It’s been almost two months since we started shifting all our works to countless video calls and lengthy discussions at the tip of our fingers. By all means, many things that we used to do back at our warm little office are for once become undoable. From listening to our principal, Eric, play with his guitar to sitting together during lunch, there isn't one moment that we don't long for to soon come about. 

While the current situation happens similarly to everyone, it certainly leaves us responding in different ways. In this way, we interviewed each of our members to share their outlook during this quarantine period to see how well they cope with it.

What do you miss the most?

Sasqia – We have this internal rice club called 919 Ricing Management. Every week, each of us will take turns to cook rice for everybody. And when the clock strikes 12, the person in charge will shout "Who wants some rice?" and those who want will immediately raise their hand. I miss such kind of simple gestures.

Leo – Back at office, we share this reciprocal sleepiness when around 3 PM everyone either starts yawning or get out of their seats and start distracting others. That's when we know snack time is coming, and it becomes one thing that I miss the most: buy and eat some snacks together.

Ritter – Many. Watering our Monstera plant first thing in the morning (I hope she survives), playing badminton, running at GBK, and making some food creations at our tiny kitchen. I even miss the sound of our dispenser every time the gallon runs out of water. Beep, beep, beep.

Jay – After-office party, just sit back on a chilly evening enjoying ourselves on foods and 'drinks' under the yellow glow of our office's dim light. As simple as it is, even waiting for Ojol at the sidewalk of Citywalk's lobby now feels so momentous. Oftentimes, you get the scene of Japanese men and their colleagues, bowing at each other repeatedly while slowly parting ways. 

Pierre – That feeling of waiting anxiously in front of an elevator door early every morning, hoping I got lucky enough that day to have somebody stop on the same floor as our office. Otherwise I would have to go through the emergency door and ask somebody to open it for me. 

*To put in context, we don't have enough access cards for everyone, so interns don't get one. But we could say it's one of the most unforgettable experiences that every intern gets to share.

What is your biggest challenge of working from home?

Clifford – Loud k-drama or Korean idol music my family tuned in at home. Not to mention my neighbor's noisy renovation, my life is complete. Thank goodness someone invented earphones.

Kezia – To maintain discipline! It's hard to stay focused at home because there are many distractions, like my dogs barking or that tempting smell from the kitchen. For me, self-discipline is the ultimate key. I try as much to manipulate myself as if everything is normal. Wearing an office outfit every day and working outside my bedroom will do.

Ira – I think the most challenging one would have to be communication, as not everyone is on fast-response mode. I feel like when you are stuck, it gets even more complicated as the discussions just don't run as fluid compared to doing it face-to-face. But at least my typing speed has increased by 70%.

Bram – Waking up early! I still have trouble adapting that my working hour is a bit shifted (Haha I'm sorry mas Eric). I've been trying to sleep early, but most of the time, I failed. Sad.

Eric – Waking up early as if going to the office. Adapting to it by arranging more morning meetings. *Turns out Mr. Eric has the same problem as Bram.

Do you have any new hobbies, activities, or anything that you don't normally do but ended up doing now?

Eva –  Few weeks into working from home, I decided to buy something that I've always wanted to learn: Ukulele. Despite having turned half of my left fingers numb, this little thing has been my source of joy. It's just that my bad strumming while singing off the tempo hardly spread the same good deal of joy to my entire house.

Leo – Now that I have more time and energy as I don’t have to commute, I’m taking my time to do some personal projects that I’ve delayed for quite some time. One of them is The Good Prints.

Eric  – Staying at home had me using less deodorants, less perfume, less hair gel, even wearing less underwear. New activities I do include mixing dough, grating cheese, and smashing cashews.

Kevyn – I start doing workouts with Nike Training Club App once work stuff is over. I also bought some online courses for my brain juice. And I happen to randomly buy some skincare products HAHA! To keep myself glowing during WFH.

Bram – Building good relationships with some virtual animals, watching the battle between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek with grandma, rewatching Pokemon, starting a personal project I love, and the list goes on. Wow, that's a lot! I thought I was doing nothing.

Clifford – I find my way back to playing the piano again after so many years. It's been quite fun even though I wasn't that good. Also, as someone who doesn't come home very often, it feels good to get to spend more time with my family.

Maudy – Waking up just in time for work as I tend to watch K-dramas until past midnight. Another perk of being at home is that I can cook more variety of foods, instead of Ayam Cabe Ijo for lunch most of the time. 

Any fun things that you would recommend doing?

Pierre – Watch Ghibli movies before going to sleep to end the day with a heart-warming story and therapeutic music.

Septi – Redecorate your room! Maybe put some dried flowers, aromatic candles, anything that makes it homey considering the amount of time we will have to spend in times like this.

Eric – Watch Stephen Chow's 80s-90s movies. Still find the jokes to be genius and funny.

Jay – Well currently, I'm looking at stocks and starting my savings on it (not playing). Besides having time to learn, the momentum of this pandemic triggers a once-in-10-years phenomenon, namely the financial crisis, which—long story short—is believed to be the right time to start investing in its lowest points. Another thing that I would strongly recommend is to read international news, e.g. Bloomberg, Forbes, Time, and Foreign Policy. Not discrediting the domestic news, as we still need one though. But by doing so, you will then realize how big the world is and how small our problems are. And that at the end of the day, you will be grateful just by being you.

Sasqia – Check out @nytcooking on Instagram for some cooking recipes! It looks hard but is actually pretty easy to follow, especially if you aren't quite fond of eating/processing vegetables.

Rizka – Watch HunterxHunter or any old anime movies on Netflix! I didn't quite get the idea of those stories back when I was younger. Now that I take more interest in it, I realized that WOW, the plots are damn exciting! Too bad my primary-school-kid-self didn't have any idea when it was aired on Trans7. I would also recommend Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Murakami if you enjoy reading (It's quite depressive though).

Last question for everyone: What keeps you sane during this whole quarantine?

Ira – Paperdoll, Netflix, and Mili.

Bram – Filbert and Eugene.

Eric – Music and families.

Ritter – Rollingpin cookies on my desk. Because crunchy is better than cranky. Sorry, am I too crunchy?

Eva – Painting, reading, binge-watching. I changed hobbies many times already, but I guess that’s my way to overcome boredom.

Rizka – Working at the same desk with my husband and enjoying mom's home-cooked dish every day.

Kezia – Travel videos. It motivates me to save money for future travel once all of this is over!

Septi – Q-time with people I love.

Pierre – Doing things outside uni work and office work, suchlike making some playlist recommendations on Instagram!

Clifford – Keeping myself busy most of the time.

Jay – Finally meeting my LDR-mate, hehe. In contrast with everyone else, this pandemic instead has brought us closer to each other.

Leo – Animal Crossing! Just so I have something to look forward to after office hours.

Kevyn – Internet. Unfortunately, I'm using "Second Media". It can get pretty insane sometimes, you know.

Maudy – Keeping my mind positive in spite of everything.

Sasqia – Working together with friends on video calls. A positive outlook that this will all be over and we will appreciate everything more than ever before and not take them for granted.