Tag: Portland

Election Tension

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Stressed out by the 2020 election

Dear readers, this blog is a little bit different from the other ones. As much as I tried to stay away from politics, that has proven to be impossible, considering I moved to the US in 2020: the election year. When talking to some friends at home, I was told that ”the States doesn’t look much different now compared to the States from 6 years ago” and I completely understand that comment. However, it is very different from 6 years ago, but you can maybe only see these differences when you’re literally in the middle of it. So with this blog I offer you some insight into the current state of the USA. 

 

the divided states of america

It has been mentioned many times before, and really hits the nail on its head: whatever your opinion on America is right now, there is absolutely no way we can still talk about the United States of America. The country has never been this divided before. (well, maybe during the civil war in 1861, but that’s over 150 years ago…) It’s either blue or red, democrat or republican, liberal or conservative. There is no in-between. If it wasn’t for me living here, I would think America only had two political parties, and effectively that’s what it is, a two-party system. Sure, there’s the Independent party and the Green party and so on. No ones votes for them though, so these parties don’t stand in chance in the elections. The two parties are complete polar opposites from one another, on most (if not all) the important topics, regarding the justice system, immigration, health care, guns etc, so it is not hard to imagine why people only agree with one party. Where are the shared values?

It certainly hasn’t always been like this, but it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment in time where this started to happen. Many want to point the finger at Trump, who in my personal opinion is the main reason for this division. He has made it clear many times to only want to be the president of Republican states, and he has shifted the blame of several things, including the current pandemic, on the choices made by Democratic mayors. To talk about something close to home: after the escalation of protests that led to a fatal shooting in downtown Portland, president Trump was quick to say it was because of the ”radical do-nothing democrat mayor”. 

“Do you seriously wonder, Mr. President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence? It is you who have created the hate and the division.”

 

  • Ted Wheeler, mayor of Portland (august 2020)

It must be hard to live in a country where you know the very leader of the country doesn’t care about you. If you want to understand how hopeless people here are feeling, please listen to the song ”Commander in Chief”, quoted here on the right. 

People here are struggling really hard. Social security is not a given in the US. Unemployment and high health-care bills due to the pandemic for many people mean going into poverty. Americans mostly live from paycheck to paycheck, and the government has only made a one-time payment of $1200 in this entire 7 months of Covid. I am lucky to live in Oregon, where my husband was able to apply for unemployment benefits based on his loss of income – these funds are all state dependent, which is why it’s so important to have a fund on a federal level to ensure there’s payments for ALL Americans. Even then, the Oregon Unemployment Bureau was so overwhelmed by all the applications, that it took them about 5 months to start paying people, and for many it was already too late. 

“I’m not the only one,
That’s been affected and resented every story you’ve spun,
And I’m a lucky one,
‘Cause there are people worse off that have suffered enough,
Haven’t they suffered enough?
But you can’t get enough of shuttin’ down systеms for personal gain,
Fightin’ fires with flyers and prayin’ for rain
Do you gеt off on pain?
We’re not pawns in your game.”

 

  • Demi Lovato: Commander in Chief (2020)

 

  

Eviction notices in 2020

The picture on the right shows hundreds of orange flags: These are eviction notices given to Portland residents, forcing people to leave their homes. From my apartment, I’m looking out onto the courtyard, into other people’s apartments. Most of what I see now is empty. Some people left the area because of the protests, riots, and poor management of the property. But many of them left because they couldn’t afford to live here anymore. 
I know these unfortunate events are not just happening in the US, and the pandemic has left a path of destruction everywhere, but the thing you have to understand about the situation here is the hopelessness. There is no leader that’s working hard to contain the virus, that is pushing through stimulus bills to help people pay their rent, that has acknowledged any of these problems AT ALL. 

 

the most important election ever

This is why it’s the most important election ever: there is a lot at stake! We are talking immigrant rights, affordable health care, gun laws, pandemic relief funds and even basic human rights. As an immigrant, and a woman, I can tell you that when Trump gets re-elected, I will no longer feel safe here. At the same time, when he doesn’t get re-elected, I fear for intense protests and riots, people taking guns into the streets, and taking ”justice into their own hands”. This country is bruised and is in desperate need of healing. How do you bring together two halves of America that seem to have nothing in common anymore? Where do you start the healing process when there’s too many problems? Will a new president fix everything? No, unfortunately not. The damage that has been done the last 4 years is something that might need another 4 years to come undone. However, the most important thing is the mental aspect. Because people here are angry. They are hurt. They are fed up with the lies. They are absolutely exhausted waking up to bad news every day. They are mourning their country and the dividedness that is America, where families can’t eat at the same table anymore because their beliefs are so fundamentally different from one another.
So yes – Election tension is very real here! After all these emotions have built up over the years, how can you not be anxious? The little bit of hope people still have left is based on the outcome of the election. People fear that when their hope is taken away, they will be left with nothing. So here’s to another 5 days of hoping – and potentially more if it’s going to be a close call. 

