By Em Gibson
When Covid made its way to Europe, the gravity of the situation set in fast. Living in London but working for a global company, we heard from friends and colleagues in Italy just how serious this virus was, and how fast it spreads. We are such a densely populated country, that since arriving in the UK, it has infected over 84,000 people and killed over 10,000. A sobering thought considering we are a country of 66 million people in the space half the size of the state of California. It's a very confusing and humbling time, but the weeks go on, I feel more and more proud to call myself a Brit.
I don’t think I realized just how British I am until this pandemic began. The whole country seems to have come together in a Keep Calm and Carry On mentality not seen since WW2. It’s heartwarming to see, considering the division of recent politics and the palava (or what you Americans would call a "shitshow") of brexit. Day after day, in a 500sqft flat in London, there is a feeling of doing your bit for Queen and country by simply staying at home. I’ve been working from home for over two months already, and up until the end of March, I was at least still getting out on weekends, walking the dog to the local beer gardens. But, the lockdown hit hard when they closed the pubs. You don’t take a Brit away from their pub. It’s just not natural. It’s where we go to celebrate, to mourn, to gather as friends or gather solo thoughts. They are an integral part of British society and culture, a place most of us have grown up going to and remember having our first pints. I am longing to be back in the office and to hear those sweet 5pm words… “anyone for a pint?” When the Prime Minister announced the closure of the pubs, and all other non-essential businesses, I think the only phrase people said to each other for 24 hours was ‘hey did you hear the pubs have closed…they haven’t done that since WW2”. Between the pubs closing, curfews, food shortages, and the fight against a common enemy, it has become a recurring theme here: "Not since WW2"
A couple of weeks ago the Queen addressed the nation highlighting the need to <insert highly posh British accent> “come together as a nation” and “stay home and protect our NHS” (NHS is our publicly funded healthcare system in the UK.) During her 68 year reign, her Majesty has only addressed the nation 6 times, a couple of notable deaths and a couple of Jubilees. However, it seemed the whole nation watched on telly as she spoke of the Virus and how it is affecting our country. I’m not 100% certain why she moved me so much. I’m not embarrassed to say I shed a tear during her address. Perhaps when she thanked the key workers risking their lives for others, perhaps when she spoke of the nation coming together and all working for a greater cause, perhaps I’d had a couple of beers and the effect of her words can be simply attributed to the level of alcohol that I have been consuming in recent weeks. It’s hard to say. Either way I seem to be feeling like much more of a royalist than I used to.
All in all, I’ve realized that, actually, we are much more united as a country than I once thought. I have a sense of belonging that I haven’t had for a long time. Brexit was hard, it divided the nation, friends and family, including my own. I desperately wanted to remain in the EU, and I felt like I lost a sense of who I am. Coming through something as horrendous as this virus, my silver lining is that as a country, when It’s so easy to divide and hate, we are supporting others, celebrating our NHS and all working together for a brighter future.
Em is a 27 year old Program Manager currently living in London with her Minnesoten Girlfriend and their dog Riley. Originally, she is from Rugby, Warwickshire (where the sport was invented) but has lived in the East End of London for the past 6 years. She enjoys exploring London, and there is still so much to see and do after six years, though usually you’ll find her and the dog in the local, listening to indistinct chatter and sampling the ale on rotation.
This blog is edited and run by Alexandra Lenihan. @len.10.10