The Lockdown Log | Interview with Anya

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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 sister, Anya, who is a high school student in year 13 in Auckland.

Yo! So a usual week for a high schooler involves actually physically attending school. During Level 4 and Level 3 of our lockdown, you’ve been doing school online. What have the days looked like for you, doing school at home?

Hello! Yeah so because I’m a year 13 student, school has gone completely online and Jacinda said I had to work from home so I do. A week in the lockdown life consists of me waking up every day 5 minutes before my first online school class starts and signing in while still in bed. I then proceed to make a classic marmite on toast and get stuck into school with a few Netflix breaks in between. School finishes at 3:30pm so then I go for a walk or do a workout. My evening is mainly binge-watching murder mysteries or hanging out with friends lockdown style. I repeat this cycle every day for the whole week.

I can confirm, readers, that this 100% accurate, erring on more Netflix probably. Even though you don’t have to move around school, have you found you’re able to be productive for each subject?

School creates a nice routine and has generally stuck to the usual timetable with a few Zoom calls in between. This helps me stay on top of work, mostly, and be productive … mostly. During a school day I seem to roam about the house looking for a comfy place to work. I start at the kitchen table, move to the kitchen bench, next is the couch, then my bed and then my parent’s double bed because I like to spread out.

It has been very tricky finding you at times. For those other high school students or workers still at home, have any tips?

In all seriousness I think having a routine and a set time when and where you do things throughout the day really helps. Have lots of breaks too because Zoom calls are tiring, and trips to the fridge technically count as exercise.

You heard it here first folks; trips to the fridge counts as exercise!

Other than tiring Zoom calls, what have you found hardest about being stuck at home?

I am a people person so being away from friends and school has been hard.

Yes I’ve never heard ‘I want to go back to school’ as often as I have in the last few months. It’s been a long time, but what have you been grateful for during the lockdown time?

Having a hilariously entertaining family and dog always helps. Also, simply that we live in New Zealand and we are lucky to have such great leaders looking after us and because of that, life should go back to normal sooner than most.

Jacinda for PM of the world, amiright? So many countries would love to have her; we really are lucky to live in a place where our leadership is phenomenal. Shout out to Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, our Director General of Health, as well.

You’ve had a bunch of extra time, having removed commuting time, extracurricular activities, and weekend outings from your calendar; has there been things that you’ve actually enjoyed about being at home?

I have been playing music more. Found that having a good jam sesh on the ukulele is a great way to pass the time. I’ve also been doing more art and writing a journal that I’m hoping might be quoted in some high schooler’s history exam in 50 years or so.

Haha, excellent. Do you have any general tips for surviving isolation?

Binge Netflix, walk lots, eat chocolate and don’t feel bad about it, and sleep more because the more you sleep, the faster lockdown goes by.

Well, I guess that’s true. And last, but certainly not least, in fact possibly the most asked question about Lockdown … did you do anything drastic to your hair?

I have not! But shaving it all off is rather tempting right now.

It would be rather drastic if she shaved it all off; it’s rather long! Thanks, Anya, for talking to me about what it has been like as a Year 13 student during COVID-19 lockdown!

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.