If yesterday was a normal day, I
had finished presenting my thesis proposal in my master’s degree. But due to
coronavirus, I did not left my house. Even that I am an introvert, I miss the
morning rush going to the city which is more than two hours away from my
residence. For almost a year, I only have few hours from Fridays to Sundays as
I need to travel in wee hours to reach the graduate school where I enrolled. As
a working adult, getting eight hours of sleep is very impossible except summer vacation
as schools are closed. By the way, I am senior high school teacher. Instead of
doing summer escapades, I prefer to sleep. Indeed, sleeping is very important
for me.
As we are required to stay at
home, most of us have this common routine: wake up, eat, watch TV, use phone,
sleep. Oops! These are not my activities yet. I am still working from home.
During weekdays, we, the teachers are virtually checking school forms. As my
ancillary tasks, I do the updating of status of one hundred sixteen senior high
school learners in the Learner Information System. I also write for the school’s
website. Maybe, you think that I am defensive. I just wrote what I am doing as
there people on Facebook are looking for us, the teachers in this critical
time. They are requesting that we should be in the front line. It is so sad
that there are some who rant things like this online. Inasmuch as we want to
help authorities in the outside world, we are advised by the department where
we belong to be in the confinement of our homes. For those people, do not
worry. We are working based on the mandate given to us. And, I also do my part
as a citizen. I contribute articles to the Facebook news page of our local
government regarding with the pandemic.
Yesterday, after eating lunch, I
opted to sleep. To make things clear, it was Saturday. I did not break any rule
in my work. My mother unrolled the buri mat on the floor of our living room. I
got my pillow and joined here. She begged for me to stay in my room as she
cannot sleep because I snore loudly. Well, I insisted. I just did siesta.
What is that? Siesta is sleeping
in the afternoon. Spaniards influenced us. Nations that were conquered by Spain
have this in their lifestyle. Well, who does not want to take a nap during the scorching
hours of the day? Before, Spaniards allow the farmers to sleep in the afternoon
as working during the hottest part of the day is difficult. For the parents, they
tell to their children that sleeping in the afternoon makes them to grow
taller. And, if you made them angry, they use siesta as a punishment. During
childhood days, we refuse to sleep in the afternoon. I want to play with my
neighbors. I decried the use of sleeping as way of disciplining. Now, I realize
that what I thought as a “punishment” is a reward. I should have took those
chances as opportunities. I just miss those days when you are asked just to
sleep.
In this precarious situation,
take the time to take siesta. We are lucky that we have the chance to sleep
while our medical and authority front liners cannot enjoy resting because of
their duties. By doing siesta, we save lives. But, do not just sleep at your
home. Try to help in the house chores, do your hobbies, and have family
bonding. Hoping that things will go back to normal. Hoping that when we wake up after the siesta, the coronavirus is defeated.
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