If there’s one thing COVID-19 has taught us, it’s this: everyone’s the same, whether you’re yellow, brown, white or black.
When panic buying happened in Singapore, we thought that it was a unique situation for us Singaporeans. It turned out that in other countries, once they received the same news, toilet paper would also become more valuable.
When lockdowns in other countries occurred, a small group of people couldn’t resist breaking the rules, and just when we thought we Singaporeans are very law-by-law one, a small group still headed out to kiss each other in public.
So when Italians sang songs to each other during their lockdown period?
Here in Singapore, we’ve to do the same thing, of course.
Neighbours in S’pore Now Also Singing With Each Other On Their Balconies
Exactly one month ago, we published this article whereby we wrote about how Italians are singing songs to each other on their balconies to encourage each other. Because back then a lockdown is not a magic solution, we Singaporeans just smiled at what they were going through, thinking that we’d not have to go through that.
Fast forward to today, and we’re all now staying at home and have watched almost all the shows in Netflix.
And some of us have also resorted to singing to each other on our balconies
Well, to be specific, it’s jamming with each other.
Here, take a look:
Two neighbours have decided to sing together, and they’re so loud that other neighbour came out and shouted, “EH DIAM LAH!”
Well, no. Not when everyone has got nothing to do.
Instead, another neighbour came out and smiled at them, because why not?
And as they finished their concert, more people went to their balconies to check out what was happening.
What’s lacking is just a round of applause.
According to the Instagram user, he was jamming at his balconywhen his new neighbour came out with a guitar and started singing.
Here’s what he’s written:
[email protected] singing Top of The World
Last evening my newly acquainted neighbour Daniel and me impromptu jamming. He heard my cajon, brought his guitar and we were on a roll cheered by the rest of our neighbours. Its during this period where we experience simple joys, where strangers become family, where the car you drive, the size of your house nor the price of your clothes or any sort of these matter. Its a period where you learn to treasure life, savour every moment, appreciate everything and everyone.
With us being 97 days into the—
Reader Bao: 9 days!
—9 days into the Circuit Breaker period, it’s taken a toll on many of our mental health, and this simple little act sure helps.
And it’s not just hearsay.
Study Shows Prolonged Quarantine Affects the Mental Health
That’s pretty Captain Obvious, but let’s look at a study instead so that you won’t say we anyhowly say.
A study published in late February 2020 shows that living under prolonged quarantine can trigger post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, feelings of anger and fear.
The triggers aren’t just the fact that you’d have to stay home, but “infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss and stigma.”
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But of course this study is based on people who’re quarantined after being exposed to an infected patient, while we are all under isolated. But the idea is the same: we all have to stay home as if we’re infected, and it’s not helping our mental health.
So if you can, go to your balcony and sing a song, since most new HDB flats would have one. For the first time in your life, even if you sing like Donald Duck, everyone’ll be clapping.