Making Pizza - Neya Patel

Riconnettersi con gli amici persi durante la pandemia

Questa nuova normalità si è rivelata più divertente di quanto immaginassi.
United Kingdom, Northern Europe

Story by Neya Patel. Translated by Daniela Pratesi
Published on September 17, 2022.

This story is also available in GB cn kr tw



Sono sei mesi che è scoppiata la pandemia da Covid-19 in Inghilterra e sono affascinata da questo mondo in continua evoluzione in cui vivo. Ripenso a una sera di febbraio. Ero seduta al tavolo di un amico a cena e discutevamo dei nostri futuri viaggi: Ibiza, le Isole Cayman e il Canada. il mio amico era tornato da poco dalla Cina e ci aveva parlato dell’epidemia – rimasi sconcertata dal numero di vittime di Wuhan. Non avrei mai pensato che il Covid-19 sarebbe arrivato in Inghilterra e non avrei mai immaginato di non poter più abbracciare parenti e amici.

Un mese dopo, questa è diventata la dura realtà. Boris Johnson ha imposto il lockdown nel Regno Unito[1], ci ha ordinato di restare a casa e di attenerci alle direttive sul distanziamento sociale. E’ stato uno shock: la mia vita, fino a quel momento normale, si era tramutata in una strana incognita. Come per molti altri, le prime fasi del lockdown sono state molto stressanti. Come se non bastasse, mi preoccupavo di amici e parenti. Prima che il virus facesse il suo ingresso nel Regno Unito, conducevo una vita piena di impegni, costantemente bombardata da un numero infinito di informazioni dal mondo professionale e sociale.

Il virus ha trasformato la mia prospettiva e ha ridefinito quello che ritengo ‘essenziale’. Le nuove regole ci hanno impedito di vedere amici e parenti e quindi ho trovato una nuova modalità di comunicazione: le chiamate settimanali su Zoom! Qui mi sono riconnessa con amici di tutto il mondo con cui avevo perso i contatti. Le chiamate prevedevano giochi a quiz, feste di compleanno e serate di karaoke (nonostante sia una pessima cantante). Un pomeriggio ho partecipato a un party a tema spiaggia su Zoom: ho mangiato grigliate e chiacchierato con gli amici online. Questa nuova normalità si è rivelata più divertente di quanto immaginassi. Era finita l’epoca in cui Zoom era usato principalmente per le conferenze; era emersa una nuova ordinarietà.

A giugno furono permesse riunioni fino a sei persone con un distanziamento di due metri [2] Il gruppo di amici che avevo formato su Zoom colse la sfida e partecipò con un evento ispirato a ‘Come Dine With Me’.[3] Ognuno di noi doveva ospitare una cena in giardino una volta alla settimana con una cucina etnica diversa. La mia cena prendeva ispirazione dalla cucina mediterranea e comprendeva vari piatti, dalle tapas al baklava. In modo creativo, ci siamo procurati intrattenimenti settimanali ad accompagnamento delle cene, tipo tombola e pentolaccia. All’inizio ero ansiosa al pensiero di rivedere gli amici. Non vedevo l’ora di incontrarli, ma temevo di far fatica a socializzare. Per fortuna anche loro provavano lo stesso imbarazzo – non avevamo niente di cui preoccuparci. Il distanziamento sociale è stato meno difficoltoso di quanto inizialmente previsto. Mi sono seduta a due metri di distanza dagli altri e forse ho anche esagerato con l’igienizzante per le mani!

La pandemia mi ha permesso di mantenere, approfondire e creare amicizie, e ha ampliato i miei orizzonti. Mi ha fatto uscire dal guscio e mi sono adattata a questo nuovo modo di vivere. In futuro, ripenserò all’anno straordinario che è stato il 2020. Non lo ricorderò soltanto per la devastazione della pandemia, ma anche per come mi ha permesso di riconnettermi con gli amici persi. Magari non potrò abbracciare parenti e amici, ma non ho perso le speranze. Mi auguro che questo saldo sentimento di solidarietà e di connessione continui a prosperare ben oltre questi tempi senza precedenti.


Note a piè di pagina

[1] Boris Johnson era il Primo Ministro del Regno Unito. Dichiarazione del Primo Ministro sul coronavirus (COVID-19): 23 marzo 2020, tratto da: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020

[2] Coronavirus: Permesso di assembramento fino a sei persone a partire dal 1° giugno, tratto da: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-52841999/coronavirus-gatherings-of-six-people-allowed-from-1-june

[3] ‘Come Dine with Me’ (l’equivalente inglese di ‘Cortesie per gli Ospiti’) è un programma televisivo inglese in cui quattro sconosciuti ospitano una cena a turno con gli altri concorrenti e viene assegnato un punteggio ai vari piatti e all’esperienza generale.


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Neya Patel

Neya Patel

Hi! I am a 23-year-old psychology graduate from the United Kingdom. I have a strong interest in human rights and the ever-changing world we now live in. I love meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and travelling to exotic destinations around the world.

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