[This text is machine generated and may contain errors.]

Kristina Willigan
Narrator

Katie Willigan
Interviewer

April 19, 2022

Katie Willigan (00:03)
It is Tuesday, April 19, at (02:08)pm. This is Katie Willigan conducting this interview. And we are here at East Carolina University. This interview is being held over zoom. And me and my interviewee are located different states. I'm at East Carolina and my mother's in New Jersey. The proposed topic of this interview is to discuss the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. I'm going to have my mother tell me answer a few questions and go from there. So Miss Kristina Willigan, what is what was daily life like for you? With COVID-19? How did how was your life affected by the current restrictions? And what adjustments have you had to make to your usual routines?

Kristina Willigan (00:52)
Well, during the height of the pandemic everybody was home. So my two college students were home from college. My two other students, my one in high school was home and my elementary school student was home. Doing virtual education, pretty much everybody was my husband was working from home for just a couple of weeks during the height of the pandemic. So it was a very busy house. And everyone was working. Shopping was a little bit nerve racking in the beginning where it was safe to say no one really understood what was going on. So we had our gloves on our masks on. We only went out once a week, if we absolutely had to. We had food delivered home, just because we thought it would be safer. We were washing our all of our cans. We were spraying everything in the garage when it came in. It was very nerve wracking first couple months. But after that, we started easing up a bit. And life started getting back to normal a little bit.

Katie Willigan (02:00)
So do you feel that your usual teens? You know, like the shopping like you mentioned?

Kristina Willigan (02:04)
No, it's not

Katie Willigan (02:05)
that must have felt drastically different

Kristina Willigan (02:11)
it did. Yeah, in addition to of course putting masks on we, I was very careful not getting to close to anyone the store I was took twice as long because I was sanitizing everything when I got to the Garage before I bring my house, all the groceries into the house. And I didn't go out as often which my normal routine is I go out when I want to go out but during the pandemic, I really did not venture too far out of the house as far as shopping was concerned.

Katie Willigan (02:43)
Yeah. That yeah, that it was definitely took a toll on you know, not just students in college, but also like parents, and that's why I thought it would be nice interview just to get your take on it. Yeah, so what kind of like what kind of work? Did you feel any work of yours is impacted by the pandemics when locked down. Like your side jobs that any had side jobs that you had or anything because we were locked in the house. So your work life was impacted.

Kristina Willigan (03:16)
So what I do part time is I work in the school. So I'm a substitute teacher. So I obviously was not able to work because all the teachers were working from home so I did lose that side job. And my other job as a voiceover professional really kind of got put on the back burner just because I had everyone home. And the house was quite noisy. So it was really hard to work in a quiet area do my voiceover. So that really got pushed aside so I didn't really do much of that.

Katie Willigan (03:54)
Okay, yeah, so did you do note? Did you notice that your it was complicated? I'm sure because this you did this all home? While some of the voiceover stuff at least? Um, did you notice anything with your friends family or your husband? Like personality changes or anything? Like was it harder to live in your home? Because no one was leaving the house as much or how was the people in your life impacted? Um,

Kristina Willigan (04:23)
I don't know if it was harder, really. It was different. I, my youngest really needed to be in school every day. He was the one that was really suffering being at the time in fourth grade. When they went all virtual, and I think was March, the height of the pandemic, he was really suffering. The virtual education was a joke. It was not working for him at all, which is why we decided on private school in September for him. They went every day in private school in September for fifth grade and he's been there Ever since. So for him were fortunate enough to be able to afford private school where he could go in every day to school. But a lot of these my friends, families who had children in the public schools were suffering greatly because these kids were home still, or at least say there are homestyle.

Katie Willigan (05:19)
How long was the difference between the private schools opening back up versus the public, or the private always opened?

