Living in the midst of a pandemic - Surekha Ayyagari- Resident of Chatswood

Living in the midst of a pandemic has been a very new, strange and bit unsettling to begin with. I somehow thought I couldn’t find the words or visuals to describe my experience but slowly as I delved into it I could put the complexities of the sudden unfolding of events into simple prose which defined my account of witnessing these unprecedented times.

I had heard of Covid 19 and saw some grim images of it’s devastation in Wuhan China on Television but it remained too far fetched to affect my life! We were beginning to get a bit cautious about our going about of life but that was it.

For me the rollercoaster ride of experiences and emotions started on what now seems way back; seemingly eons ago , on March 10th 2020 ; when I had to urgently travel to the US as my daughter had an emergency!

Even on the Delta flight to Los Angeles, things seemed hunky dory except for the couple of empty seats here and there on a rather busy sector of travel. But it hit me the moment I landed there, as there was shelter in place already mandated. By the time I had taken the connection to Boston, the seriousness of the situation and it’s impact had hit me as we were just four passenger on the LAX - Boston flight and all the announcements were being personally addressed - “ Mrs Ayyagari , Mr X , Mr and Mrs Y, Please fasten your seatbelts belt and pay attention to the safety instruction as we take off!’

My trip there and back is a blur as each day brought new and enormous paradigm shifts ; Cities shutting down completely, Universities going online; social distancing, throwing all of us off into a seemingly surreal, freakish; almost a Hollywood movieisc reality! The only silver lining was that I was heading home to Sydney with my daughter in tow and would land a few hours before the border was being shut for International travel! Unprecedented yet true! And it almost felt I was the protagonist in the Mission Impossible movie! Pandemic strikes! I literally had to google the word to understand it’s brevity!

We landed in Sydney, tired and wiped out with the stress of travel during the outbreak of the pandemic yet euphoric of being home to what seemed like a more safer and protective environment. It was a bit intimidating signing the oath of self isolation; especially for someone like me who is constantly on the move! Home became our sanctuary for the next 14 days.I enjoyed that I had no schedule and nowhere to be, no pressure to socialise or equip the home to keep everything running smoothly -which was usually my responsibility or business in our domestic set up! Slowly the boredom and a bit of restlessness set in. The self isolation/ quarantine was more a mental challenge than a physical one. But by the end of my self isolation, everyone was in a lockdown. It was bitter sweet - I could be out and about but not quite so either!

Our lives were changing surely and completely. Chatswood was getting quieter by the day! My frequent trips to the Westfield mall, Chatswood library, various coffee shops and restaurants on the Chatswood Mall and Interchange ; with friends and family and my yoga class; my biweekly meets at Mosaic; every activity had been suddenly halted and stalled indefinitely. It was very disconcerting and unfathomable. Life was slowly falling into a kind of numbness, a routine of sorts. It was a huge adjustment of all sorts.

Slowly but surely we as a family, we all searched all corners of our beings and the far ends of our minds and souls and found our strengths and weaknesses; core values and beliefs and emerged and blossomed with new found resilience. I am very sure it was the same for everyone.

I began enjoying the quietness of Chatswood and its surrounds. I was beginning to hear more of the birds than the hustle bustle of people. I did step out occasionally for my physical and mental well-being; to enjoy a walk in the Oval or down the deserted Victoria and Albert Avenues.

I began discovering the beauty of the buildings, the juxtaposition of old and new, the high rises standing tall and witnessing the silence of the surrounds with regal panache!

I started enjoying the eager and effervescent faces and smiles of all humans I encounter and interface in course of my walks.

I miss the chime and the bustle of the city, the weekly markets on the Mall but the dancing of the sunlight and the jaywalking of birds added new found grace to the place.

Life goes on, albeit with most humans on a much deserved, slower pace. It has indeed been a time of deep catharsis; where most of us had the time to relax, reflect, rejuvenate, rework our priorities.

Friends and distant family became the core of existence and sustenance for many of us. With much introspection came the discovery - what mattered and who mattered and why!

It was in a way very freeing. I am very grateful that most of us here in Chatswood are staying healthy and handling the change well. I am extremely thankful to the city of Chatswood, and all its people, in keeping our lives running smoothly: whether its the availability of all essentials, uninterrupted supply of all utilities, essential services like transport etc were running to clock work precision. The city was kept clean, garbage was collected on time. Coles, Woolies, the Indian grocery store and other essentials were open and catering to all our needs! It’s been remarkable, the way the country and our city quickly adapted and re organised to all the social distancing and other parameters of the pandemic in keeping us safe and help control the spread of the virus. Grateful to our city and it’s officials for constantly working in ensuring the wellbeing of all its residents and visitors, in all aspects of life -physical, mental and social.

The Prime Minister, Our Premier and Our Mayor have been doing an excellent job in communicating regularly and working tirelessly towards the wellbeing of the Nation in all aspects.

On a lighter note I was also among the lucky few who didn’t have to scramble for toilet rolls! Or hoard pasta and pasta sauce!!

Last but not the least, I am enormously grateful to each and everyone living and working here and conveying in their own way that we all are in this together and together we shall overcome!!

Surekha Ayyagari- Resident of Chatswood since March 2017.