The Lockdown Log | Interview with Scott

Last updated on 5 May 2020

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Welcome to The Lockdown Log!

In this new series, The Lockdown Log, I’m going to be interviewing some of my friends from New Zealand, to hear a little about what their experience was like during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Lockdown that our country went through in April (and continues, in some degree until we’re told otherwise). For some of my friends, life has radically changed, for others, it’s only a little different. But whatever has happened in the last few months, whatever their situation has been or will continue to be, they have a story, and one that I believe is worth sharing, if not for now, then for the future.

In this installment of The Lockdown Log, I chat to my friend Scott, who is a University Student in Auckland.

Hey Scott! Thanks for joining me! What a time we’re living in, eh? Life is looking a little different right now. Outside of Lockdown, what does a usual week look like for you?

Hi! So my standard days usually look like doing 2-3 hours of university classes, commuting for an hour – biking to and from uni – doing a few hours of study, spending far too much time watching YouTube and TikToks (downloading it as a joke but now being addicted), catching up with mates, and trying to be in bed before 10pm.

Haha! Totally get that TikTok addiction. Seeing as you’re a University Student who has classes to attend (as opposed to studying by distance), I guess things have been very different for you during this time. How has study changed for you?

My university classes have all gone online for the rest of the semester. This has been a huge change, and a real mixed bag of success. Some lecturers have come up with creative ways to engage with us virtually, while others are just putting up old recordings from last semester. There seems to be a general consensus amongst my mates that its harder, takes much longer, and is less motivating studying online. But, in saying this we now get 24 hours to do our tests/exams and they’re all open book so that it a game changer in terms of assessments.

Great about the open book aspect! Not so good about the motivation. It’s definitely what I’ve heard from others too. Do you have any tips for studying from home?

My biggest tip is to do whatever works for you! This is a stressful time, routines are all changed up, and we’re all figuring out how to adjust. So just focus on what’s right and works for you, and don’t fall for comparing yourself to the success or productivity of others.

In saying that, tips that have worked for me is trying to create some daily routine which supports my spiritual, mental and physical health. For me this has been daily maintaining bible reading, running, catching up with mates, and making space for family time.

My follow up tip to this is to give yourself grace when the wheels fall off of routine – when you sleep in and forget to do your bible reading, when you skip that run cause you just aren’t feeling it, or when you just need time to do you. Don’t necessarily settle for that becoming new routine – but don’t beat yourself up.

Love that. I’ve definitely caught myself thinking ‘well, you didn’t do all those things you were meant to do today’ and forgetting that actually, it’s okay. Making it through the day with what you have and what you’ve done during this time is enough. Grace is definitely needed!

Talking of tricky things, what have you found hardest about Lockdown?

SOCIALISATION! As an extrovert, I have really missed connecting with friends in a way that Zoom will just never be able to parallel. I feel like there’s a spiritual component of just being in the same room as mates which makes such a difference. There is something so special about face to face communicating that I miss and will not take for granted now.

It’s amazing how you sort of realise these things when you don’t have them available to you, isn’t it? I’m definitely missing that face to face time with my friends too, even though I’ve seen my bubble mates every day.

What are some things you’ve been grateful for during Lockdown?

The 3 F’s: family, food and friends.

Family: After four years of living away from home I moved back in with family during this lockdown. This is the by far the longest extended period that I’ve stayed with my parents over those four years – and what a blessing it has been. I won’t lie that I’ve certainly struggled with losing some independence/freedom, having to do things ‘Mum’s way’ because she knows best, and missing my uni mates. But the yarns, the laughs, and shared time has been such a treat.
Food: A passionate foodie and lover of cooking – returning home to a chest freezer full of amazing culinary potential has been a treat! Venison pie, paua pasta, and pulled pork have just been some of the lockdown delicacies on offer around here.
Friends: in times like this it’s amazing to be supported and support others, and I’m so grateful for my friends. I’ve taken this lockdown as an opportunity to scan through my Facebook friends list and reach out to old friends. Reconnecting with people who I haven’t heard from since high school (six years later), and what a privilege that’s been.

Scrolling through Facebook is something I’ve done too! You’re right; it’s been a great opportunity to reconnect with people. Other than those three Fs, are there things that you’ve actually enjoyed during this time? Or anything that you’ve taken up during Lockdown that you’d like to carry forward into the coming months?

I’ve picked up a new hobby of flax weaving which has been really therapeutic – slowing down, reconnecting with cultural practices of my tupuna (ancestors), and being able to gift my creations to friends. So, I’d be very keen to carry in on after lockdown.

Oh nice! That’s awesome! I actually did a bit of weaving this Lockdown too. I made harakeke whetū, and then turned them into a garland. Maybe you can teach me sometime when we’re allowed to hang out in person again!

Yeah, I’d be happy to!

Fantastic! Looking forward to it. Have you got any other tips for surviving isolation?

My biggest tip would be that physical isolation does not have to be social isolation. So, reach out to friends, write a letter to someone special, be present when others reach out to you, and don’t be afraid to reconnect with people you’ve lost touch with.

And last, but certainly not least, in fact possibly the most asked question about Lockdown … did you do anything drastic to your hair?

Well you’ve had the pleasure of seeing my current mop in recent Zoom meetings. But let me paint a picture for the readers …

I’m usually a bit of a traditionalist in the hair department with a number two on the sides, scissors on top – I know, plain huh! My first milestone was my hair reaching my eyebrow level for the first-time ever at the start of Lockdown. However, we are now well in uncharted territory as my hair covers my eyes and is getting scarily close to touching my upper lip. I’m afraid to share this publicly, but this does also mean that I have to rock a man bun while running… Even worse is that this appears to be staying until level two, with the barbers closed and a perpetual fear of my mum’s haircuts.

Haha! Love a good Lockdown hair story. And I have to assure you, dear readers, that yes Scott’s hair is getting very long! He should be able to braid it soon!

Thank you for sharing a bit about what Lockdown has been like for you, as a University Student, Scott. Really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me.

If you’re a Uni Student, feel free to drop a comment and tell us what it’s been like for you. Have you had a similar experience to Scott, in terms of your classes and doing Uni work? Completely different? Let us know!

Stay tuned for another edition of The Lockdown Log coming soon!

To learn more about New Zealand’s alert level system, check out the COVID-19 website.