Quarantine Life

A project by Kyrre Lien

The whole world is being asked to stay home. We lock our front doors and brace ourselves.

Using only the webcam on their computers, these people have portrayed themselves and their new way of life.

We work, learn, date and party through our screens.

But how does our new life look like?

Aurora Hannisdal (33)
Journalist, Oslo, Norway. – It is going surprisingly well. My son manages to play by himself, and there is just one of him (puh!), which also enables me to spend more time with him. I think a lot of parents want that.

Fati (33) and Rania (61)
Sales Director, Paris, France. – What seems strange to me is the paradox of our attitude. We are suspicious each other because we are afraid to be contaminated, individualistic when it comes to filling up our supply trolley. In another way, we are united, by taking risks to help more vulnerable people, by making donations, or sharing intimate and joyful moments on social networks, saying that we will win together. I feel all the generosity and love of people and it make me happy. 

Vegar Heimstad (19)
Unemployed, Kvinnherad, Norway. – I had to interrupt my vacation in Morocco with wasn't really affected by the virus, and then I got home to full panic in Norway. It is weird being in quarantine and spending my days in the basement.

Charlot Daysh (27)
Actor, Toronto, Canada. – On the 37th floor, I gaze out on an unusually quiet metropolis. Toronto, a city that always pulsates has never had a lower pulse. It smells like lavender in my flat and the yoga-mat is rolled out. My fridge is filled with healthy food and my book shelf is filled with good readings. As an actor, all my assignments have either been canceled or postponed. Unfortunately, I think it will take a long time for the industry to pick up again,

Kjellaug Lien (63)
Principal, Tjøme, Norway. – I work form home because the school is closed. There’s a lot of work and more stressful than usual. E-mails and phone calls piling up.

Yelyzaveta (24) and Paul (25)
Baristas, Mariupol, Ukraine. – As for me it’s worrying situation because this is a pandemic. Everything here in Ukraine is closed now, expect supermarkets, pharmacy and banks. Now, the government has extended the quarantine to 24th of April.

Torgrim Halvari (54)
Editor and artist, Ski, Norway. – I’m so used to being alone, that this situation isn’t a big change, except for not having to feel bad about being lonely.

Charlotte Hidle (32)
Pregnant, Oslo, Norway. – This is nice. I like the peace and quiet.

Martin Ytterland Pilskog (35) Astrid (4 ), Halfdan (8)
Engineer, Roskilde, Denmark. – It can get crowded when we are two adults with home office and Skype meetings all day, one child with home school and one child with home nursery. It is a surreal situation, and absolutely crazy how fast we have gone from a normal everyday life to discuss hoarding food and a ban on traveling to the cabin. But of course it is nothing compared to what is at stake in terms of life and health. Of course, the biggest concern is the human costs, and the fear that we will suddenly not be able to help those who need it.

Sofia Aleksandra (20)
Student, Donetsk, Ukraine. – I’m in home quarantine here in Donetsk. Our situation is very dangerous for everyone here, but we need to have control and stay calm. It’s panic here in Donetsk, but not like in the rest of Europe. There has been war here for six years, so the situation was already very challenging. It’s emotionally difficult to worry about it all at the same time.

Sami Abu Salem (50)
Journalist, Gaza. – Now I mainly work from home, because the movements have been restricted because of Corona. Honestly, working from home is not easy. The kids are sometimes fighting and making noise, and my youngest daughter Laila sometimes insist to stare at my screen and sometimes presses the buttons.

We have problems like shortage of electricity and internet now, and there are many people that don’t take the situation serious here. They say “we have had 13 years of quarantine”, referring to the siege on Gaza. Others belive it is really serious because we don’t have the skills or enough equipment for an epidemic.

Pål Karlsen (60)
Manager, Oslo, Norway. – I like home office. Feel at home.

Sigmund Ditmansen (30) Siri Einen (31)
Communications Advisor and musician, Bergen, Norway. – We have put ourselves in quarantine because of cold-symptoms. It is weird being isolated in out apartment, knowing that a lot of people will struggle financially in the long term, while things feel relatively normal now. Siri is pregnant and we fear that the pressure in the health service becomes so big that it affects the labour process.

Anouk Brundo-Bull (23), Sofie Nissen (23) and the cat Ferguson
Photography student, Oslo, Norway. – It’s quite weird, but also a bit fun: a lot of games, drawing and some existential crisis.

Anita Lillesæter (62)
Retired midwife, Oslo, Norway. – I’m not used to only being at home, not having a social life like I usually have. I don’t work anymore, but I might become ordered to work again if the situations becomes worse.

Tahiru Sherriff (34)

Creative Director, Abuja, Nigeria. – I am currently in self-isolation. There are 35 cases on the Covid-19 virus in Nigeria now. With one death. It is strange that the whole world, and most importantly, developed countries were unprepared to it. It was worrying that European countries did not stop affected people from leaving Europe into undeveloped countries that are clearly not prepared for the Virus.

Linda Geelmuyden (41) og Peder Blümlein (19)
Service leader, Kolbotn, Norway. – When the cat realized that it was the end of daily alone time, seriousness subsided abruptly.

Rokan Uddin (32)
Restaurant worker, Paris, France. – Now I have lot of time to study. So, I read lot of literature and the rest of the time remembering our almighty. It’s a really horrible situation but I think we will pass it soon. 

Olaug Løvland (34)
Ufør, Leiknes, Norway. – I stay at home because of my health, so for me it is not that different from my everyday life. The biggest difference is that the kids are at home and that we have home school work to do.

Sigrid Lien Schulerud (35), Agnes (6), Eira (9) and Signe (11)
Musician, Tromsø, Norway. – Everyone's at home. The kindergartens and schools are closed, and as a musician all concerts are canceled in the foreseeable future. Currently, the concerts have been canceled through April, but this will last longer.

Batool dasan (34)
Teacher, Amman, Jordan. – All schools are closed, so now I’m doing online teaching. The country is now on lock down, and people can not travel from city to city. It’s boring but it’s a good opportunity to cook all meals by myself, do new project like a website for online Arabic classes and learning Dabka, a Jordanian dance.

Isidore Jabert (31)
Poet, Paris, France. – I might be one of the few for whom the current situation isn't new nor strange, having been self quarantined for long periods, as an acquired taste for solitude.

Per Christian Selmer-Anderssen (37)
Theater critic and freelance journalist, Oslo, Norway. – I'm in quarantine because I was in London to write about theater. After a while I got symptoms, so now I'm in complete isolation. It doesn't get any cleaner at home, but I write a lot and have enough assignments. My kitchen table and sofa have become a busy office, while I have not yet started on the bookshelf. I the evenings I join Skype-gatherings. Looking forward to the theaters opening again!

Marte Gundersen (22) og Anna Beyer Sperstad (21)
Student, Oslo, Norway. – I have begun to consider jogging. That’s not a good sign.