QuaranTEENS in Paris: a memorial for posterity

Quarantine was far from easy especially in a social point of view. We were not allowed to go and see our relatives nor our friends. No strolls around the gardens were possible, no dinner in restaurant was allowed, and no birthday was organized although 2020 was the year of our 18th anniversary. All connections were done through phone or internet and via different applications such as Skype or Zoom.

From a cultural point of view, it was difficult therefore we have had to adapt. We could not go to the cinema and the theater, visit museum and use library neither. Therefore, we had to cope with what we had; it meant watching movies, television reports or reading books. There have been many initiatives from artists aimed at bringing culture to people. Theater plays, concerts, museum visits have been broadcasted in the visual media.

In terms of studies, we have had to find and test different ways of learning such as video-conferencing with teachers, online teachings, or educational videos on internet. Quarantine was an excellent period to develop our aptitudes to self-learning. This was not an easy task because it completely changed our working habits. We learned to manage on our own. We improved also attendance and performance in virtual school because we had fewer courses with our teachers. Finally, we have learnt how to learn. For the rest, quarantine has had positive impact. I could sleep for a long time and I was able to be more physically active and to work more efficiently during the day. When I was awake, I accomplished more in one hour than when I was at school. No transport, no time to go to school as your school is at home. I loved the experience of managing my own time. Stress and nervous tensions were less. I felt really rested. I was more effective in my homework. When I needed to go deeper into complex issues, I could do it immediately in internet. No need to wait to be at home. I was already at home. I used also time to cook, play board games and run.