FLASHBACK OF QUARANTINE DIARIES | Steem Sri Lanka: Contest Series - Week o3 | My Lockdown Story by @anusha96

Hope you all are doing well. I am so happy to take part in Steem Sri Lanka Contest Series. 😃Here's my entry for the contest FLASHBACK OF QUARANTINE DIARIES. Actually it's an interesting topic and I must thankful to @sandu for organizing this contest for all of us. 😍 This is how my life went during lockdown period.

Last December in 2019, China was informed about cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, China. Authorities identified a new type of coronavirus, subsequently named COVID-19 and it was characterized as a pandemic in March 2020. Due to this pandemic Sri Lankan government announced that a nationwide lockdown and my university was closed on 13th March, 2020. 😷

Even it was closed only for a two weeks, it was extended for few months due to bad situation in the country. Exactly it was extended up to 24th August, 2020 nearly more than five months. I have already spent a lot of time with the family, which is good side of the bad pandemic. However we had to restrict our travels and gatherings and stayed at home. 😕

Let me share some experiences during lockdown period with you all. This lockdown gave me a lot of new experiences and I learnt lot of new things. I had enough time to spend my time with family with sharing our love and laughs. Actually it's a great relief to our busy lives and allowing time to think about our lives. 🤔

For me the highlight of the April was celebrating the Sinhala and Tamil New Year under lockdown. It was a very different celebration this year. This time, the New year wasn't celebrated with extended family and friends. My family and me observed Sinhala and Tamil New Year rituals within our home. I missed a lot of things this year. No parties, no fun... 🙁

In May, Vesak celebration also was very different. The Vesak season brightens the pandals (structures showing Buddhist tales), Vesak zones and dansals (almsgiving stalls). But there weren't all those things this year. The Vesak festival was mainly celebrated in home with making Vesak lanterns and decorating home.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our education system. The pandemic has resulted in universities closure and students were out of the university. As a result education has changed dramatically, with the rise of online learning concept. We were conducted all the lectures via Zoom. Actually it was helped to continue our academics and I think it was easy way to both students and the lecturers.

The most important thing is I joined Steemit in June this year. I was introduced to this platform by my colleague @randulakoralage. During lockdown period I was able to post my introduction post and afterwards I wrote my own experiences and ideas here. I think it was a great platform for me to spend my time during this lockdown period freely and productively.

Meanwhile I have followed an online course on Coursera. It was on Emergency care: Pregnancy, Infants and Children which is related to my degree. Actually it was very interesting and I gained new knowledge about emergency care. As a Nursing undergraduate it was really helped me to expand my knowledge regarding that matter.

I missed my favorite street foods and enjoying new foods from new restaurants during lockdown. But I tried to make them at home by myself. I'm not much good at cooking but this lockdown made me a little cook. I tried for making a chocolate cake and yoghurt for the first time. My first effort was really successful.

Moreover there has been a large rise in interest in gardening during lockdown. Lockdown allowing time for me to do simple activities such as planting seeds and plants. I planted some vegetable plants such as brinjals, ladyfingers, long beans, tomatoes and chilies. Growing our own vegetables not only ensures fresh food, but also helps calm the mind.

Furthermore I used to play online Ludo game during lockdown. @sandupi witness for that. Ha Haaaa.... Because we both played Ludo with our friends. Apart from that I played card games and some indoor games with my family members. ♠️♣️♥️♦️ I enjoyed my lockdown period with the fullest.

More than six months into this pandemic, Sri Lanka has made great progress in controlling the spread of COVID-19. But again there is rising a second wave of COVID-19 and day by day reports new cases worldwide. So guys please follow safety precautions to prevent COVID-19. Stay home, Stay safe!! ❤️