My Quarantine Journal by Verónica Marmont

Day 1

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-17 08:51:12 UTC

12^TH MARCH Today is the first day of self-isolation. Face-to-face classes have been suspended in the center where I work, so I go straight home to start working in a new way. I am not very excited to be locked up at home but it is the best for this problem to be solved as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm sure I’ll find thousand things to do on my to-do list.

Day 2

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-17 09:26:45 UTC

Day 2: 13^th MARCH Today is the first day that I will not leave home. It is not a problem for me because I have a lot of work to do to keep up with work. It is said that tonight at 22pm everyone will go out to the balconies to applaud the nurses, doctors and health personnel who are working non-stop to take care of us all. I'll lean out the window to see if I see anything.

PS: Today I will have lasagne for dinner

Day 3

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-17 09:33:53 UTC

Day 3: This quarantine is not proving easy. I think it is a challenge not only for the Spanish people but for the entire planet. I really like the union we are forming. I am a little angry because some students are not working at all, they still think that they are on holiday. Anyway, I miss them very much and hope to see them soon.

PS: Today, music played and everyone danced on their balconies. Do not stop the party!

Day 4

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-18 10:03:52 UTC

Day 4: Today was a very fun day. In the morning, my cats and I found a new friend, Wilson. Mariana has not accepted him very well but I have already told her that Wilson is staying. At night, my friends and I hung out online and made a toast with pineapple juice. One of them is going crazy, but I think at this point we all are.

PS: Have you tried mixing Doritos with Nutella? Don't do it!

Day 5

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-19 07:25:29 UTC

To be honest, this is proving far more complicated than I expected.

Yesterday I was putting the final marks for the second term, which means that we've already entered the home stretch of the year.

Moreover, neither Wilson nor my cats wanted to talk to me, they hid and I couldn’t find them (I guess they were playing hide & seek) 🧐...

Also, I’ve run out of chocolate 🍫and I’ve started to pick up the chips of the cereals. I suppose that tomorrow I will go out with my gloves and mask (hopefully, I won’t see many people in the streets because it would be embarrassing😅)

PS: Today I bought 5 pyjamas online, despite of everything, I want to be in fashion😌.

Day 6

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-20 09:23:50 UTC

Un día más, un día menos!⏳I went outside and felt like I was in an episode of ‘The Walking Dead’🧟‍♀️. Maybe I should have taken this opportunity to take a couple of photos in the Callao building with the Schweppes sign because it’s always very crowded, but I forgot my selfie stick at home😅.

Also, it was Father's Day, so I called mine and we were talking for hours. I told him that as soon as we see each other, we’ll plant tomatoes in the garden and he was very happy 🍅🍅.

At night I played the song Tusa very loud🎶and started dancing with Wilson and my cats (the truth is that dancing is not Wilson’s strength).

PS: If lockdown lasts for many days, I will go back to school rolling.

Day 7

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-21 11:34:02 UTC

How can this virus be stopped from spreading? STAYING AT HOME. I'm a bit fed up with people who go shopping 4 times a day or walk their dog 6. The more they get out, the longer it will take for those of us who are carrying out the government's instructions to put an end to this.

Regarding my day, today has been the worst day of all. I wish I could go back with my family. Is desperately to see how people in Madrid think this is a fuc**** joke.

PS: It is very sad to see how the human being takes some things for granted and doesn't appreciate life.

Day 7

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-22 11:19:43 UTC

Today I have been reading a book all day and planning my summer trip. I would like to visit so many places that I still don't know which one to choose. The first destination would be Ireland, followed by Africa or Morocco ✈️. I usually travel alone or with friends, but this time I will travel with my whole family. I look forward to summer!🏝

PS: I am looking for a way to go with my family to Valencia, a trucker offers me to travel hidden among his load of toilet paper🧻 🚛. I don't trust him much…

Day 8

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-23 09:15:43 UTC

I love rain🌧. For years I have preferred a cloudy and rainy day than a sunny day. I think the reason behind it is because it reminds me of when I was young (more than now) and my mother used to put my sister and my welly boots on👯‍♀️👢.

Also, lockdown is more bearable if it rains; a blanket, a film and a good glass (of water)🍿🍷.

The government has said that this will last for at least 15 more days. I never thought I would say this but, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

PS: Big hand to all the people who have turned IFEMA into a hospital (in China it took 14 days, in Spain 48 hours)🏥

Day 9

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-24 09:33:41 UTC

Buon Giorno, Principessa!♥︎
This is one of my favorite quotes in the world from one of the best movies I've ever watched (Life is Beautiful – La Vita é Bella). I watched it again and I recommend everyone who has some time (you will surely find a couple of hours), to watch it.

