HELENA MAHAMA, 20, London at Premier
reflecting isolation
F WORD: How have you been dealing with the whole isolation thing? HELENA MAHAMA: It’s been a weird thing to get used to; potentially having your life and health placed in others’ hands and vice versa. It is all relying on how selfless people are willing to be right now. I’ve definitely become hyper-aware of how much human contact our day-to-day lives rely on and how we are really all packed together like sardines.
F WORD: What have you been doing to occupy your time and mind? HELENA MAHAMA: My boyfriend and I were isolating together for the last two weeks to make it a bit less boring and act as a distraction after getting exposed to someone who tested positive, which was a bit of a task in itself. I will say I’m glad to be in my own flat now as I really do enjoy my own company (not in a sad way). I've also got a few Uni deadlines but everything keeps getting delayed or cancelled and it’s quite hard to focus on those right now.
F WORD: How are you feeling about the COVID-19 pandemic? HELENA MAHAMA: I think everyone, including myself, has got a lot of anxiety right now because it’s so hard to pinpoint who will be affected and how badly. For myself I’m trying to not be as worried but I’ve got family members who I dread to think what would happen if they got the virus. That’s why I actively haven’t gone home yet, and probably won’t for a while.
F WORD: What are your thoughts on how our government and the world is dealing with it? HELENA MAHAMA: It’s unfortunate how it spread in China, but I think the UK government should definitely have been more prepared just by modelling what happened there for us. It’s good we are on lockdown(ish) now, but as someone living in London that is weeks ahead of the rest of the country, it’s hard not to feel like it might be a little too late in how seriously it’s being taken, especially as it was being presented in such a lax way just a few weeks ago.
F WORD: What would be your perfect soundtrack for this time? HELENA MAHAMA: 'Okok (Hibachi)' by Jordan Ward, just to stay mellow.
F WORD: Can you suggest a movie/series/or book we should check out during isolation? HELENA MAHAMA: 'The Platform' which is one of those films you have to watch more than once.
F WORD: A hopeful statement to encourage others: HELENA MAHAMA: Every day brings us one day closer to being over this BS! Imagine the post rona turn up!
F WORD: Favourite f-word (word beginning with the letter F – it can be any). HELENA MAHAMA: Falafel!
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