Three boxes waiting by the door
My family keeps three boxes of masks by the doorway, above the dusty shoe cabinet that hasn’t been opened in awhile. The boxes can be seen in the corners of my Zoom video meetings.
At the beginning of my school year, wearing masks in groups was banned in my home of Hong Kong because of their symbolic roles in the Hong Kong protests. Now if I’m seen without one, it’s grounds for upset stares and finger-pointing.
I was on vacation in Bangkok, Thailand, with my family when reports of rising fatalities from the coronavirus began appearing in the news. Social media buzzed with rumors that schools in Hong Kong would close after the Chinese New Year that began Jan. 25.
Two weeks later, I was in front of a computer, watching my biology teacher flip through slides. I lay sideways on my bed, camera and microphone off — just like everyone else in my class. My mother doesn't believe in studying inside the bedroom, so I don’t have a desk.
Some of my classes have been impressively organized with teachers updating lesson plans and hosting well-attended video meetings. Others have been lackluster, rarely assigning material with rushed five-minute Zoom conferences only twice a week. I often feel like I’m teaching myself.
Many of the tests I’ve taken have been on simple Google Forms and Schoology, and most worksheets have been taken directly from online sources. It would be easy to cheat, easy to avoid the minimal adult supervision. Many teachers have resorted to cutting large chunks of the curriculum.
I sometimes feel exhausted by long interactions with my family. But as long as I wear a mask, carry hand sanitizer and stay in groups of four or fewer, I’m allowed to see my local friends in person. I’ve been surprised — as a person who is naturally private and reserved — by my frustration at not being able to see people every day.
I look forward to when I get to sit in a class of 20 once again. When I can hear my classmates debate over controversial topics in my humanities class, and sit with my friends in front of the taco stand in the cafeteria.
When there aren't three boxes of masks by the doorway.