Also, I played Scrabble with Mariana (the cat) and, guess what? I beat her with the word 'SCRATCHER'. She ended up going mad so to calm her down I ordered a scratching post on Amazon. I guess the order will arrive today and she will sleep in my bed again.

Regarding everything else, the virus has reached the city where my parents live 😩. There are 20 infected nurses and doctors, plus several other people. The total is not estimated yet, but I keep my fingers crossed so that everything goes well🤞🏼.
PS: Thanks to those of you who are writing your quarantine journal, I’m having lots of laughs😻.

Day 10

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-25 10:28:46 UTC

Yesterday I started to think about what will happen when we return to normality, to face-to-face classes, to ‘silence, please; be quiet, please; ~~SHUT UP!!!!~~ ’ What will happen when we spend 15 minutes of the lesson telling each other things that have nothing to do with the lesson. And what will happen when nothing happens anymore.

That being said and continuing with sentimentality, I searched in my photo albums and I found my birthday photos. Some students threw a surprise party in the classroom, and I couldn't have had a better time! Now I think that those are the moments that remain etched in our minds, the good moments, and we end up forgetting the bad ones or hiding them in a remote area of our memory so that they don't come out🔒.

Today I want to thank all the students, their families and all the teachers who have not stopped working since classes were suspended- the pace of life, generally. Together we are making these days full of good memories that we will remember forever!

Thank you all!

PS: Today I gathered my 3 cats and Wilson and gave them a class on how to properly wash their hands and paws🐾.

Day 11

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-26 09:16:47 UTC

Today I will be brief. Good news!!!

Italy’s latest update: 4th day in a row with daily new cases below the 6557 peak reached on March 21.

Our neighbors are making it and we’re getting closer!

PS: I celebrated it in a big way, this time the song Bella Ciao was playing🎶 and two bottles of wine🍷died for the cause. Margarita has a hangover and she told me not to wake her up until tomorrow 🔕

Day 12

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-27 08:13:09 UTC

Once upon a time, the whole world went mad. Right in the middle of an ordinary life universe gave us a fairy tale and we lived happily ever after.
THE END

PS: Not in the mood for either 👑virus or quaran💩

Day 13

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-28 18:11:14 UTC

Wow! It's been a long week but finally Friday! 😅

I have so many plans for the weekend that I guess I won't have enough time left!

Today I picked up again a book which was a bit abandoned: New York Stories, which collects the world's greatest classic works.

PS: Today I sat on the roof and fell asleep in the shade of the sun

Day 14:

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-29 16:33:50 UTC

Spain has seen a sharp rise in the number of deaths caused by coronavirus but the rate of new infections is stabilising. We'll see next week if Spain has finally reached its peak.

Meanwhile, cheer up! Next week is Easter break 😊

PS: I've created a TikTok account because I think is my last opportunity to work out a bit. Let's see if that works!

Day 15

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-30 12:57:53 UTC

I hate Sundays. Since I was young I’ve always hated them and I think I always will. It’s just that day of the week doesn't make sense. A couple of years ago it used to be the day of family reunions and paellas. However, there are not ~~paellas~~ or ~~family meetings~~ anymore, so what is its function apart from indicating that the next day is Monday?

Anyway, I don't like Sundays.

PS: Yesterday I finished with all the juice reserves and tomorrow I’ll have to go out and buy more. This quarantine is turning me into a drinkaholic (if this word even exists).

Day 16

vemarmont1 — 2020-03-31 09:17:24 UTC

Today I literally spent the whole day working. Worst of all, we don't know how long this situation will last. It’s difficult not having a precise answer and not being able to make long-term plans. Some people say that this will last until the end of the academic year, and others that we will return in June. Who knows?

Spain’s total of people testing positive has reached 85,195 - higher than that of China, where the outbreak began. Spain is the worst-hit country after Italy, with 7,340 deaths in total.

Can anyone believe that Spain and Italy have surpassed China? Are they hiding information? Can China’s statistics be trusted?

PS: The highest kind of ignorance is half-knowledge.

Day 17

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-01 08:08:57 UTC

A few days ago I started to get interested in violins🎻. Have you listened to a modern song with a violin’s background sound? It's amazing how a song changes. So I made up my mind and bought a violin. I will receive my order soon and I’ve already started watching some tutorials. I hope to learn, at least, to play one song, but if not, I’ll tell my future children the story of 'How I met your violin'. Wish me good luck.