Kristina Willigan (05:28)
Well, the private did close at the height of the pandemic as well, March of 2020, I think it was everyone closed. But by the time September rolled around of 2020, it was 2020. September, the public schools were so virtual up here, and the private schools were half days in person, and the other half day virtual. So we chose to put him in, you know, the half day every day you went in from I think it was, you know, 830 to one o'clock, and then he came home for an hour and a half on virtual, but he was in school every day, whereas the public schools, I believe they were two days a week only in school for a couple hours each day. So, you know, from from that aspect, those parents were just not happy. It was not a good situation, their kids have really suffered. And as a substitute teacher, I go into the elementary schools, and I see, huge from the kindergarten to the second grade, three year gap, I see a huge, huge loss of skills. It's just actually frightening.

Katie Willigan (06:37)
Did you so do you notice with your son versus moves friendzone public school? Does your son see more since he's in the private school see more like he's ahead? Because he was able to stay school versus the online?

Kristina Willigan (06:49)
Yep. Absolutely. What these second graders because as I mentioned, I go in three times a week to the elementary school, and I see what the second graders are doing. I mean, a lot of them don't even know time, you know, compared to what he was doing. First season, sixth grade now, but what he was doing in second grade night and day. One as far as skills with his his class, his current sixth grade class. I don't know I can't speak of what the public school sixth grade class, you know what they're doing comparison to his sixth grade. But my son did not lose anything. He got right back on track, his scores are excellent. Because I believe the fact is that he went to school every day.

Katie Willigan (07:36)
Honestly, that's really interesting that you bring that up, because comparing just how the schools, the public versus the private, they handled the COVID pandemic a little differently, based on what you said, as a private open backup, I didn't really consider that and like educational wise, like, how that could impact different students based on it during school or versus out online. So in that regard, how do you think the government respond like, do you think the government responded wells event pandemic pandemic? With closing the schools? I I'm assuming you take the side where they should have stayed open. What's your thoughts on that?

Kristina Willigan (08:15)
No, initially, no one knew in the beginning, everybody, I think was on the same page. In the beginning, no one knew what the heck was going on. We were all scared, including myself. And we all thought the best that close everything up initially, but in the beginning, we thought it'd be two weeks. We never considered it to go on for this long, you know, you know, a year later that they'd still be virtual. I mean, it's absolutely insane. And so from the beginning, I did feel that it was the right choice, because really, no one knew what was going on. But as time progressed, and we saw, you know, what was happening and people were getting vaccinated. The fact that the schools a lot of on in New Jersey, remained virtual half first will happen was absolutely horrific to the to the students and quite frankly, to the parents who had to work. So it was really a real How do I say, a real

Katie Willigan (09:17)
challenge,

Kristina Willigan (09:18)
as well, definitely a challenge but it was really a, an affront, I guess is what I'm trying to the parents and the children a real disservice is the word I'm thinking to these kids who, unfortunately, as I mentioned, there are so many skills lacking when I'm seeing him in the classroom now, especially with the second graders who essentially started kindergarten virtual. He's currently

Katie Willigan (09:42)
raising plates not even just like the students are impacted, but because I'm interviewing you who is a parent, it not only impacts a student's like education, but it also impacts the parents ability to go back to work. And like if this if the Students who and I agree, I think that the school should have been closed for a bit, but because they were main closes a long time that again, like what you said impacts the student's ability to learn. But it also impacts the parents ability to go back to work to make money, which, so tell me about that did like you or your husband struggle with? I know, you said that your, like your son was able to go back to private school. So it wasn't like he, he Kiko he was, he was able to go back to school, but so tell me about, like, how your jobs or possibly impact? Well,

