When spring break began, there was a lot of uncertainty about how our country would handle the ever growing ‘pandemic’ we’d all been hearing about. Texas State University, along with many others, announced an extended week for spring break and two week of online class to follow. By the end, life was expected to be back to normal. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Most businesses began to close and emergency orders began taking place. No more than 200 people may gather. No more than 50 people may gather. No more than 10 people may gather. Everyone’s been told to stay home indefinitely to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. This small college town looks very different now that a large majority of the residents have gone and many businesses can’t open. This week I went around town, staying only in my car, to photograph the changes I’ve noticed since this nightmare began.
The bus stop at the Outpost normally has at least one student waiting at any point during the day. However, with classes now online, the stop now remains empty. 
On a bright sunny day with warm weather, this apartment pool is normally full with residents. Unfortunately, it’s been closed for weeks due to the quarantine. 
At any point during the semester, this commuter lot is usually jam packed full of cars, especially during the week. However, on this Tuesday afternoon, the lot remains barren. 
This park is always full of life and dogs running around in the grass. Since the coronavirus, the park has been shut down and locked up. 
The hot spot for college students to spend their days relaxing is also sadly empty. Sewell park, TXST’s pride and joy, has been shut down indefinitely. No tubing or tanning in sight. 
Businesses like Gold’s Gym have been shut down for weeks since the quarantine. The normally full lot is now a sad sight. 
Unlike many other businesses, H-E-B is actually looking fairly normal on the outside. If anything, the parking lot is even more full than normal. Essential businesses like this have had much more business since the quarantine. 
Resturant’s like Kobe Japanese Steak House can remain open, but may only do deliveries and curbside pick up. This is a photo during what should be the 6 o’clock dinner rush. It’s open, but empty. 
Despite the full parking lot, shoppers are still doing their best to keep their distance from one another inside the store. 
One of the saddest ironies I’ve noticed since the quarantine is that gas prices have dropped drastically. Now that no one is going anywhere, the price to fill up has become incredibly cheap.
Since early March, local and state governments all across the country have started requiring citizens to stay home as much as possible to prevent the Coronavirus from spreading more than it already as. For those who own their own restaurant, this has become a major issue. Essential businesses are allowed to be open, but here in Hays County, no more than 10 people can gather in one area. This means dining rooms themselves are closed and the other methods for selling food are through delivery and curbside pick-up. If you’d like to help support some local restaurants going through this rough time, I’ve made an interactive map that tells you which places are open and what type of services they’re currently offering.
To help cope with having to stay inside during quarantine, I’ve had to find creative ways to keep myself busy. It turns out that staring at my phone all day everyday can get quite boring after a while. I’ve mainly tried to find ways to stay busy and still focus on self care. I’ve found a few things that have helped keep me sane and busy while stuck inside.
Baking has become both the best and worst hobby. It’s fun to bake and the results are sweet, but I am home alone and there’s always way too much left over. 
My roommate left a large dvd collection that I’ve surprisingly used a lot. Most people have been streaming movies and shows, but not everything is available to stream. She has quite a few movies I couldn’t find online and it’s made me appreciate dvd’s a lot more. 
In terms of self care, I’ve found that lighting a candle I love can really lift my spirits. I have quite a few scents and each one impacts my mood differently. But they all tend to make me feel calmer and happier. 
One very popular past time is online shopping. For those of us without jobs right now, this may not be the most financially sound choice, but some people really enjoy retail therapy. 
Another incredibly popular activity is playing video games. I’m not usually much of a gamer, but after weeks inside, I finally pulled out my old Wii and started trying to beat my old high scores. 
Another form of self care I’ve tried is doing my own nails. Usually I go to the nail salon every month, but obviously that’s not an option right now. I actually nice to try doing my own nails again because I’m slowly getting better at it and even if when I fail, I know no one will see it. 
I wanted to find an creative activity, however, I’m one of the least artistic people ever. Nevertheless, I found some old painting supplies and gave it a shot. Painting’s not easy, but it sure is fun. 
Sometimes, I get so tired of staring at screens all day and I miss going out with my friends. I’ve found the best way for me to cope with this is to turn on some music and fun disco lights and have my own dance party. It’s incredibly therapeutic to put on music and sing and dance alone in my room. 
Sometimes, I get so tired of staring at screens all day and I miss going out with my friends. I’ve found the best way for me to cope with this is to turn on some music and fun disco lights and have my own dance party. It’s incredibly therapeutic to put on music and sing and dance alone in my room. 
Despite being quarantined, I still believe it’s important to get outside as much as you can. I’m lucky enough to have a hammock on my balcony that allows me to comfortably relax outside, while still being at home. 
For those that don’t have a nice relaxing spot right outside their home, I have another option. This is the view on top of a hill in a neighborhood near my parents’ home. There’s an empty parking lot and I always stay inside my car and away from any other cars that may be there as well. It’s a nice spot to sit with the windows down, listening to music and enjoying the view.
