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.

It has been two months since Los Medanos College alumni, Eduardo Martinez and his girlfriend Kendra Monterrosa, have been sheltered in place in Los Angeles, California. Like many people around the country and world, his new normal consists of waiting to get back to his old normal.

  Marinez feels fortunate that the pandemic and shelter in place hasn’t affected him as much as it has others. 

“Everyone is still safe and healthy, some out of work, some aren’t. So I can’t say it has affected me other than putting me out of work but that really isn’t as important,” said Martinez.

Martinez had just started to get more experimental with his art until outside restrictions were put into place. 

“I recently started taking more street photography but at this time it is kind of difficult since we aren’t really supposed to leave the apartment as much,” said Martinez. “So it is a little difficult to keep the creativity alive and trying to come up with new ideas to keep myself busy.”

From cleaning, shopping, trying to stay active and staying entertained, everyday seems “like it’s on repeat” in his life.

Just like many people, he’s waiting for reality to continue, to go outside without fear and to not worry about his next move when he was just getting started on a new chapter in his life.

“I feel like it is hard to describe my new normal because it doesn’t feel normal,” said Martinez. “Everyday it seems to be waiting for new information about what is going to happen next. If I am going to be going back to work, if it is safe for me to apply to new places. If I should go back home and live with my parents or continue living in Los Angeles.”