For everyone who is currently not in the US and didn’t know about this, I hope this blog gave you some clarity. I have written about my own experience, that is formed by talking to many different people here; friends, in-laws, acquaintances and neighbors. 

And that concludes this somewhat depressing blog about the upcoming 2020 Election. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below! Stay safe & healthy everyone.

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What The Heck Is Going On In Portland?

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living in portland: the good, the bad and the ugly

Beautiful nature all around, a nice long summer, swimming in clean rivers, eating amazing food from local food trucks; You’ve heard me say it all in the previous blogs. Living in Portland can be a real treat! But usually on social media, you only see the good stuff. So today, I want to tell you about the things that have been hard. We all have the pandemic in common, so this blog will be more about the other factors that have made living here very difficult these past couple of months. Federal agents ‘guarding’ the streets of Portland, the longest ongoing protests in all of the U.S., and the wildfires that at this moment are still raging around. 

 

Living in Portland in recent months has felt almost apocalyptic. We’re six months in the pandemic, three and a half months into the protests, and now you can add wildfires and natural disaster on top of that. People are getting to the point of getting worn out.” 

 

  • Lee Shaker, professor at PSU

 

 

so what the heck is going on in portland? 

A lot of unrest and chaos was created when president Trump decided to send federal agents to Portland, because the situation was apparently ”out of control”. Portland had already seen months of consecutive protests; they didn’t skip a single night. As someone who has joined some of the marches early on, I could tell that there was growing frustration and anger amongst the people who were on the streets for justice. No defunding of the police and no reforms that people were pleading for definitely caused some of the protests to turn somewhat violent. But with such a large group of people, it is impossible for everyone to think and act the same way. Just because there were some riots and  looting (mostly in the first couple of weeks) doesn’t absolve the purpose of the protests, which is rooted in years and years of oppression, fear and injustice.  

When the federal agents took over the streets of Portland, the whole thing escalated. Before their arrival, a group of less than hundred people were protesting in front of the Justice Center (which became a symbolic place of protesting). After their arrival, this number grew to over a thousand again. It started an entirely new movement, with people traveling to Portland from other states to stand in solidarity. We saw ”the wall of moms” and ”the wall of grandparents” rise, as people started protesting the ‘occupation’ of Portland. Chants and banners changed into ”Feds Go Home” and the situation became more and more tense every day. It honestly felt like the city was under attack. Stories came out of unmarked vans and agents in cameo picking people up from the streets, and DHS was roaming around everywhere – not just in downtown or around federal buildings. With many different agencies working together, including ICE (immigration), I was afraid to go out alone or at night. The delay of the work permit due to Covid and immigration reforms has caused the immigration process to be almost shut down, and so I do not have any proper paperwork stating my rights as a foreign resident yet. While this is a story for another time, all I want to tell you guys is that it felt very unsafe for more than a month, which is a very strange feeling if you grew up in a relatively safe country.

what about the wildfires?

As many of you have heard in the news by now, California, Oregon and Washington (the Pacific Northwest) is suffering from huge wildfires – bigger and more than ever before. The biggest reason – climate change – is something I’m not getting into in this blog. Another reason is the lack of controlled or ritual burning. I listened to a podcast recently that explained the concept of ‘ritual burning’ and because I hadn’t heard of it before, I want to explain this to you guys. Ritual burning was done by Native Americans for many years before their land was taken from them. They were utilizing fire, controlled burning of pieces of land, to create a natural stop for the forest fires that would occur every year. In order for a fire to continue, it needs fuel. If you take away this fuel by burning pieces of land, the wildfires would have nowhere to go. Currently, a lot of these ritual burnings are prohibited and the land is now publicly owned, so the Natives do not have a say in the matter anymore. However, some states are communicating that they want these ritual burnings to come back, to help prevent large wildfires.

