What's Up It's June

Cases worldwide

Cases in Canada

I'm definitely not great at updating this blog. I'm doing this more as a journal to look back on (that I can never lose) rather than an actual blog so I'm a little too relaxed about updating it. The last time I posted was at the start of May and now it's the first day of June so definitely the longest we've gone without an update. I started my spring courses in the last update and now I'm nearly done. Classes end on the 16th and hopefully I'll have my exam done within the week but the schedule isn't released yet. I'm guaranteed to be done by June 23rd though and then I'll be almost half way through my degree. I'm taking finance and accounting this spring so by the end of June I'll have all my math courses over with which is super exciting. I'm going to update for the first time the lifestyle section of the blog with some university course planning tips so that's also some exciting news.

In terms of the Covid situation, everything has calmed down a bit. It's obviously still a massive concern but, especially with summer just starting up, it definitely feels like people are going out more. The other weird this is that everyone is outside constantly but people are hanging out with their siblings now rather than friends and doing lots of outdoor activities around their neighbourhoods that they didn't do before since travel isn't really an option. My mom keeps saying it feels like it did when she was a kid. They have semi-closed inter province boarders, meaning that us living in Alberta can't stay overnight in BC (which we do every summer) so that's a little disappointing.

Another issues that I don't want to discuss too much is the BLM movement that is revving up in the States again. A few days ago a black man was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis and it has caused massive riots across the States which have caused a lot of unrest. The world is standing behind all POC to help aid in this fight but it's interesting to watch as people try to find a balance between social distancing and standing with each other in solidarity. It's a stressful time as the world tries to find a way to ensure that no other black lives will be lost. No justice, no peace.

So far I have broken my isolation to visit three friends: Stuve, Sabrina and Carson. We've also been in contact with three family friends and our five neighbours but have gathered in social distancing precautions. It's been really interesting to try to find a way to balance "regular" life and safety. I've slept over and eaten at Stuve and Carson's house and I feel the position we're taking at this point is that was need to slowly expand our "safety bubble" to incorporate those important to us as long as they have also been in isolation. It's been two weeks at least since my first contact with all three of them so it's a pretty good sign that, as we're all still healthy, none of us are sick and/or carriers (hopefully) unless we are all asymptomatic. Our families aren't sick though, as well, so I'm taking it as a good sign that none of us picked up the virus along the way.

The university came out with their statement in May which I may have discussed, stating that they are looking at a combination of in person and online classes in the fall. It's looking like the majority of classes will be conducted through online platforms though. Sabrina is staying with her family in Chicago right now and it looks like she may not come back in the fall if online courses are an option. As far as Leah and I, we may not be getting an apartment in the city come fall if courses are to be offered online. It will be weird to go back to school again without kick off, football games, clubs and seeing friends. It won't really feel like a summer, you know? It'll just kind of feel like life in isolation continued. Obviously everyone's health and safety is a priority but we must come to a point where we take that first step in heading back to life as usual, whatever that may look like now. That first step will definitly be the scariest as I'm sure there will be a spike in cases as soon as doors open again but the world can't stay in isolation forever. Carson is a firm believer that the world will never be the same, and I agree with him, partly at least. I think that this was a test to prove that we are capable of doing a lot of our daily tasks unsupervised, however, I think that there will always be a place in the world for interaction in a corporate setting. I don't think I could be satisfied staying by myself, even if it was Carson and I, for my entire career. I miss seeing people I don't know and making new friends.

That's the update for now. Not a lot has happened since then and I'm assuming that's why I haven't updated recently. My 20th birthday is coming up though so I'll have a very special update for my new decade celebration in isolation. So far the plan is for Carson to come out and visit and we'll do some fun things with the family around here.

Until next time.

H

Also Carson almost bought a van for us to live in. I forgot to add that part.