Taking strides to the ‘new normal’
where are we headed now?
Eradicating coronavirus is not visible in the near future. In the meantime, humanity’s best shot at survival is by adopting a new lifestyle that will allow them to safely co-exist with the said virus. However, from a logistical standpoint of a densely populated, third world nation with a fragile healthcare system — like the Philippines — it is like getting blood out of a stone.
My typical Friday starts at seven o’clock in the morning. I brush my teeth, wash my face, and sprint ahead to my seven-thirty class. By nine o’clock, I have a break for an hour and a half, so I go to Starbucks for my breakfast. After that, I get in line for the elevator to attend a class that I am always late for. With my five-pound laptop wrapped in my arms at twelve-thirty in the afternoon, I run down seven flights in heels for my accounting lecture because I can’t afford to be late for a class that I am already bad at. My brain stops working after that, so I go back to my condo and work out for a while. When I am finally covered in sweat, I then treat myself with a six-inch roasted chicken Subway with extra sweet onion sauce. It may not be a healthy habit but once I let out a glorious burp, I take my siesta and wake up around ten minutes before my evening class at seven forty-five. After nine, I’m done with school so I can finally do whatever I have planned for my weekend. I kick it off with a Friday night out either to the movies, restaurants, bars, or wherever. Since the coronavirus lockdown, my Fridays have never been the same. I spend them all at home like the rest of my days where I wake up at twelve noon and go to bed at three in the morning — it has become my new normal. Once people are allowed to moderately go outside again, there will be another new normal and there is no doubt that it will be far different from our typical Fridays.
As the lockdown continues to throw punches at the economy, the Philippine government announces a gradual shift to the new normal with the General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Establishments that cater to basic needs such as food and clothing will be allowed to operate under strict measures, while those under leisure will remain closed — like museums, theaters, and bars. Eventually, the rest of the world will have to do the same and adapt to the situation. Germany, for example, concludes their lockdown upon flattening the curve, but still adhere to social distancing measures. Surely, our forthcoming days will be different from our past ones and the weird thing is that we can’t even plan them at the moment because we don’t know what is to come. My past routine includes a lot of human contact and not much concern about sanitation — like, what’s to fear in crowded elevator queues, public transportation, and handshakes? Looking back, everything we once deemed normal now stands as grave threats to countless lives.
The new normal will bring a different kind of Friday. My seven-thirty class will probably not have much people anymore because of social distancing. My Starbucks and Subway visits will likely be replaced with packed lunches, homemade coffees, and occasional take-outs. If people keep distance between each other in elevator queues, then the lines might extend outside the building. In addition to my five-inch heels, face masks will become another outfit staple. I think I’ll have more time for working out and taking naps because there’s nowhere else to go for leisure. After nine, I’ll probably have new isolated things planned. My friends and I can arrange online watch parties, drink booze while on Zoom, and remind each other to wash our hands and sanitize often. Gatherings and parties no longer play a part in this new normal.
In Contagion (2011), Mitch set-up an indoor prom night in the living room for her daughter, Jory. Everything else is shut down because of the virus and they weren’t going to take any chances. Similarly, our new normal might bring us new ways of socializing and celebrating. At the same time, it may also bring back past trends. Drive-in cinemas were huge trends in the ‘50s and ’60s. Films set within those decades exhibit how people, especially teenagers, enjoy them with friends — like in Grease (1978). Foreign travel was also said to be unlikely this year, which can make weekend and holiday road trips a thing for many. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and We’re The Millers (2013) shows how lengthy family road trips don’t always go well, but hey, nobody said anything about having a barrel of laughs in this crisis. Shopaholics like Rebecca Bloomwood (Confessions Of A Shopaholic, 2009) will probably have an easier time hoarding with online shopping, while shipping companies make the most out of this.
I’ve always been kind of a loner, like Columbus from Zombieland (2009). I did not specifically avoid people, I simply enjoyed being left alone most of the time. However, now that we are forced to isolate, I kind of miss people. I miss bumping shoulders and elbows with people in the halls. I miss being close enough to my seatmate to hear them mumble the answer. I miss leeching on someone else’s water jug when I forget to bring my own, and I know I hate hugging and beso, but I kind of miss them too. It’s kind of sad to think that we will not be able to do all these things in a while.
I feel guilty feeling disappointed for the little things when most people have it worse in this situation. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved an additional $200 million (₱10 billion) loan to the Philippine government, on top of their earlier one worth $1.5-billion (₱75.7 billion). This is in support of the cash subsidies that will be dedicated to poor families affected by coronavirus. More to that, ADB earlier provided an $8 million grant to the Philippines that shall be spent on food, medical wear, and laboratory equipment. Somehow, they seem to be not enough, considering the countless devastating news everyday since the lockdown began. As we head towards the new normal, no amount seems to make our coming days a walk in the park.
History shows that humanity survived countless pandemics in the past with the help of science and technology. The flu and smallpox are just two diseases that are now easily cured or prevented with the help of antibiotics and vaccines. As exhibited in The Maze Runner (2014–2018) cinematic universe, a cure does not come easily at hand. It takes time and until we get there, we will have to spend our tomorrows on a different track. Vaccines traditionally take about three to five years worth of development, but world experts believe that a readily available cure for coronavirus is possible in twelve to eighteen months. A lot of people will have died by then if we don’t do anything. So until our salvation comes, we will have to live as new people with different routines to impede the spread of the virus.
If you barely wash your hands, start to do so more often. If you think you can easily beat the virus, think of the others who can’t. The new normal will bring some jobs back, but most establishments will remain shut. As most are privileged enough to easily cope, some still have to grasp at straws. Optimistically, though, may the new normal provide balance in our community, even just partially. Our strides in a different direction will not be easy, so try to borrow bags from Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins, 1964) and Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, 2016) so you can pack up on many important things before you go. Be sure to bring hand sanitizer, face mask, kindness, empathy, and most importantly, awareness of human and civil rights.
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