Kristina Willigan (10:37)
you know, of course, we're in a fortunate situation where my husband is able to pay and keep us, you know, my husband never stopped working. I think he was home, maybe two weeks, he's in the construction field. And he had to go back to work. He had to, he had no choice. So he went back. And he was just careful, he masked up so because of, you know, his work ethic and the way he works in the market, or in the New York metropolitan market, he was able to do well financially, thankfully. But a lot of people were not, you know, I have a lot of friends that, you know, had to stay home, they lost their jobs, or they had to take part time work only because they had to homeschool their kids, because their kids were falling so far behind and one particular friend and losing 25 pounds. And she was never huge anyway, and she gradually put the weight back on. But she had three little kids at home, one of which is academically challenged. And she had to spend her entire day making sure her daughter was on track. And at the time, I believe her daughter maybe was in second or third grade. I can't recall which but she lost so much weight, and she is a nurse, she couldn't go in. She couldn't work. So she took a leave of absence. I mean, this really affected so many people, or do you think shutting up closing up the schools? It really, in my mind, it was a horrible, horrible way to continue going keeping these schools closed for so many aspects. And kids, for the most part are pretty resilient when it comes to COVID. You know, the teachers were, I get that. But people are vaccinated now and they are getting sick. But

Katie Willigan (12:32)
do, not to interrupt, but how do you feel about the vaccines? In did you get one?

Kristina Willigan (12:38)
I mean, I felt at the time it that vaccinations were a good thing and I am vaccinated. I did not get my booster. But I chose not to because I don't want to have to keep doing this every year. I'm a pretty healthy fit almost 51 year old woman. I'm not particularly overweight. I'm average. I try to keep myself in decent shape. I may have a few pounds to lose, but I'm not obese. I wouldn't say overall, I feel that I'm doing everything correct. I may have had COVID I may not have I don't know. But I'm okay with people being vaccinated, but I am not okay when people telling me to get vaccinated. I feel resentful. When any government any state anybody tells me what I can do to my own body. It's not theirs. It's mine. So if I choose to get vaccinated, that's great. That's my choice. If you choose not to That's great. That's your choice. And I draw the line at government or any agency telling me what to do.

Katie Willigan (13:44)
Sorry, respectable I understand that. So what I've a kind of off topic here, but I'm interested to know that what seemed normal before COVID That seems kind of strange to you now. Is there anything like in life that was normal before a pandemic that now just seems strange? If you know what I'm trying to say?

Kristina Willigan (14:09)
yes

Katie Willigan (14:10)
anything

Kristina Willigan (14:11)
I've a great example just calling up to people haven't seen in a while and giving them a hug. You know, I'm pretty good body language. If I know that I want to give me a hug. I'm not going to get too close to them. But if before I didn't think twice about it, no one thought twice about it. You would just be so close to people give them hugs. Now you're, you don't get so close to people. That's definitely a difference, which is maybe not a bad thing, I guess.

Katie Willigan (14:35)
No, that's interesting. I've definitely noticed that as well as it's even in classes down here. Like there's still like seating arrangements or like still, like you said, you don't sit it's like now it's like an unspoken rule that you don't sit directly behind someone in the class. You give them a desk behind them that makes any sense. Just like you're going unspoken rules that you don't just go to a stranger in like Give him a hug, you know? Like, that's like an unspoken rule. Now I think that's so interesting is because like before COVID Like it would just be completely normal to sit behind someone in the class or sit behind someone in church. That's what I noticed. That's something that, yeah, it's space.

Kristina Willigan (15:17)
People are more cognitive, more aware of their personal space, whereas before, maybe they weren't so much.

Katie Willigan (15:24)
Yes. I need to note does anything else different that you noticed or?

Kristina Willigan (15:28)
Ah, let's see.

Katie Willigan (15:31)
I noticed that seems like sanitation wise, like, there's a lot more hand sanitizer everywhere. Like, I can turn a corner and there was something there, hand sanitizer thing, which they always show to them, something like that. But I've noticed that a lot more since COVID.

Kristina Willigan (15:45)
Hmm. Yes, that's true, too. Yep. Yep. There's more here. I don't know. I mean, I'm over. Overall, I think those are probably the two main things I've noticed. The most. One big thing I've noticed, just since the beginning, you know, to now people are done with this people, you know, have really don't want to talk about it anymore. People don't want to mask up anymore. People don't want to talk about who's vaccinated, who's not, we don't care, we just want to get back to living our life making money moving ahead. So I've noticed that people don't want to talk about it. COVID as much as they did, like, even 678 months ago.

