Hi. My name is Linda. In October, I will end 22 years and I am in the second year of Pedagogy.I am very pleased that I am taking part in this project, it is an exceptional time. It is a great pitythat we will not be able to visit each other. I hope that you are also a great time for the project.The pandemic time is unique, there is a lot going on, and I think all the emotions are possible.Everyone goes through this time differently, with different experiences. There would be a lotof talk about it, and I would like to tell you a little more from my side. How it looked at me,what happened until then.

The most difficult thing to date in the whole pandemic was the moment when almost my entire family lives in my home town (about 10 people) was affected by the coronavirus. Worst of all at one time. I was unable to visit them for a month. They had been sick for two weeks and only then went to tests that had been positive and had been quarantined for another 2 weeks. Among the sick parents and brother were grandparents, who are over 70 years old. This time was very stressful. I was in Szczecin, about 100 km away from home, I was unable to come in and physically help. Fortunately, there were people with a great heart who helped them. They made purchases, they went out with a dog. To deal with the situation and the difficulties I encountered every day, I spoke to them on a video. I was more calm at that time, because I saw their smiling faces, and they had my valued support. In words, I tried to add forces to them and to ensure that I am always here and can talk to me, I can do what they need. I didn't want to show them that it is also hard for me, so I was looking for support with a boyfriend and a friends. I needed a conversation and they were always. That way, I didn't feel alone and overwhelmed by this situation, study or work. Apart from these, in these most difficult times of the pandemic, my roommate, which is my cousin, helped me. She helped me with her presence. I knew that she is with me all the time, that I had someone to talk to and that I could count on her. Interestingly, my balcony gave me a lot of strength and hope. Yes, the balcony, because I could go out and breathe fresh air at any time, without mask. I could drink coffee and eat breakfast at the sun in the morning - this added energy for the whole day. 

Apart from the difficult times when my family was sick, there were days that I had the so-called "crisis". I was overwhelmed by everything that was associated with the pandemic. I wanted to go back to "normality", meet friends, go out for coffee, go to the restaurant or the bar. I have also not managed to fly through the pandemic to Italy, for which I collected money for 2 years and that was my dream for a long time. And now all the plans were in vain from day to day. 2020 was to be so special - and it was, but I will tell you later. At the same time, he was rich in many emotions and events , which we had no influence on. That was beyond our control. Everything was so fast and so terrifying that at some point I was wondering whether this might be the end of the world. Coming back to the topic during these difficult days (as I have already mentioned), my family, my boyfriend and my closest friends have helped me a lot. We were all in the same situation, and at the same time everyone had a different thinking. They have not kept me in their own words once. The camera talks gave me a lot of warmth and feeling that "Hey Julia, see what great people are around, you are at home, but you are not alone with these problems, we are still here." This is called emotional support, and I wish everyone such people a will. I will tell you that in November I had interesting situations as well. A certain morning I awaked with cough and a huge muscle pain. I didn't know what was caused, I hardly stood on my feet, and the preparation of any meal was just like a miracle. I felt tragic and didn't know what was going on. This day, my cousin, which I mentioned, helped me very much. After her work she went to the pharmacy to buy my medications, and in the evening she ordered the sushi, which I love (this is another interesting thing about me). The next day I felt very good - nothing was left to me outside the cough. I didn't do any tests, so I don't know whether it was COVID- 19 or whether it was another disease. Thankfully, I have quickly healed and hope that I will be healthy. 

Looking at this from the other side, I was also the person who helped the other person. It was mainly emotional support, support in word. My loved ones have also been going through harder times, and I would like them not to feel alone to know that I am and I will be with them. In October, the priest of my family parish died. A man with a great heart, and has always been for everyone. This time was heavy for me, because it was close to our family, we have received many help from him many times, and we have talked more. We, parishioners, came up with an idea to purchase a respirator for our hospital. In a month we managed to collect the entire amount. The support was on the level of the human group. We also practice this kind of support in meetings from this project, and we can rely on each other. My best friend is Julia. We are talking almost every day. We are good and bad for ourselves. It is the best example of my human-human support. Just like my boyfriend with whom I deal my difficulties, sorrows and joys. There is still my mother and at the same time my friend. Relations with her are very similar to Julia. These are three people with whom my bond is very strong, and we support each other at every moment. It will not write to you specific examples when we supported ourselves, because we are for ourselves at any time of day or night. 

A pandemic taught me, opened my eyes and changed me, but what? 

1. Patience. I am an energetic, spontaneous person and I don't like to sit long in one place. When I want to go over the sea, I get on the train and go when I have a new idea I try to get it right away. Now? Now I can't invent a million new things, because most will not be able to do it, I am powerless. The pandemic is a lesson of patience that I will certainly find useful.

2. People in my life are essential. I always knew and said that, but the pandemic made me even more loyal to this fact. They are the source of my energy, inspiration and joy. During the pandemic, I have the opportunity to see who is closest to me and who I am most missing. I miss a meeting with friends for coffee, joint events and a view of the streets of full students. I am even lacking the rush of people in the city. 

3. Creativity. That's awesome as I've done, I've learned how to sit back at home. I started like 90% of young people - from a TikTok. I like to dance very much, and there I could do it in a fun way that gave me a lot of laughing. There was a stage that I had a lot of exercise, and now I am in the process of discovering my culinary skills. I think of new solutions for a home "boring", to which I might not fall in "normal times".

4. Humility. The only reasonable option is to accept the current situation. It is very difficult for me to accept something that limits me and I do not want. I work a lot on this and I explain it to myself. Sometimes it's hard with that. 

5. Gratitude. I am a sensitive and empathetic person, and this makes me see a lot in life. I appreciate the small and small gestures. I'm happy with small things like nice weather or tasty coffee, I'm glad I'm healthy and wonderful people surround me. But I appreciate what was once easy and at your fingertips - spontaneous meetings with friends and travel. 

In order not to be so sad, I would like to tell you the most silent moments that have met me since the beginning of the pandemic. One of them is that I have been friends with new people from my studies. We had a lot of contact with each other through the pandemic, and in the new academic year, we had one group. They're very nice and crazy, we're great. They also participate in the project. However, the best thing I have seen is my boyfriend, who has been with for a year. Imagine we were together since the end of February and in mid-March we started quarantine in Poland. We were thrown onto deep water. We didn't walk like most of us in a restaurant or coffee, we had to sit at home and learn each other very quickly. It was a truly crazy year and a very special year. And how long does this time of a pandemic pass to thee? I hope you will tell me a little about yourself. 

Greetings from sunny Szczecin, 

Linda.