Final Project - Hope Kahn

Finding Peace During a Pandemic

by Hope Kahn

I was sent home from the University of Maryland on March 13 cutting my freshman year short. Instead of libraries, study rooms and coffee shops, I am stuck doing my work at my desk at home in Ellicott City, Maryland. 

Lately, I've felt isolated, even though I am with my family and I talk to my friends constantly. This unused goal behind Dunloggin Middle School in Ellicott City, Maryland is pushed to the edge of the field. 

My brother, Hunter, works out for almost two hours every day. He hasn't had the best time adjusting and working out is a stress-reliever and time-passer. He'd rather be at the gym, but makes the most of the small at-home workout room we have in the basement.

I live about a ten-minute walk to Dunloggin, where I attended middle school. When I walked to Dunloggin it was very strange seeing it empty.

My mom, Judy, is a kindergarten teacher at Northfield Elementry School and would much rather be in a classroom teaching, rather than online teaching. She sits frustrated on her computer trying to figure things out daily. 

I hate the rain. I hate the rain even more during the quarantine.

Passover began on April 8. Normally I attend Pesach seders at family's houses on the first and second nights of Passover. But due to COVID-19, my family scrambled to put together our own seder. The seder plate isn't perfect and we used Hanukkah napkins, but it was good enough for us.

Hunter was sent home from James Madison University due to COVID-19 and the last part of his senior year was canceled. His door at home doesn't have a lock on it, so this sign was placed as a warning not to interrupt him during his meeting.

Hunter spent his last semester of college finishing his senior Capstone paper, but instead of finishing up on campus, he did so in his childhood room because of COVID-19.

On Friday, April 24, we started growing tomatoes in our backyard. The day before these were planted I read an article in my Journalism 201 class about how seed sales have skyrocketed because produce is currently picked over.

Every night my Mom and I cook dinner for our family. Although it is just four of us, my brother eats enough for two people. On this night we made an egg casserole.

Somehow I manage to avoid dish duty after we eat dinner. My mom complains about it every day.

A girl on her scooter crossed the bridge that I was walking on. Her sibling, who was also on a scooter, wasn't far behind. I wonder what it's like to be a child during this pandemic. What do they think?

Practically a metaphor for life right now, our fish, Jhoon, swims endlessly in circles in his bowl.

My dad has been working from home due to COVID-19. He usually has to drive 45 minutes or more to get to his office, so he is loving the zero-minute commute to his home office.

While taking a walk I passed a park with this untouched sandbox. I'm looking forward to the time when children are out playing again. 

On Saturday, May 2, I was allowed to have my boyfriend, Sam, over for the first time in six weeks. I set up chairs in the backyard six feet away from each other so we could sit and talk.

I took a walk on Monday because the weather was so nice. I noticed my shadow while walking on the path and the solidarity struck me. Normally I don't like to be alone, but as I've adjusted to quarantine, this walk by myself was very relaxing.