cats!
One of my housemates brought her cats to live with us this semester. They are so cute and sweet and we love having them in the house!
An accurate representation of me snowboarding for the first time! I left the mountain with lots of bruises, but also some great memories with my best friend.
February
My first time at Las Vegas to visit my boyfriend for spring break. The Bellagio was a must-see, and a week was not enough to be satisfied with all the flashiness that Vegas entails.
Ahh yes, flashbacks to the time UP told us that we are in a pandemic and gave us 3 days to book a ticket home. A bittersweet feeling of going home to be with family but leaving the college life behind. Little did we know what was in store for us.
April
When we were quarantined at home with a whole island lockdown, we had nothing else to do but work out, watch Lion King, and make whipped coffee. I can recite all of Chloe Ting’s workouts on command, and it’s safe to say that I did not get “ABS IN 2 WEEKS!”.
May
I finished my freshman year of college (not exactly how I wanted it), but definitely a memorable one. I was able to get the grades I wanted and I was able to sleep in again without 5am zoom calls.
June
A dynamic shift in the world when George Floyd’s case happened and the Black Lives Matter protests erupted. All of a sudden, people were all in conflict over human rights and politics, and it will forever be recorded in the history books. (For my defense, this backlash should have been happening way before today instead of staying complacent)
Portland on July 24th- I wish I was there to join this protest but I’m glad that Portland was able to get together even a month later to stand up for what’s right. Most definitely a powerful moment caught on camera, I had to retweet.
— Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) July 25, 2020
August
Literally me when realizing that 8am classes are actually 5am HST. I love UP and all, but this gif is me trying to wake up in the morning for a Physical Science class.
September
I had to add this song onto my timeline because when I think about September, I think about repeating this song over and over again. Spotify really said this is my number 1 played song for 2020, and for good reason because Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion are goddesses and geniuses.
October
Birthday month! This is a picture of what I would want my birthday party to look like if only we weren’t in a global pandemic 🙂 Nonetheless, I was able to spend it with my friends and family (safely), and it was more fun than I expected.
November
November, my favorite month of 2020. I felt like the most stable- I was doing good in school, I had a steady job, and a good gym routine. I was especially proud of my accomplishments made at the gym. I was in the best shape of my life and it was so rewarding.
December
December was a tough month where everything changed. My family got into an accident and I fractured my femur, forcing me to learn how to walk again. Everything can change so fast and so easily, so to say I’m savoring how good 2020 was before December 24th, is an understatement.
