BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

The crowned bug that changed our lives

By Bella Kalra, age 11 and Kush Kalra, age 7 | July 1, 2020

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A NEW WORLD Siblings Bella (on left), an incoming sixth grader at Lanier Middle School, and Kush Kalra, an incoming second grader at Condit Elementary School, say the coronavirus has taught them not to take things for granted.

New Year’s Eve 2019 was a time to celebrate the end of a decade. Instead, this usually joyful day was the beginning of a horrific pandemic.

A tiny, invisible bug led to the closing of schools, a shrinking economy and, worst of all, the suffering of people. Who knew an infection with a crown, called the coronavirus, could harm so much of our population?

Our lives have changed during this pandemic. Now we practice social distancing, and wearing a mask and gloves has become a habit. It may seem like we’re trapped in our house with nothing to do, but we’ve found ways to appreciate the beauty in life.

Nature is serene and calming. We take daily walks to get fresh air to our minds. We’ve discovered some great places, such as the Willow Waterhole (a hilly area with gorgeous bluebonnets) and the Houston Arboretum (trails with wildwood).

Exercise is another way to get our heart pumping. We love biking and scootering around the neighborhood. The wind blowing in our faces is exhilarating.

And if it’s someone’s birthday, we can’t have a party because of social distancing, so we get friends together and do a drive-by parade in front of their house. Bella is also part of a virtual book club. Her friends read the same book, and then discuss it over Zoom or FaceTime.

In addition to book club, we’re doing virtual academic activities. Remote learning was tricky at first, but after some time figuring things out, we’re used to it. Our teachers send out assignments that can be done on Google Classroom. If we have questions, we Zoom our awesome teachers – Ms. Alison McKay, Mrs. Melanie Mulhollan and Mrs. Victoria Graves.

Coronavirus teaches us not to take things for granted. In the past, we never valued eating out at a restaurant or playing in a park. But after being cooped up in our house for so long, we realize how lucky we are to enjoy movie theaters, shopping malls, social gatherings and, especially, friends.

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