Summary(1:50) Originally from Taiwan, calling from Sheepshead Bay -- (2:45) Worried about local looting, protests and riots -- (3:30) Comparison between Asian and American response to pandemic. Family routine changes from March: avoid public transport, kept daughter at home. Soon the classes cancelled -- (6:05) Taiwan’s effective measures to control pandemic. Medical education on Taiwan TV -- (9:30) In US: confusion, changes in policy -- (10:35) Taiwanese mask habits -- (11:20) Children stay home, husband works. Food shopping less frequently, avoids other kinds of shopping, traveling, public places -- (13:35) Online shopping onerous -- (14:35) More housework, frequent deep cleaning. (16:00) Washes clothes at home. Bleach hurts her hands, concerned because she is a professional pianist -- (17:30) Dreams of washing machine -- (18:30) Fears airborne virus -- (21:10) Asian people follow rules more, keep infections down -- (22:40) Hopes to go to Taiwan for summer vacation. Homesick for Taiwanese food. American fast food in Taiwan -- (27:37) Family gets along in quarantine. Hears about post-quarantine divorces. Husband essential traffic worker -- (29:30) Keeps social connections with WeChat and Zoom. Online English classes: difficulties, enjoys meeting new friends from other cultures, Pakistan, Russia, Georgia, learns about regional foods -- (32:50) Brooklyn multicultural community.
NoteAudio interview conducted on June 3, 2020, by Anna Zemskova. Collected for the Covid-19 Oral History Project through Our Streets, Our Stories, an oral history project of Brooklyn Public Library. This project is a partnership with Services for Older Adults and the Brooklyn Collection.
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TitleOral interview conducted with Fanny Chen on 2020 June 3.