While the fires themselves were mostly spreading in South and West Oregon, the situation suddenly became very scary when two wildfires became one and reached Clackamas County within 24 hours. We have some friends living there, and Beavercreek is located in Clackamas County as well. This is where grandma lives, and where Sam and I got married. We saw on the news that they had started to evacuate  these areas, so we were really worried about grandma. Luckily, she is okay and her house is safe from the fires now that rain has started to fall and the winds have changed direction.  

This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of the amount of uncertainty and chaos happening, and the endless panic people are feeling.”

  • Ryan Haas, news editor at Oregon Public Broadcasting

It was a relief to hear that the fires were under control and many people were evacuated on time. The damage is huge and so many people have lost their houses. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to have been struggling for months in this pandemic with the lockdown and unemployment, as well as the health concerns, only to end up losing everything you own in wildfires. Many parts of Oregon are destroyed, entire towns are wiped off the map, and many still fear for the danger and destruction these fires leave behind. Portland was relatively close to the wildfires, which is a very unusual case. I have talked to many people who grew up here, and none of them have ever experienced something like this before. On September 10th, the mayor announced a State Of Emergency in Portland, and added some suburban neighborhoods not too far from the city to zone one: ”get ready for evacuation.” 

The fires themselves are not the only safety hazard wildfires bring; The smoke (and specifically the fine particles PM2.5) is what has been the most problematic this last week. As you can see from the picture above, Portland turned from blue skies and sun into an apocalyptic smoke-filled grey sky and blood-red sun in just a couple of hours. The smoke also doesn’t really have anywhere to go, considering Portland’s geography being a valley. This past week, Portland consistently had the worst air quality in the entire world. 

“Oregon’s air quality is so far beyond ‘hazardous’ that no one knows what it means for health.”

  • Joseph Winters, writer for grist.org 

All of a sudden, everything started to smell like smoke. We couldn’t keep it out of our apartment and got so desperate for fresh air – but there was nowhere to go. We had no choice but to sleep in it, and be in it 24 hours a day. It didn’t take long for us to notice the effects of it on our health; we struggled with headaches, teary eyes, irritated throat and a burning sensation in our lungs every time we took deep breaths. Where can you go when the very air you breathe is poisonous? 
At the time of writing this blog, after 10 days of heavy smoke and an air quality that was higher than the measurement scale itself, I can finally see some blue skies in the distance. I had no idea I would ever feel so grateful for rain, wind and blue skies. To see the daylight again. For ten days Portland and its surrounding cities have been nothing but dark. Now it’s like the colors have returned and it’s pure happiness. 

So let’s end this blog on a good note. Better times are coming. You know how I know that? Because it simple cannot get any worse than this. 2020 – you’ve been the shittiest year ever, but when we get through this we’ll be ready to take on anything!

© All images belong to their rightful owners. 

 

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10 Things I Love About Portland

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Hi readers!

I realized the 90-day visa I was on has now officially expired – which also means that I am currently in the process of becoming a permanent resident. I spent almost a year in Portland so far, although not consecutive. To celebrate this little milestone, I am bringing you another blog: Here’s 10 things I love about Portland!

Nr. 1: Everything is possible 

Portland has a reputation of being weird. I can tell you that they really do stay true to that reputation. There is no judgment here; you can wear whatever you like, look however you want to look, and say whatever you want to say. There is this unspoken rule that nothing it too weird. What I love about this is that Portland never gets boring. If you think you are just going out for a normal walk, minding your own business, you’ll be in for a surprise. I can guarantee you will see something that will fit the description of ”weird”. Either it’s strange architecture, a unique sign, some really catchy graffiti, or -if you are lucky- the Unipiper (see image above). Portland is a very liberal city, and they hold many events that reflect their sense of freedom. From friendly protests, to naked bike-rides, to typical Portland festivals that makes this city so enjoyable during summer.

Nr. 2: You can go anywhere from portland!

Portland’s location makes it the perfect hub to explore all the beautiful surrounding landscapes Oregon has to offer. From Portland you can get absolutely anywhere, whether it’s a snowy mountain, desert lands, a tropical rain forest or a nice beach: It is all no more than a two hour drive from Portland city. If you, for some reason, do get bored of Portland, you have many places to go. The nice thing is, is that it is all possible to do in a day. You don’t have to spend the extra time and money to stay somewhere for a weekend, unless you want to of course. Feeling like chilling on the beach? In about 2 hours you will get to Seaside, a picturesque small beach town that marks the end of the famous Oregon Trail. Want to sniff some local culture in a place that looks nothing like Portland? You can go to the charming town of Astoria that has many famous landmarks and interesting musea, while enjoying a ride on its unique trolley. Are Portland summers too hot for you and are you craving some snow? Mount Hood -Oregon’s most popular mountain- is 1.5 hours away from Portland and has everlasting snow.

