COVID-19 PANDEMIC - TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE WORK , STUDY , PLAY AND LIVE | LUMEN
15
Despite the many limitations , I think there is still room for improvement to promote community cohesion with some creativity . Perhaps we could have some time set aside from curriculum time to allow classmates to share their thoughts , feelings and to clear doubts . Before we pack up and head home after school each day , we could have an extra 15 minutes of free time just to check on each other . These days , there seems to be very little or no free time with our friends . We are all busy preparing ourselves for the lessons and exams . If we are not sitting near each other , we barely communicate . What we lack especially during this time of the pandemic is the social and human connection with one another . We need more time and opportunities for one another to “ reach out ”, esp to ' the last , the lost , the least ' amongst us . A little time to share our thoughts freely about anything with a friend , a tutor , or a teacher will be ideal . Being openminded and reflective are beneficial to cultivate open-mindedness . Checking out a different perspective from yours probably may not lead to a change in your own beliefs . But it will help you to understand why others believe what they do even as you clarify your own . It is a brilliant first step towards developing the reflective attitude of open-mindedness . As I always believe : together we can stay strong .”
Engeline Kusnadi , FN504 , Indonesia
“ Due to the special situation that I am currently in , being locked inside my boarding room with different people , having my movements restricted and unable to meet my friends in school , my longing to go home has increased significantly . I do sometimes envy other people who can spend more time with their family due to the measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19 . At least , some of them have home cooked food prepared for them at the dining table , ready to be consumed together over long talks with their parents and siblings . At least , they do not need to use a language that is less familiar to them to communicate with other people . I miss having small conversations with my family and friends back in my home country , because doing so on online platforms is just not the same . I call my parents often , usually reserving the weekends for quality family time - having a supportive family helps a lot ! My parents often send parcels to Singapore , consisting of local food and snacks . Sometimes , my mom sends me home cooked food too . Through this , I can get a little taste of home , which helps my homesickness little bit .”
Pauline Ongchan , FN501 , Philippines
“ Bravery , a quality people think I have , but I actually do not . Bravery , a facade I have to put on in front of other people and sometimes even in front of my parents . Beneath the bravery that people admire is a person longing to eat home cooked food and to be said goodnight to . The thought of not being able to go home for 2 years because of the pandemic saddens me a lot . True , social media platforms are available but it is not and will not be the same as being there . Not only will I miss the major events like their graduation or birthdays but also the small things such as a dinner table joke or the late-night talks . Often these smallest matters occupy a huge space in my heart .
Being in a fun and inclusive community as well as having quite a lot of work to do help keep my mind off being homesick . Yet , the high expectations set by myself and the pressure of being a scholar would sometimes get to me . This is often when homesickness would hit me , wishing that I did not leave home . During these times , I would often turn to my other scholar friends , who can relate to what I am feeling . I am grateful that I always had a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on .”
Facing page ( bottom ): Cao Peiyuan and his little sister taken at the airport before his departure from Shanghai in 2019 .
This page ( top left ): Yixuan ( 5th from right , front row ) with fellow Chinese scholars and seniors during an outing before COVID-19 .
This page ( centre bottom ): Engeline Kusnadi , is in red , talking to her friend via zoom .
This page ( centre right ): Pauline Ongchan ( with spectacles ) is seen in a group photo along with her friends .