PS: If you want to learn a new skill you have always dreamed of, now is the time and it’s called quaran-time.

Day 18

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-02 11:37:34 UTC

April Fools’ Day!

I tried to play a joke on Wilson and he went very mad. He locked himself up in his room and I told him that it was confinement within confinement and he couldn't do that🚫.

Nothing interesting today. Reading a bit about the history of April Fools' Day, working, answering emails to students who were either happy or angry about the second quarter final grades ...

Anyway, Spain set another record in the number of coronavirus deaths on Wednesday (864). However the rate of new infections continues to slow.

PS: I am not feeling well these days, I think I’ve got sick again 😷

Day 19

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-03 09:35:10 UTC

My violin arrived today! So happy that we are on holiday! Covid19 is secondary now.
Let's see what I can do with this babe🤓

PS: The background music on the video is "Tusa"!!

Day 31

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-14 11:58:17 UTC

A month has gone by since confinement. It seems that nothing has changed, but actually everything has.

I used to spend these days with my family, however this year has been different, neither typical Easter meals nor trips... Also, we don’t know what will happen with the academic year yet.

PS: TO WEAR MASKS OR NOT TO WEAR THEM, THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Day 32

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-15 08:09:36 UTC

I think my cats are sick of being with me. As they were used to being free and happy without being disturbed, now it seems that I have invaded their territory. I guess they are conspiring against me.

As for the data for COVID-19, they’ve got out of control. Every day I’m angrier with this situation and with the management carried out. I just hope it doesn't stop raining because then spring is less spring.

PS: Mariana also wants to go back to school.

Day 33

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-16 14:13:50 UTC

Online lessons have started again and there’re not enough hours in the day to do all the work I’d like to.

It’s very difficult to be able to answer so many emails, correct so many activities and answer so many questions from each student, taking into account that there’re more than 100.
Sometimes I’m worried about not doing my job well, but then I drink a glass of juice, I eat a chocolate bar and I get over it

PS: I’ve read that in the summer people will have to go to the beach and keep the safety distance, I think it’s a good measure because this way I will have my own plot of sand and I could take Mariana, Remolacha and Margarita with me 😸😸😸.

Day 36

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-20 17:31:58 UTC

Today I spoke with my mom on the phone and she was so sad that I burst into tears. She thinks that we won’t see each other never again (poor thing)😩.

I do not understand why other countries are lifting and loosening the lockdown measures when in Spain we continue the same as the first day. Are we doing something wrong? 🙄
It is inevitable to compare Spain with other countries such as Germany or France, and what to say about the United States!? Every day, new questions arise and the answers are more and more confusing. One of the most repeated questions is whether children will be allowed to go out. This what's being said:

If accompanied by an adult, youngsters will be able to enjoy 'limited outings' with effect from April 27. The recommendations have to be endorsed by Congress and the age range has yet to be decided. It is believed they will need to be 12.

PLACE YOUR BETS, LADIES & GENTLEMEN!

Day 38

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-23 09:27:53 UTC

Today is World Book Day! 📚
The 23 April was chosen when World Book Day was first set up in 1995 because it was the birth or death date for many famous writers around the world including Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Maurice Druon.

World Book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it's a celebration of reading.

Day 42

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-27 11:09:13 UTC

SHAME!
That's what I feel for Spain.
A word to the wise is enough! 🤐

Day 43

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-28 10:21:37 UTC

Today I made a cheesecake🍰. It was horrible and not even the cats wanted to eat it.

I have seen the weather forecast and very hot days are coming☀️. I don't think I can bear it because without the beach the good weather doesn't make any sense.

PS: I hope that people who have gone out to play and run, have done it in a responsible way.

Day 44

vemarmont1 — 2020-04-29 11:54:52 UTC

I am very sad today. Finally, we won’t go back to school and that means I don't think we'll see each other again. To be honest, I had a tiny hope of coming back at least for the last week of June and having a great mask party toasting with grape juice 🍹.

Be that as it may, I will miss you very much. We still have almost two months ahead, let's take advantage of them.

Day 70

vemarmont1 — 2020-06-09 22:41:10 UTC

Today was a very busy day. I'm working out the final grades so I finished the tasks for today a few minutes ago. I didn't have time to make dinner so I went and ordered McDonald's 🍔🍔🍟. I'm LOVING IT ♡ (I know love is an state verb and cannot be used in the -ing form, however, that's McDonald's slogan).