                     
Nr. 3: portland is a green city

If you are a small town girl like me, a big city such as Portland can be quite overwhelming. If you want to get away from it all, breathe in some fresh air and hear nothing but nature around you, you don’t even have to leave the city! One thing Portland did really well is its green infrastructure. Most neighborhoods enjoy big trees that cover the streets with a roof of leaves in summer. Portland also has a lot of parks, from Laurelhurst Park with a beautiful lake in the middle, to Mount Tabor, which is an extinct volcano surrounded by several big water reservoirs. From Multnomah Falls (see image above), to the Waterfront Park that serves as an oasis of green in the middle of the city. There are also plenty of small beaches in and around Portland city, where you can even swim during summer.

nr. 4 summers are filled with endless possibilities 

Add up everything that I mentioned above and you’ll have the perfect recipe for an unforgettable summer in the Pacific Northwest. There are may festivals held at the Waterfront Park, such as the famous Blues Festival (see picture above). With all of its parks, hiking trails and places to swim, Portland is a great place to enjoy sunny weather. But the entire Pacific Northwest is known for its adventurous summers, and Portland makes the perfect hub for exploring! From kayaking on the Willamette river that runs through Portland, to white-water rafting outside of Portland. From floating down a river for a couple of hours with nothing but nature around you, to setting up base right next to some breathtaking waterfalls. From a picnic and a movie in the park, to silent disco’s at night in the heart of Portland. Portland really comes alive in summer, mainly due to its climate; It rains a whole lot down here, but the summers are sunny and comfortably warm.

nr. 5 The Food culture is amazing

Portland has been crowned the city with the best food culture in the US many times now, and it is well deserved. Besides the many amazing local restaurants Portland has to offer, the food-truck culture is really big here as well (there’s over 600 food trucks all over Portland!). You will find many designated food cart areas with anything from sushi burritos, to freshly made Indian curries, and from fat American burgers, to home-brewed ciders and beer. In summer, these food cart areas are insanely popular, but even in winter they accommodate their guests with campfires and heated chairs. Another great thing about these food carts is that they are usually open till late at night, and the ones downtown are open till early morning (in case you crave food at 2 a.m.). Not feeling eating outside? I have yet to discover a food culture that is not represented in Portland. You name it, they have it! The food quality is also comparatively better than many other cities in the US, since they tend to have a higher standard when it comes to preparing and serving their food.

nr. 6 Portland is a bikeable city

Okay, this might not mean much to Dutch people, ’cause it will never be as bike-friendly as in The Netherlands… But: They have done a pretty good job in making this city bikeable! The bright orange bike you see in the picture above is a BikeTown bike, which is part of a bike program launched by Nike. You will see ”hubs” of BikeTown bikes all over Portland, and with an account you will have access to all of these bikes. The only rule is to always bring the bikes back to their hub, or you will have to pay a little extra. They are very easy to use and a great opportunity for tourists that like biking as much as the average Dutchie does. The most bike-friendly route is also the prettiest. It will take you from the Eastbank Esplanade (a path on the water), all the way to downtown when you cross the bike-only bridge ”Tilikum Crossing”. Bike lanes are quite obvious, but downtown they often share a lane with cars, or even with trams. The many one-way streets in Portland make biking a little confusing from time to time, but let me tell you: It is always better than driving. Portland has terrible traffic congestions and rush hour is an absolute nightmare. A 15-minute bike ride can turn into an hour car ride if you’re unlucky.

Nr. 7: Every neighborhood has a unique vibe 

Portland has a lot of different neighborhoods. To name a view: Hollywood, Laurelhurst, Irvington and Alberta. Each neighborhood has its own vibe to it, which means that they are all very different from one another. This is visible in architecture, parks, local stores and even the people who you frequently see in said neighborhoods. In the pictures above you see two typical American movie theaters, both with a very different look. The Hollywood theatre is a historical theatre in the middle of the Hollywood district, built in a chique European way. The Bagdad theatre is located in the vibrant Hawthorne district, and used to be a opera theatre, but now functions as a cinema – all of the interior of the opera remains intact. The Laurelhurst district is characterized by the Laurelhurst Park and Oak Street that -as the name suggests- is home to some of the most beautiful old Oak trees in all of Portland. Irvington district is a calm and homey neighborhood where you can peacefully walk through and find lots of kids and dogs playing outside. The Alberta district has Alberta street, which hosts some of the best restaurants and bars of Portland. It is also considered the art district, and when you walk down Alberta street you’ll find out why (see the picture above). Small local art stores, lots of unique street art, and the ”schoolbus food cart” and ”tiny house hotel” are located here. It is a nice neighborhood to walk around in during the day as well as at night. Downtown is obviously the most vibrant part of Portland, that never really slows down (well, I guess it has in this current pandemic).

