It has been almost a month since the declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, Philippines. During that time, I have cleaned so many surfaces so many times that I have memorized every line and crack by now, I have watched more movies and series on Netflix than the collective six months prior, I have known multiple YouTube exercise personalities and have switched from walking to walking faster (hahaha), I have imagined and cooked food combinations that did not make sense pre-covid 19 life, and I have washed my hands more times than the population of a tiny nation. Also, I have watched more videos of Samoyeds than it is socially acceptable.
While my life has been a combination of washing, watching, and walking, TR’s existence has been more colorful than mine. By a mile. Thinking that she has been more than okay while under quarantine, she forced me to take photos of her lifestyle.
Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives.
Here are 15 Things To Do While Under Quarantine According to TR (in photos):
1. Exercise
TR starts her day with a 30-minute exercise. She follows a video of her liking that morning. As you can see, she is quite flexible for a girl who cannot move all her limbs. And she does not sweat at all. How lucky!
2. Show love to pets
TR also visits her pets: a metallic giraffe we stole from a friend (hehehe), four monkeys called see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, and do no evil, and two elephants. She spends time with them by feeding them and washing them. I have to say that she fell off at least five times during this photo shoot, but girl has spunk and keeps on coming back up.
3. Interact with plants
TR, the responsible girl that she is, does not forget to take care of her rose garden. She gives the flowers her tender loving care. She said that roses are good for her tiny soul.
4. Cook or learn how to cook
When she gets hungry, she refers to her copy of cookbook by Inés Ortega. It has recipes for young people like her. Since it is in Spanish, she calls the las meninas (ladies-in-waiting) to explain some words to her.
5. Play sports
TR plays football since she cannot watch her beloved Juan Mata play anymore. She said she is channeling Juan’s spirit and enthusiasm when she plays.
6. Do crafts
TR also utilizes her artistic skills by making something cute and functional. This is the bowl she made from colorful round paper materials she found. She lets me use it to hold tiny items I need when I work.
7. Read a book
Although she likes to read tebeos (Spanish comics) sent to her by a little bear, she makes sure to devote an hour of her day reading a book.
8. Write
Reading inspires TR to express her thoughts on paper. Since she used all the paper for her bowl, she wrote on the calendar the two letters she knows, Y (yes) and N (no). How cute!
9. Paint
On weekends, she unleashes more of her creative juices by painting. Due to lack of paper, she paints on this fan. She says it will make a great gift once people start celebrating special occasions again. Or just to celebrate life.
10. Camping indoors
TR made a tent in the shape of a bear. She spends her nights sleeping within the confines of her bear abode.
11. Stargaze
Since the sky is now at its clearest in years, TR invites her friends Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori to recreate the stargazing scene in Rilakkuma and Kaoru’s tv series. TR imagines that she is Kaoru, but cuter.
12. Pamper yourself
To maintain said cuteness, TR always makes sure that her hair, face, and nails are on point. And there is no better way to do it than to raid someone else’s shelf to get the things you need to be kawaii.
13. Smell the flowers (sort of)
Since it is cherry blossom viewing in some parts of Japan now, TR imagines herself to be transported in Tokyo. Although this photo shows otherwise, TR and her friends observe social distancing even in her imagination.
14. Call or talk to someone
TR makes sure that she has constant communication with her friends. She knows that the quarantine takes a toll on the mental health of every individual.
15. Show appreciation to the frontliners.
TR does not forget to clap and cheer in honor of the brave and hardworking frontliners every 5pm. She knows that her tiny claps and cheers travel far and wide to reach every heart of medical personnel, military and police, security guards, grocery personnel, delivery men, bank personnel, local leaders, and volunteers who courageously keep her and every Filipino safe. Maraming salamat!