TRAVEL TAUGHT ME HOW TO STAY HOME
In these unexpected times, we wanted to give you the solid and comforting experience of hearing from people still living each day positively – their voices, their laughter, and modest advice. So we interviewed three of our adventurers.
Ellil is an essential worker who’s also a double cancer survivor. Cat is a first-year university student who’s had to return from her studies in Australia. Amal is a secondary school teacher now conducting home-based learning lessons, a cancer survivor as well.
Here are their thoughts on dealing with COVID-19 and the circuit breaker, drawing on their life experiences and perspectives gained from their travels.
From left to right: Ellil, Cat and Amal.
Who are you circuit-breaking with?
Ellil: I live with my wife, so just the two of us. My wife works from home, but I’m in the essential services (security) line, so I still go to work.
Cat: My whole family! My dad, my brothers, my sister-in-law. Only my dog is at my step mum’s place.
Amal: My parents and two younger brothers.
What are some difficult feelings you’ve had during this period?
Amal: Feeling trapped. Sometimes I want to get away from work, but it’s impossible to escape when I’m working from home with nowhere else to go. And everyone’s at home, so there’s not much space I can run away to.
Cat: Disappointment. I went there expecting to start my university life. I stayed a month then I had to come back already.
It was so sudden. They announced it one day before our classes started. It was on a Sunday. We were in the middle of a gathering for the Singaporean society, eating our dinner together. All of a sudden we got a notification on our phones saying lessons are going to move online tomorrow. I remember sitting alone, staring into blank space. I was thinking about whether I would come back or stay there. Looking back I think I made the right decision. It’s a relief to be back home.
Ellil: Apprehension. I’m part of a more vulnerable group because of my chemotherapy treatments. We have a compromised immune system. But I don’t think we should let such fears consume us and affect our day-to-day lives.
When I first got diagnosed with cancer, there was this devastation, fear, and worry. After going through treatment, I realized the fragility of life, and its uncertainty. I decided not to spend my time being miserable and worried.
Everyone will face problems. It’s how you want to feel dealing with these problems. Accept that the situation is here and we have to deal with it. Look at it rationally, what are the things I can still do?
This approach is something I adopted when faced with two cancers and a stoma bag - a triple whammy. It helped me become stronger mentally.
What does travel mean to you?
Snapshots from Cat, Ellil and Amal’s adventures in Mongolia.
Cat: Travelling is a form of learning. You can Google and ask people who have gone to certain countries before, but there’s some things you need to experience for yourself to know.
Ellil: It means getting a feel of the warmth of people. Getting a taste of the local culture, food, and places. Mingling with the locals and understanding how they live.
Amal: It’s an escape, a relief from work. My current approach is to go to places I feel very comfortable in. I decided it’s fine if I don’t manage to go to that many countries - as long as I enjoy my travels.
But it’s also nice to explore new countries, meet people, and appreciate how different yet similar things can be.
What has helped in this time?
Amal: I make it a point to run every other day. To get some personal time and space.
Cat: Movie marathons, listening to music, bringing my yoga mat to the balcony and just sitting there, doing some self-reflection.
Ellil: Just focusing on what I can do and taking my mind off the rest. I’ve been keeping myself busy with my work and volunteer activities with Singapore Cancer Society.
What’s the silver lining in this COVID-19 situation?
Amal: Good people who are willing to put themselves out there and contribute without asking for anything back.
Cat: With the circuit breaker, everyone has to stay home. It taught me one thing I’ve never done in my whole life - to spend more time with my family. And to appreciate it.
How are you going beyond in this period?
Cat: My friends and I are planning to start a project to contribute some funds for our foreign workers to stay in comfort during this period!
Amal: Going beyond with self-care, using this time to exercise more regularly, to cook my own meals and give myself space to rest and recuperate.
Ellil: Keeping myself busy with my work and volunteer activities. Trying to still be happy, and spreading positivity to my friends. The day before I initiated 4 video calls bringing people together, and everyone was smiling.
Life involves interaction with people – friends, family, loved ones. To not treasure this time together is such a shame! You will not get it back. So make the most of it.
Our uplifting Zoom session. Clockwise from top left: Cat, Scott (founder of B.E.), Sheryl (writer), Ellil and Amal.
Throw out a challenge for our fellow adventurers!
Ellil: If you can, make your spouse/partner laugh or have a big smile on their face at least three times a day!
Cat: Say one appreciative thing to your family member(s). Say “I love you” to someone.
Amal: Find one new thing to learn about everyday and write it down somewhere. At the end of the circuit breaker, reflect on how much you’ve learned along the way.
Beyond COVID-19: Circuit Breaker Stories are about individuals trying their best to deal in this time.We’re all handling circumstances unique to us, in ways colored by our own personal histories. It’s okay to acknowledge difficult feelings, grieve for the old normal and feel for those less well off. It’s also okay to laugh, celebrate life, and spread joy while doing it.
We’re all in this together. Let’s take care of ourselves, and let’s take care of each other.