Nr. 8: powell’s book store 

You don’t have to be a book lover to enjoy a visit to Powell’s book store. The largest independent bookstore of all of the US is located in the heart of Portland city. It is much more than just a bookstore. It is a place to sniff up some Portland culture, to enjoy the variety of people as much as the variety of books, and a great place to catch up with a friend while enjoying the best cappuccino you’ll ever have (my mom said so, so it must be true). You can wander for hours in this three-story ”city of books”, and I can guarantee that you will feel like a different person when you get out. Besides books, this store also offers anything you can think of for the creative mind. Want to organize your life with one of their amazing journals, get inspired by some of their quotes, or heck, why not start writing your own book! You will feel like you can do anything while inside of this amazing store, so if you have a chance to go to Portland, go to Powell’s!

Nr. 9: portlanders are active people 

With that many great places to bike, run, hike, or peddle, it is no surprise that Portlanders love being active. This is not a stereotypical American city where ”everything is big”. Since people who have lived in Portland for a while know exactly how depressing the weather can get, even rain won’t stop them from enjoying outdoor activities. The hills and the river make for a great active environment and so I feel like being active has become part of the city. I guess it’s what you have to do when you’re constantly being tempted by their amazing food!

Nr. 10: portland in oregon is the ”real portland” 

Okay, this is an inside joke. There are two Portland’s in the US: One on the West Coast in Oregon, and one on the East Coast in Maine. When Sam and I were on vacation in New York, we met some people who asked where we were from. When we said ”Portland”, they asked ”Portland Oregon?” and we replied with a yes. Then the guy said ”Good, f* Portland Maine!” Apparently Portland in Maine is not all that great. But, we have never been, so I can’t tell you whether that’s true or not. However, now that you know there are two Portland’s: Make sure you book your trip to the Portland you actually want to go to! Also, if I have a quick look on Google, Portland Maine does look pretty cool. It’s a small city with a lot of European influences, while Portland Oregon is a big city that is fairly industrialized. They might share the same name, but they look completely different. I know where my next trip is going to be to.. How fun to have ”Portland to Portland” written on your airline ticket!

That’s my list of 10 things I love about Portland!
I hope you enjoyed it, found is useful , or even recognized some of the things I mentioned. I definitely recommend visiting Portland in spring or summer, so you can really enjoy the green and nature that this city has to offer. Winter here get pretty depressing, but I will save that for a future blog about the 10 things I don’t like about Portland. See you next time!

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Newlyweds in Quarantine

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Hi everyone!

First and foremost; I hope that everyone who is reading this blog right now is healthy and safe, as well as their loved ones.

A lot of people who will read this will be in The Netherlands, but I also know a lot of people who are not in their home country right now. All of us are facing the same stress: to be away from your family during a pandemic. This blog is not about politics (well, maybe a little), and not about how I think people should feel. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings. It is simply a way for me to share my thoughts and feelings, hoping that for the people out there who feel the same, it will be somewhat reassuring. And one thing is now more true then ever: We are all going through this together.

“I think it’s safe to say to everyone is feeling a little lost these days. As a millennial, I grew up experiencing how small the world can be – what is a 10-hour flight right? But right now, it feels bigger than ever.”

My situation

I am currently in Portland, Oregon, USA. Here on the West Coast, things are not nearly as bad as they are on the East Coast. You may or may not have seen it in the news, but the US is failing in every possible way trying to control this pandemic. There is no ”lockdown” for the USA, there are only lockdowns for specific States. With flights from outside the US blocked, domestic flights are still going. In a city as big and rushed as New York, it took forever to get people to practice social distancing, or even to quarantine them (as in: tell them not to go outside). Restaurants and bars were still open weeks after the first cases of Covid-19 popped up in New York City. Meanwhile, the President himself does not seem to take this seriously, and keeps sending mixed messages to the American people. With a political system that was already (at least in my opinion) on the verge of collapsing, the people do not know who to trust anymore. Looking at the situation in The Netherlands, where the Prime Minister and Royal Family face this crisis head on, trusting on science, naming the facts, keeping people in the loop, and putting themselves in vulnerable positions in order to create that mutual trust between them and the people .. I have to say that I am somewhat proud to be Dutch. Are we doing everything right? Who knows. I sure don’t, so who am I to judge? What I see is that people who are supposed to take care of the nation do so, and that should earn them respect, because that is not an easy job.

