A Day In the Life of a Dewey Quarantine

7:47 AM

Knock, knock, knock.

I am woken by the sound of a Dewey nurse at my door. It’s not even 8:00 and my first class doesn’t start until 10:40.

“It’s time for your daily check in!” 

“Do you have headaches?”

“No.”

“Feeling feverish or achy?”

“No.” 

I sit patiently as they list every single symptom that I am not experiencing. Then they promptly stick a thermometer in my face. 

8:33 AM

Well, there’s no way I’m falling back asleep. I am met with the most daunting choice of the day: do I want waffles, oatmeal, or toast for breakfast? I choose the cinnamon brown sugar oatmeal and eat it while contemplating what my day will look like. Will somebody walk me today? Will I get to leave Dewey? I sure hope so. 

Once I finish breakfast, I lay in my bed and watch Netflix. Every once in a while I get up and look through the two windows in my luxurious second floor suite. 

I then realize that I have yet to take a trip to the only other room I’m allowed in. I hear the phone echoing in the hallway as I ring the nurses station to get permission to brush my teeth. Nobody else is using the restroom so the mission to escape my room is a go. 

10:40 AM

I log onto my Zoom class and watch my classmates enjoy an in-person class via the Swivl. Their faces cringe as my teacher struggles to adjust the speaker’s volume. 

Oh, yes! It’s time for a discussion! 

“So the most important part of TheGreat Gatsb-”

“Does anyone else have any last minute points?” Oh no, I’m muted. 

11:52 AM

Knock, knock, knock.

It’s finally time for my gourmet brown-boxed meal. Today’s cuisine is a mac and cheese wrap. As I bite into the cold and stale wrap, I realized how much I miss the Dining Hall.

1:25 PM

I log onto my second Zoom class. Derivative this… Integral that… 

4:16 PM

Ding!

A text from my advisor! Finally a chance to escape. I get to leave the Dewey to enjoy the last 25 minutes of sunshine before returning to my quarantine room. I even pass by my hall on their way to the lower fields… I wish I could get closer than six feet away from them.

5:37 PM

Dinner arrives. By the way, it’s China Gourmet. My tiring day is almost over! I scribble down a couple of calculus problems and read a chapter of my English book. Suddenly, I hear my name being called. I look out the window, and like Repunzal, I let down my hair (if you call letting down your hair screaming to your friends through a window screen).  

“How’s it going?!”

“Fine!”

“What did you do today?!” “Nothi-”

“Will you be quiet?!” 

8:06 PM

So, my homework is done and classes are over…I guess it’s time to get ready for bed! I set my alarm for 9:35, in the rare, if not impossible, case that I’m not woken up at sunrise. I brush my teeth, put on my PJs, and I lay in bed. Lights out!

There is no way I’m going to sleep at 8 O’Clock. Maybe I’ll take a quick peek at what’s happening on TikTok. I mean it can’t hurt.

10:45 PM

I’m done with TikTok, my routine Instagram scroll, and finished with some snaps for the night. I guess there really is nothing else to do. Ehhh… a couple of episodes of “The Office” can’t hurt either. 

11:36 PM

Okay actually time for bed. Just two more days of quarantine (I hope).