Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
You’re halfway though! You can do the thing. I can’t give human hugs, but you have my warmest virtual wall hugs. And affectionate cat noises: purr purr purr ???????
Most everyone’s a little loopy right now, so even if it does I doubt anyone will notice. Watch some movies, play some games, read a book you’ve been meaning to. Be kind to yourself in as many ways as you can. Repeat. It’ll be OK.
Visit the BC Libraries website: library.bc.edu. You’ll see pictures of some of my assistants featured under the “scenes from the library” on the right side, and even more pictures if you scroll down to News and Events. Click on those collages to see two blog entries about staff working during the coronavirus shutdown, with many pictures.
Grandmothers’ kitchens. There are exceptions (one staff member knows of a grandfather who spends more time in the kitchen than any other room, and a grandmother famous for burning birthday cakes), but they are unusual.
Good to see they’re taking care. I hope the passengers were also taking precautions. I feel for the flight attendants – they had a very challenging work environment before all this. 17 hours in flight sounds grueling with or without PPE.
It’s less risky if you (and the provider) follow some guidelines from the CDC that limit your contact, like paying online, accepting the meal with no person-person contact, etc. Of course, follow the basics of mask-wearing and hand-washing. See https://bit.ly/CDCtakeout for more details, and be well and enjoy your pizza/pad thai/fried chicken!
I asked my library friends, and wow, did they deliver! 40 of them listed all kinds of artists, music, and even ways to get it. I made a word cloud, but also linked a google doc (bit.ly/BCL-covid-19-music) so you can read their comments in full.
It must be so hard to leave; all I know is that it’s hard to stay here when everyone leaves, so it must be a similar feeling. Bon voyage! I can’t wait to see you in person! (But I’ll be online, so don’t hesitate to write!)
It is really scary to ask for help, and people don’t always respond the way you hope they will. If that’s the kind of disruption that’s happening, that’s normal. Ask someone else next time–I promise, it gets easier. The last part of what you’ve said worries me a little. The world IS complicated and difficult to navigate sometimes (especially now), but if it’s feeling like too much and you’re worried you won’t make it, that is an excellent time to reach out for professional help. Get in touch with University Counseling Services and they might be able to help you figure things out. http://bit.ly/BC-counseling. Miracles are sometimes direct, sometimes not. It seems pretty miraculous to me that with all that’s wrong with the world right now, the birds are still returning, and the trees and flowers are blooming. I hope you feel better soon.
Life is hard even without the stress and anxiety of a global pandemic piled on. Take care of yourself, that’s the most important thing.
Woof! Lick Lick Lick. ?
The database Women’s Studies International (bit.ly/womens-studies-int – BC community only) is a great place to start. A few of the articles titles I found include, “Cardi B: Love & Hip Hop ’s Unlikely Feminist Hero” and “Women, Aging, and Hip Hop: Discourses and Imageries of Aging Femininity”. You can also explore the Women’s and Gender Studies Guide (library.bc.edu/genderstudies) for additional resources to search for your topic. And feel free to follow-up with a subject specialist in the Libraries.
I’m so sorry you’re scared, and that a potential source of help seems threatening. It does sound like you’re between a rock and hard place, as American humans often say. Please know that after hours, you can call University Health Services (617-552-3225) and ask to speak with a PEC. I’d also recommed talking about your fears with your regular counselors. Given the prominent news stories about police departments mishandling social service cases, I understand your fear.
Remember, there are always people you can talk to, such as the PEC (info above) or at the national suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255.
It’s not surprising – we walls are designed to be supportive. Also, our interactions are less complex than human-to-human ones, and totally anonymous, so I expect that helps to lessen any fear. I am very happy to hear you are having good experiences with UCS and other support services.
I’m not quite sure what you’re saying is not up to you to decide. There are things in our control, and things not in our control, that’s true. Are you familiar with Reinhold Niebuhr’s serenity prayer? Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
You’re not being selfish – how would loving your friends and your communities be selfish? We are all struggling with issues of belonging and missing our people. Choosing where to shelter is not the same as chosing one community over another. Do stay in touch frequently with your friends from BC and from home to nurture your connection and let them know you’re ok and thinking of them.
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It’s not just you, one of my helpers reports. No idea when campus will reopen, that will depend on orders from state and local officials, and on how BC decides to implement them.
Infectious disease doctors believe that COVID-19 is spread through the respiratory tract and cannot be transmitted through contact with your blood due to the receptors that cells need for the virus to attach. However, this virus is so new that we are learning new things about it daily. If you want to be on the safe side, make sure you keep your cuts covered as well as your nose and mouth, and don’t forget to wash your hands!! Stay safe!
Purrrr. Purrrr.
Hi there! I miss you too but I’m so glad you found me online! Unfortunately no decision has been made yet about online classes for Summer Session 2 or Fall Semester, but you can continue to check bc.edu/coronavirus for the most up to date updates on the status of in-person vs virtual classes. Stay well!
I don’t mean to be catty, but let’s talk turkey -please keep your social distance! I’m delighted to hear that turkey love is in the air, though.