 

 

 

My thoughts and feelings

Enough politics, at least for now. Let’s just say that it makes me rethink my move to the US. Sam and I knew that this would be the easiest (and still really hard) way for us to be together, which is why we choose to live here.

I think it’s safe to say to everyone is feeling a little lost these days. As a millennial, I grew up experiencing how small the world can be – what is a 10-hour flight right? But right now, it feels bigger than ever. I knew I was not allowed to leave the US until I had my probation approved, but I also knew that there were still flights going back and forth, and because of that I still had the option to fly back. Now that countries are on lockdown and it is not possible to fly anymore, that physical distance kind of changed into a mental one.

I see how everyone tries to cope in different ways. Some like to think of this time as a learning experience and really believe they are going to get out of this stronger. Personally, I don’t think we should add unnecessary pressure on people by saying things like ”if you don’t do these things now, not having the time was just an excuse and you lack self-discipline.” Well, so what if you lack self-discipline, who doesn’t every now and then?

Some days I wake up on the right side of the bed. I feel energetic, see the good in this quarantine situation, can name plenty of things I am grateful for, and am off to a great start of the day. I work out, journal, study, do the household, cook delicious meals, all the good stuff!

However, there are also days where I wake up and instantly feel anxious, or even depressed. The first thought that crosses my mind that day is ”reality kind of sucks right now!”. It leaves me feeling demotivated, I’ll have a hard time getting out of bed, and it just puts me in this negative mindset. I hate these setbacks, but they are part of life. You are simply not always feeling positive, not always happy, not always energetic.

This quarantine, however big or small it may feel to each and every one of you, has an influence on how we feel. Our lives have changed – the world has changed. This is a major thing we are going through right now, and I know that even the toughest, most stable people, will eventually notice the effects of this new reality.

Mental health is now more important then ever. There are a lot of people who feel lonely, and trust me, it’s not just the old or single people; It can be parents who are quarantined with their kids, it can be students who still live in a dorm with other students, it can be newlyweds (hey, hello, that’s me!).

For us, this situation is kind of ironic. We went through 2 years of on and off long-distance/living together, had to go through a lot of legal shit and immigration stress and struggled to be together. Now however, we are newlyweds in quarantine!

First of all, we are so so lucky and really count our blessings, that we were able to get married (with family and friends flying over!) and enjoy our honeymoon in Hawaii, before this whole quarantine situation happened. If this timeline had shifted just a month, Sam would not be my husband right now, and I might not even be with him right now.

My heart goes out to the people who can’t go through with their wedding or have to do it without their loved ones by their side, to the couples who are quarantined in different countries and can’t be together for a stressfully long period of time, for the exchange students that had to give up their new lives in another country. I have been through all these things, taking it all for granted, but this quarantine makes you think twice about what kind of privilege you’ve had to be able to do these things.

Now we are here – just married, and stuck with each other 24/7. I remember wishing for this moment to come and even dreaming about it. I consider myself very lucky. However, this is a very unusual situation. Is it healthy for a couple to be together all the time (in a 40m2 studio)? I don’t think so. I love our small studio and I love my hubbie, but it can be challenging! I felt guilty (and still do sometimes) for wanting alone time, and for feeling lonely while being quarantined with him. This pandemic makes us feel all sorts of things and I am learning to embrace it all. It’s okay to feel anxious, to be stressed, to feel lonely, to feel unstable and vulnerable. A couple of my friends reported ”feeling things they’ve never felt before”. We have not been in a situation like this before, like ever. So we should cut ourselves some slack and not put all this pressure on ourselves to function a hundred percent all the time.

If you are reading this, let me tell you I am proud of you for just hanging in there. I am proud of the people who try and make the most of it. But I am just as proud of the people who are just making it through the day – and so should you!

A big shoutout to all the people who are still going to work, or have to work from home with screaming kids around them. A huge thank you to the people who are wrecking their brain around this virus to work on vaccines and treatments. A warm and loving virtual hug to each and every one of you! Please be kind to yourself and to others. Together we will make it through.

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