Editor’s note: “The new normal” is a continuing series that looks into how members of the Los Medanos College community are coping with a shelter-in-place order amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the COVID-19 virus continuing to affect the world daily, the state-wide shelter-in-place has now been extended and won’t end until the beginning of May. So everyone continues  to go about their lives the best they can — at home.

During this change to a new routine, student Celestino Reynaga has been adjusting daily by taking advantage of all his home has to offer. 

“I play with my cats, cook a lot now, read adventure novels, and watch a lot of ‘Twilight Zone’,” said Reynaga, who is thankful for his home and his health during the pandemic.

“My living situation isn’t the biggest, what I got is better than nothing,” he said. “At least I’m safe inside and alive.”

But he acknowledges there have been disadvantages, and that includes boredom.

“Life is more dull than ever before,” he said.

While it’s inevitable for things to be a bit boring during these times, Reynaga is majoring in Biology and using his studies as another way to try and stay occupied.

“I’ve still been busy with school so I try my best to do that so time passes,” he said. “Doing online exams and online lectures have been a drag, but it’s not terrible.”

Beyond his own situation learning to cope with social isolation, Reynaga looks at what is happening socially and said he hopes people learn to think more about the well-being of others instead of just focusing on their own needs,

“Be humble,” he said, “and don’t pillage and murder each other for supplies.”