The MCO Period-Aye or Nay?

Unless you've been living under a rock, we all know what's been happening in 2020. Disaster after disaster after disaster. Macroscopically, the MCO period was definitely detrimental in terms of economics and politics. On the other hand, we've seen technological breakthroughs in this short period of time. On a more personal note however, some people enjoyed it but most didn't. I'd say I've been transitioning between both viewpoints throughout the past few months.

What have I really done? Good question. I slept lots, ate loads and watched years worth of dramas--basically just wasted a few months. Oh and I made dalgona coffees and posted those instagram stories, we all did. Ngl, I really enjoyed the first month. I didn't mind not being able to go out at all. Staying at home, doing nothing, being practically stress-free. Yet, as the imminent sem exam came looming over, I had to force myself to be productive after slacking for a whole month. It was harder than ever, trying to pick myself up after losing all the momentum. There was no library to go to, no friends to study together with, most of all, not knowing what to expect in an online test. Thank goodness I wasn't supposed to take AS in May/June. It was like studying for SPM, because of the vast amount of time I had to (or rather I tried to) study, but without Penang Digital Library. Oh how I struggled with my self-discipline.

A huge part of our MCO lives--online classes. They're horrible. They just aren't as effective especially when your lecturers are having technical problems every other day. Nevertheless, I know it sounds contradictory, but I kinda prefer online classes. Due to online classes, I spend more time figuring out stuff on my own (with loads of help from Mr Google and Khan Academy), instead of relying totally on the lecturers. I get more time to complete my homework. When you spend 3 quite unnecessary hours on a stats problem that, in fact, only requires 3 lines of solution, you'll remember it till your dying day. Hours of breaks between classes become time to plow through tutorial questions, or to do some other extra-curricular work, rather than going out for lunch. Also, I get to sleep comfortably while the lecturer drones on and on, instead of on hard wooden tables we all know make your arms fall off.

What's MCO without social distancing? As an introvert, this has been more of a blessing than a curse. First of all, wearing a mask has become the magical solution to my RBF problem, I finally don't look like the whole world owes me money. Then comes the perk of not needing to strike a conversation if you don't want to, again, to 'social distance'. No face-to-face meetings, no awkward conversations, those were the silver linings.

As sem 2 commences, now that I have loads of stuff to do, I'm back to enjoying this 'quarantine life'. Although the MCO is over as we step into the RMCO phase, it's pretty much the same to me before school reopens. Even though I technically get to go out, the procedures before entering any premise make me rather stay at home. Face-to-face classes are to resume next week. I'll have to reacclimatise to the 'independent' lifestyle, but still, am very much eager to start lab classes (we're expecting 8 hours of lab per week). I look forward to the day things return to normal, when conversations don't all end with "Stay safe". For the time being however, stay safe everyone, it'll be over real soon.

~Carpe diem~