“Got it!”
Wai Yan shouts happily.
He is happy to be able to buy what he wants from live online stores. Sometimes, when another customer like him goes ahead and gets the item he wants, he is not happy.
At 8 o’clock every night, Wai Yan never left his bedroom. He is busy shopping online for live broadcasts.
Wai Yan, who is trapped in the house because of Covid-19 pandemic, is relieved to be buying his favorite toys. His hobby is to collect his favorite toys. In Covid-19 period, this method was a way of relieving frustration for him.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in December 2019 that there was an international outbreak of Covid-19 virus. The Myanmar government has confirmed the outbreak in the last week of March 2020. As a result, businesses suddenly faltered. Except for important goods, the flow of goods stopped. Traffic stopped. Government-recognized education also ceased. Some private courses and schools have shifted from teaching to online platforms. Most of the work has been shifted to online platforms.
Covid-19 also took the world and Myanmar society to a new normal. People have to wash their hands often. They have to wear masks and avoid crowds. They have to stay home as much as possible.
It is now almost a year facing Covid-19 pandemic. Wai Yan, a first-year university student, has been out of school for almost a year. He has not been able to go out with friends for a long time. While at home, he attended online class to increase his knowledge.
This situation makes it very difficult for Wai Yan. He spends all day at home in front of the computer. Sometimes he talks on the phone with his friends and discusses what he wants to do after Covid-19 pandemic is over. Sometimes they play mobile games. As a young boy, he became bored with the routine.
But he has been looking for a way to ease his mind for the past four months. While using social media, he can easily buy his favorite toys from online stores. Covid-19 has brought shops, restaurants, businesses, training, government activities and campaigns online. His favorite toy shops have also come online, making it convenient for him. Before Covid-19, he did not notice such toy shops online.
“Everything you see cannot be bought,” he said. “Once you find a toy you like, you have to buy it.”
He says he also sells toys he no longer likes online. Now, Wai yan has become accustomed to the Covid-19 pandemic. At day time, he will join the online classes he is attending. At night he buys toys at online toy stores. In the morning, he will open the packages when the toys are delivered by home delivery service.
“It’s so much fun when you open the parcels,” he said.
Now, Wai Yan doesn’t even notice Covid-19 pandemic.
— Kyaw Soe —
A journalist based in Myanmar.
Student of Diploma in Visual Journalism — The Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University
