Thursday, March 12 was the last day of normalcy for me. Despite there being a flurry of activity, including a three-hour lecture, back to back engagements for the observance of International Women’s Day 2020, and a Holi celebration with The UWI Hindu Society, in the grand scheme of things, it was a normal day.
I left the TGR Car Park, all covered in powder, only to have my fears materialise as I took my phone out of its protective covering (a Ziploc bag). Trinidad and Tobago had recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
In the weeks prior, the pandemic had begun spreading across the globe and it was only a matter of time before the virus would spread to the Caribbean. The UWI began taking precautions early on and by Friday, the next day, all Trinbagonian students (including my roommates!) were advised to return home. This was not a decision that came a moment too soon as the second case of COVID-19 was reported in the country. There would be no classes the following week.
I wanted to remain hopeful that this virus would not hijack the state of normalcy. For that reason, I saw this week as an opportunity to refocus on my studies that I had been neglecting due to my immersion in the post-election conundrum in Guyana (and well, Carnival, but don’t tell my lecturers that!). Little did I know, eh?
By Tuesday, March 17, life was anything but normal. One of my favourite persons had returned to Guyana the day before, with barely a few hours’ notice. My home, 17 Freedom Hall, was practically deserted. And social media was becoming a thorn in my side with its overload of information.
By this time, regional students like me were “strongly advised” to return home but a myriad of factors prevented a few of us from doing so. For me, it was financial constraints. This was exacerbated when, later that same day, the announcement was made that Guyana would be closing its borders to all international flights by midnight, Wednesday. With just over 24 hours before those borders closed, there was little hope for me to get home.
As you can imagine, the realisation that I would be staying in Trinidad, almost all alone during a lockdown, was mentally taxing. Even so, I found titbits of kindness and happiness. Not to be schmaltzy but, if there is one thing that has remained constant throughout the entire COVID-19 experience so far, it would be the kindness that surrounds me. Whether it was my Grenadian sister making cocoa tea and soup for all the Milnerites on Freedom Hall, my Bajan sister baking cookies, or the Milnerites who left their groceries for us as they departed, my campus family ensured that I did not atrophy in bed and kept me well fed.
It wasn’t too long before the decision was made to house all of the remaining students on campus in Canada Hall. Naturally, being bonafide Milnerites and all, we weren’t enthused at leaving our home (nor packing up our belongings and moving), but I knew that it was necessary. By Monday, March 23, there I was settling into my new room in Canada Hall.
With the emergence of COVID-19, global authorities like the World Health Organisation (WHO) underscored that there will be a “new normal”. This may perhaps include a greater focus on personal hygiene, a shift in the way we engage in social interactions, or even, just learning how to “get by” daily. For me, it was more of the latter.
Adapting to the situation meant that I had to strike a delicate balance between ensuring that I took care of my mental wellness while remaining committed to my studies. The swift shift to online classes provided me with a necessary distraction from the constant worrying over the safety of my loved ones and the fate of final examinations. And, it was a blessing to move with some of my Milnerite family and meet up with familiar Guyanese faces!
At Canada Hall, I had a single room and they placed us in rooms that were a safe distance from each other, but that didn’t stop my friends and me from making the most of the situation. Let me just say, cricket and pool are sporting activities that are perfect while social distancing (even at 2 am, when assignments should be finished instead). Cooking has also been a way of keeping spirits high and bringing people together. Luckily, my friends find joy in cooking and, well, I find joy in being fed.
While at Canada Hall, too, I made a new friend who shared a bit of his own COVID-19 experience so far. Joshua Morton hails from St Kitts and Nevis and, when regional students were advised to return home, he had to put more thought into that decision.
To get home, Joshua would have to stop in at least two different airports since there is no direct flight from Trinidad and Tobago to his country. That, he believed, increased his susceptibility to contracting the disease. He also had to consider that a majority of his immediate relatives were aged and more vulnerable to COVID-19. Finally, he had to consider jeopardising his academic progress, should he have to self-quarantine upon return to his country. This was his conundrum but his decision was made easier when Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland indicated that regional/international students would be accommodated if they had to stay.
And so, equipped with sufficient supplies for the time being, he stayed here with the rest of us. “I believe that I have made the best decision by considering the safety of others above my own while doing everything in my power to ensure my personal safety,” he said.
We were starting to adapt to our new normal but the unravelling pandemic disrupted this normalcy.
On Friday, March 27, we were told we would have to pack our things and move, once again, to the Sir Arthur Lewis (SAL) Hall. I’m sure you can understand how frustrating it was having to contend with another move while still having online classes, exams, and assignments.
Dr Deirdre Charles, Director of the Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD) was there as we were informed of the decision and, though she was met with our evident frustration, she spared little effort in making us aware of the bureaucracy that underpinned every decision The UWI makes to ensure our safety. It’s hard to feel completely frustrated when you hear about the work going on behind the scenes to ensure our well-being.
Later that night, we were shuttled to the Curepe Junction where we had our fill of Sami's and our last social outing (of some sorts) before we moved to SAL the next day.
Now the journey continues at SAL Hall, where, hopefully, we won’t be moving unless it's to get back to our home countries. I give full props to Olivia Ramkissoon, SAL’s Hall Manager, and her team, for trying their best to ensure that we’re not only safe but also happy and active.
Right now, I’m penning these final thoughts just a few hours after enjoying myself in Olivia’s Easter Egg “Social Distancing” Scavenger Hunt, on Easter Monday. Due to the lockdown, I imagined Easter would just be another mundane day, save for my friends preparing some good food. But it was a pleasant change, exercising my brain and legs (after weeks) running around SAL. And the prizes? Grocery essentials and snacks. Talk about the best of both worlds!
There isn’t much that I can do aside from keeping the faith and pulling myself out of bed each day to get some amount of work done. For now, though, I give thanks for the kindness around me and hope to weather this storm with grace (and also with stellar grades!).
