Proxemics Before & After covid

 Everyone has different proxemics; they are sometimes seen as boundaries we have for strangers. How close we want them to be before it starts to make us uncomfortable or for certain loved ones how we do not mind for some to be so close to us. 

Before covid- proximity never crossed my mind in 2019, I did the most traveling that year than ever before, from planes, boats, trains, and buses, to long lines at the theme parks. I never thought twice about sitting next to a stranger. 

  (This video was taken at Dinsey world, pay attention to the distances of people) 

During covid-  Then covid happened, and like many others, we became aware of the proximity of people around us. Grocery stores became a mix between Mario Kart and The Labyrinth. You had to follow arrows through every lane, and if you missed something, you could not go back to the aisle. You just had to keep going, following the indicator. If you did not want to go through that trouble, you had to order your groceries online, and they bring them out to you. 

• I saw two different ways of life with covid. I was sent home from college to finish out the rest of my semester when it first happened. It wasn't terrific because if you had siblings, we were all learning something different, and if you had family who did not have internet, they would come over and do school there too. That was your bubble of people. The parents still had to work, so they were cut off, and when they were home, we would stay on the opposite side of the room or eat and separate spaces. We were more cautious because our grandmother and godfather were dying. 

 

Hobbitfoot. (2018, October 9). Different groups of people. Social Network Comminacation. grows subbscribers audience. population concept. stock vector - illustration of multiple, marketing: 128323194. Dreamstime. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.dreamstime.com/different-groups-people-social-network-comminacation-grows-different-groups-people-social-network-comminacation-grows-image128323194. 

• Then the other side of covid I saw was when we returned to school, some classes were inside, and some were still on zoom. In the courses inside, you were required to wear a mask, our desks were separated, and you felt very alone, almost like losing an identity. You were technically in class with a lot of people, but it still felt very isolating. 

Piqsels - millions of stunning royalty free photos. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.piqsels.com/. 

• At my apartment complex, neighbors were stand-offish. If someone were in the hallway, we would wait till they left or went into their rooms before going out. That way, you would not have to pass by anyone in a small space. We did not even decorate the doors like we used to. (We had cleaning people come, and they would take the decoration down because it would be in the way.) 

 

Yuoak, Appleuzr, Leontura, Inc, J. M. L. P., Mueller, H., Library, A. W. P., daSilva, A., nico_blue, Mueller, M., Beastfromeast, Bortonia, A-Digit, JDawnInk, Axllll, zak00, edge69, Molotovcoketail, Lushik, RLT_Images, … Mightyisland. (n.d.). Crowd of people on a white background stock illustration. Getty Images. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.gettyimages.com/illustrations/large-group-of-people. 

After covid- 

You no longer see the people in the hazmat suits standing in the hallways, nor do we stay in our bubble, but we do still wear a mask. We are starting to return to the time before covid, less online grocery shopping and more eating out. 

However, the thing that has not changed is many people are still fully aware of the proximity of other people around them. We still stand on the circles inline to keep our distance. However, some people have started to ignore the lines over time (especially depending on the area). The younger generation is more cautious about the boundaries than the older generation. The older generations want to return to normal "to the way it used to be" VS the younger generation who knows it will not be that way if we do not make changes and we are okay with that.  

 For example, I am okay with wearing my mask all day, vs. the older generation of my family who cannot stand it and can barely handle three hours with their mask on.