Lockdown is like Christmas to me

“Lockdown” is soos Kersfees vir my

Please scroll down for English version. Translation to English done by Mom.

“Lockdown” in die middel van die jaar voel soos Kersfees vir my, want ons is almal by die huis en dit is die lekkerste ding vir my.

As ons met vakansie is op die plaas kry ons gesin tyd om lekker saam te kuier, want in die kwartaal moet ons in Worcester bly sodat ek en my sussie kan skool toe gaan. Dit is vir my bitter lekker vandat ek nie meer net sit en ginne gaap in die skool nie, maar om al die tyd saam met my hele gesin te wees is, is vir my die heel lekkerste ding in die lewe.

As ons op ‘n ander plek as die plaas saam kuier, is dit my eerste gedagte dat ek nie met my gesin se behoeftes kan by bly met al die goed wat hulle wil doen nie. Die plaas is my enigste plek waar ek honderd present rustig kan wees oor my andersheid, want hier is niemand wat vir my snaaks aan kyk oor ek nie soos ander mense optree nie.

So, “lockdown” is vir my nie so sleg soos wat dit vir baie ander mense is nie. 

Tog besef ek dat “lockdown” nie ‘n grap is nie en dit is iets wat my baie laat dink aan my eie “lockdown” toe ek nie kon kommunikeer het nie. Dit was baie sleg en ek wil dit nooit weer oor hê nie.

My mooiste herinneringe was van die dag toe ek die eerste keer kon wys op die borde dat ek met my mamma kan praat deur te druk op die letters met my potlood. Dit was die mooiste dag en ek sal dit nooit vergeet nie. Ek wil hê dat julle daaraan moet dink wanneer die lockdown verby is, want dit is hoe ek gevoel het. Ek was bly, en ek was bang, en ek was ontsteld, en ek was opgewonde en ook onseker oor my toekoms.

Dit is nou ‘n paar jaar later en ek kan vir almal daar buite sê dat, al lyk dinge dalk nou donker en al is mense bang en onseker, moenie moed opgee nie. Daar is ‘n lig voor in die tonnel. Al vat dit dalk jare, daar is hoop en ons moet dit nie vergeet nie.

• Ek is baie dankbaar vir my mooi sussie wat my so mooi gehelp het. Dankie daarvoor, ek waardeer dit baie. Ek wil graag my blog oor die lockdown opdra aan Lisa, want sy help my baie.

Lockdown in the middle of the year feels like Christmas to me, because all of us are at home and I enjoy that the most.

When we are on holiday at the farm, we get time to spend together as a family. During the school term we have to stay in Worcester for me and my sister to be able to attend school. I really enjoy going to school very much since I am not only sitting around doing nothing at school, but being with my family all the time, is the thing I enjoy most in life.

When we spend time together anywhere else than on the farm, my first thought is that I cannot keep up with my family’s needs and everything they want to do. The farm is the only the place where I can be totally relaxed about being different , because here is nobody that notice that I do not act the same as other people.

So, for me, this lockdown is not as bad as it is for many other people.

I do realise though that lockdown is not a joke. It is something that reminds me very much about my own lockdown when I could not communicate. It was very bad and I never want to have that again.

My most beautiful memories are of the first day I could show that I can talk to my mom by poking the letters with my pencil on the boards. That was the most beautiful day and I shall never forget that. I want you to think about that when the lockdown is over, because that is how I felt. I was happy, I was scared, and I was upset, and I was excited and also uncertain  about my future.

It is a few years later now, and I can tell everyone out there that even though things may look bad now, and even though people are scared and uncertain, do not give up hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Even though it may take years, there is hope, do not forget that.

• I am very grateful to my pretty sister who helped me so well. I want to dedicate this blogpost about lockdown to Lisa, because she helps me very much.