Things have changed since the spread of the coronavirus disease over the past few months. Our lives haven't been the same.
In the past, I couldn't leave home without a mobile phone. Today, I can't leave home without a mask and also a small bottle of hand sanitiser. My bag even contains a small bottle of liquid soap, a utensil set, a travel mug and a food container. Some of my friends also carry a face shield, single-use gloves and protective eyeglasses and wear them before going out.
Before when I returned home, I always kept my shoes inside the house. But nowadays, I have to leave them outside at least for a day. I keep a bottle of alcohol spray next to the door so that I can use it to disinfect all personal items before going inside my home. When going in, I wash my hands and myself immediately before touching anything inside the house.
Going to a supermarket or a grocery store today means taking risks. I do not use the provided baskets or trolleys. Instead, I use my own shopping bags and unload stuff on the cash counter. If there is a self-checkout machine with a contactless payment function, I'll go for that too.
I, like many others, have also turned to online shopping. When my orders arrive, I have to wear a mask before receiving my delivery package and use my own pen to sign the receiver's name.
At first, I felt a bit awkward unpacking the box outside the house and cleansing every package and container before putting them in my cupboard or fridge. But after doing that for a couple of times, I now feel comfortable dipping sealed packages of fresh vegetables, hardshell fruits or anything I buy in water mixed with organic liquid soap and rinsing them.
If I go to a fresh market, I try to avoid vendors who like to chit-chat with customers. I also distance myself from other people as far as possible.
We are also isolating ourselves from neighbours and relatives. Following social-distancing protocol during the Songkran festival last week, my family members did not get together to song nam phra, to pour fragrant water on Buddha images. We did not have rod nam dam hua phuyai, a small ceremony for the younger generation to pour jasmine-infused water on the hands of our parents and aunties to wish them good health and at the same time to get their blessings.
For almost a month, I have joined many others in working from home. Although some said it was a bit boring, I found that it offers a better work-life balance. I don't have to spend at least two hours a day in traffic congestion travelling to my office and back. Being stuck in traffic kills our creativity as well as pollutes the air. You may notice that the sky over Bangkok is much clearer nowadays thanks to fewer cars on the streets. The extra time that we gain back can be spent on things we like or care for such as taking care of children, old family members, pets, our garden and our home.
Online meetings or online conferences have become common, although sometimes I can't help but think that I miss face-to-face conversation with my colleagues or having a som tam party with my friends. I also miss visiting local communities and travelling to places, especially orchards during the fruit season, but I know that might not happen anytime soon.
During this social-distancing period, my friends and I have acquired new skills. We have learned how to cut our hair and have become amateur barbers. Some friends have shared tips on how to stay fit with indoor exercise, cooking techniques or how to crochet our face masks and make other protective gear.
We have also tried to make ourselves useful. Psychologists have advised us to boost positive feelings, to let go of fear, stress and anxiety by doing something good for others such as donating money or medical tools to organisations or hospitals, donating blood, offering free food to the unemployed or doing a simple thing like sharing information about those who need help.
Since the situation is not normal as the world fights the virus -- the odourless and invisible enemy -- no one knows when this is going to end. One thing for sure is that our lives will never be the same, perhaps not until we have a vaccine against it.
Karnjana Karnjanatawe is a travel writer for the Life section of the Bangkok Post.