4/16/20 Chelsea Lum Period 8

Chelsea Lum 

Blogger #16

Modern Mythology 2020 Period 8

April 16, 2020

What is it like working from home? In all honesty, working from home is not nearly as fun as being in a classroom with my classmates. In school, we get to crack jokes and “ghost” each other during discussions, which make learning more fun. Also, the entire class is on the same thought process while we are in a classroom setting. I miss being with my friends and being able to bounce ideas off one another. Working from home is too boring and it makes it hard to focus on the material if I don’t really understand it. Sometimes, I am not sure if my thought process is on the right track. However, the videos and lessons provided for us from Ms. Fusaro does help. Most of all, I miss being in a classroom setting. It makes it more sad knowing that it is my senior year and I won’t be able to have another class like this one. 

What are the updates around the world/community regarding the virus? As of  today, April 16, there are 2,158,250 confirmed cases worldwide. In New York alone there are over 200,000 coronavirus cases. We are currently known as the epicenter of this epidemic. Our high population density and high tourist populations have contributed to this pandemic. According to USA Today, the NYU Langone Hospital has confirmed that the first case of COVID19 in New York City was a strain of the coronavirus coming from Europe, and not China, like many people had thought. The government has just started handing out stimulus checks to Americans across the country. The New York State government has announced that this shutdown has been extended to May 15. Among all this news, it seems like my classmates and I will never get to do any of our senior activities. Although we hope that we will be able to walk across the stage for our graduation and attend our prom, our chances seem to be dwindling currently. 

What are you learning about your world/community based on the reactions? On the news, I see attacks on the Asian American community across the country. It breaks my heart to know that even during times like these, people still have so much hatred and ignorance in their hearts. Most recently, an Asian woman was the victim of an acid attack in front of her home while taking out her garbage. We also see people online writing racist comments blaming members of the Asian community, which is disheartening. I wish that instead of blaming an entire ethnicity, people would have more compassion and stand together during this pandemic. The racist rhetoric and blaming will not help anyone. However, we also see acts of kindness. Across the world, people have been waking up at 7 AM to greet and thank the healthcare workers and essential workers that are working and fighting this pandemic for us. On social media, Americans in quarantine have been leaving snacks and hand sanitizer out for delivery workers. We even see big corporations, such as Starbucks, giving healthcare workers a free coffee. I have learned that although there are ignorant people out in the world, some still have sympathy and respect for others.