Katie Willigan (16:23)
Yes, I completely agree with that. I've noticed that in my classes, even that a lot of professors will talk about COVID or something about it. And a lot of times the students, we just kind of don't that we don't really want to talk about it more, because we want to move on. Quick, what a few final questions for you before our time ends here. But um, what are your impressions of the media coverage of the pandemic? Meaning? Well, both currently, and before I arrived in the US, like, Did you notice anything social media wise, that kind of you want to talk about with COVID? If not, we can move on to next question.

Kristina Willigan (17:05)
I don't I'm not a total boom, I guess I'm on Facebook a little bit. Probably my biggest social media is Facebook, just because I'm older. I don't do a lot of the other social media. Regular Media News TV programs, I tend to watch a lot of different programming from watch MSNBC, but then I'll go to Fox News. And I go to CNN and I see like stark differences over the last couple years of the way. The news outlets handled COVID the more liberal news stations like CNN, MSNBC, and NBC, are all like everyone's gonna die type of thing. And Fox News more conservative, I'm trying to think if there's any other programming similar to that. There is another news programs a little bit more conservative, they are more they seem to be more pragmatic in the way they're handling. Listen, we've got a problem here. Let's come to solutions. I noticed there was different coverages the way people the news outlets handled it. And I don't know why that's the case. I don't know if the more liberal outlets want to keep it going for the sake of control, or the more conservative outlet just wants to move away from I don't know the answer to that. So I really haven't been watching that was in the beginning. And I haven't been watching my news ever since because I find it kind of depressing all along. But

Katie Willigan (18:39)
okay, that's actually really interesting to hear about. I've definitely noticed that as well as the differences with different news stations and how they talk about the COVID pandemic, for sure. I've noticed that as well. And then one final question for you today. Um, are you doing any community work? Or is any of your friends you're going to community work? Or volunteering as a result of the pandemic? For example, you like donate blood or doing any other community work? And if not, you Does anyone you know, have started something up.

Kristina Willigan (19:09)
Well, pre COVID I did a lot more work with Meals on Wheels. I never really gave blood just because my I don't have that they've always turned me away with my blood for some reason. By I don't have enough iron in my blood or something. I haven't really done anything. I mean, I've always given to charity organizations money wise, and I've always donated clothes to the open door, cupboard or pantry. As far as my friends doing anything as a result of COVID I don't know. I'm not sure about that. I don't know if they've done anything. Most people are just trying to survive and work and take care of their kids. So I'm not sure how to answer that question.

Katie Willigan (19:57)
Okay, that's fine. That's perfectly valid answer, though. Just A question I thought would be nice to add. Is there any is there anything else you would like people to know about your experience with the pandemic? Or is there anything like you would like to add before we end this interview today?

Kristina Willigan (20:13)
Um, I just found out today the travel mandates are the mask mandates are off, which is great for airplanes.

Katie Willigan (20:23)
Oh, I've heard that say to you, I was very excited about that.

Kristina Willigan (20:26)
Trains, that's about time, it's time that we move forward. You know, I just, it's always gonna be here, COVID It's never gonna go away. We're always going to have some form of sicknesses or issues with COVID and the flu or anything, and we just have to deal with it. And it doesn't mean our life has to stop, we have to quit. We're gonna all get sick at one time at one point or another. If we can, you know, take care of ourselves and each other. That's probably the best thing we can do. But we can't stop doing what we're doing. Life can't stop. So I'm a firm believer and moving forward, not looking back. And I don't know. I hope I answered your questions, Katie.

Katie Willigan (21:09)
No, you did. And I really appreciate your time. Thank you so much. You're welcome.

[End of Recording]