*BASED ON STORIES |
Pavel, Russia.

What you will find in this article:
→ Pavel's testimony, which takes us to the time of an article in his country, the Russia.
→ The way we met.
→ Links to other testimonials of the series « *Based on true stories », when every day they appeart :
> Asanka, Sri Lanka | Tseegii & Zaya, Mongolia | Geoffrey, Japan | Biplav & Dipesh, Nepal | Yana & Maxime, South Korea

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« It's in that kind of moment.
that we become more aware
the real value of freedom. »

Where
It all started.

We had met Pavel from the first days of our nomadic life, in the heart of an effervescent and sunbathed Moscow. Pavel had opened the door of his apartment to the two unknowns that we were then And swollen us a mattress in his little room, glued to his bed. We remember this small configuration, with our two back-to-back bags on the ground that just left him the place. to lay a foot to slip to his bed. The next day, when they didn't know us, a traditional Russian breakfast was mixed in the kitchen, the blanket was put on the table and while we were watching it all wondering where it had gone, he landed from the outside, two large smoking cups by hand: « Priviet*I'm sorry, I didn't know what you liked. I took a latte and a big black coffee ».

These were the first days of our journey, It was the beginning of our friendship.. This month of May 2020, He should have come to sleep at home.. He had been promised to show him the Pyrenees, to gaver the cheese, to introduce him to our family and friends. But the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. His flight was cancelled. And it is now confined to Moscow.

* « Priviet » means « Hello. » in Russian. All you have to do is roll the « r » And you will see: you will fall perfectly into the mass.

Are you comfortable?
We're leaving you with Pavel now.

→ What is Russia's situation in the face of this pandemic?

« In Russia, the situation is a little more worrying every day. While a few weeks ago the number of new cases was only 20 or 40, there are now 400 to 500 new cases per day. The size of the country and the distance between large cities* plays in our favor because they slow down the virus. But on the other hand, they also play against us : people in the countryside do not take the virus seriously, exactly as we did in Moscow at the beginning of the epidemic. »

Now the country has closed its borders and Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow) has become the only way to access the country. Steps are being taken gradually, but many say they are taken two weeks late. A friend of mine works in the operational headquarters of Novosibirsk, my hometown. I know that they work non-stop to identify each person at risk, that the Epidemiological Investigation Service (Epidemiology Investigation System) works well and that there is also a lot of work done on the side of public administration... But all decisions are delayed because of the bureaucracy and political conditions of our country. »

* Russia, with 17,098,242 km2 and a density of 8 inhabitants / km2, is the largest country in the world but is also one of the least densely populated. Most of the population is concentrated in the European part of the country.

→ Do you have any instructions to follow in France? Were any precautions in place?

« Yes. In the first week, we only had general recommendations to protect ourselves. Then, a confinement has been decided, first for a week and now for the entire month of April. However, the country is not in a state of orange or red emergency but for the time being in a state of emergency. "General Alert Scheme".

Every inhabitant of Moscow was recommended to leave his home only in case of extreme necessity : shopping must be done in the nearest business, the same for the pharmacy. We can go out to empty the trash or walk his dog, go to the hospital, go to work. We have to keep a distance of 1.5 / 2m with the others. If we ever have symptoms, we have to stay home and call the medical department in our area for a tele-consultation. It's something free because covered by medical insurance from which every Russian citizen is entitled free of charge. »

→ Can you tell us about the impact Covid-19 has on your personal life?

« My life has definitely changed. Even before the regime recommended isolation, I had started teleworking for a week. Now, I spend 99% of my time at home. The only exception is when I need to shop and it's the same for most of my friends. So I'm trying to combine work and personal moments. in the little space of my apartment (building a schedule and making lists every day helps with that). I also started cooking more often to be able to stay at home (and in addition, it's good for my budget!).

The climate continues day after day, but I relativize thinking about my friends in Italy and Spain, who have had to endure this regime for more than a month. Also, I try to watch less news and I do more sports... All this allows me to reduce the feeling of stress. I also noticed that I was taking more time to chat with my family and friends who live in Siberia thanks to the video calls, and that's great!

Finally, I believe that this period will perhaps give everyone the opportunity to reconsider the great issues of life. It is in such moments that we become more aware of the real value of freedom. »

→ How do you envisage the future?

« This question works very hard on me. This pandemic coincides with the economic crisis oil prices (the ruble was considerably depreciated) and unstable political climate recent constitutional reforms in Russia. Obviously, we have turned into a new era. The restrictive measures, while people will not have work for a new month, will hit small and medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs and people with little savings. A lot of companies will go towards bankruptcy and unemployment will rise. Inflation will make people poorer, and I don't even mention the next possible pandemic scenarios.

I think we're gonna be fine. several years to restore us to this global tragedy. But at the same time, I think this epidemic will be able to generate new forms of interactionnew ways of working and surviving the age of digital communication. »

→ Are you scared?

« Yeah, I'm scared. I first became afraid for my parents, who are among those at risk. I'm afraid of read the statistics every dayI'm afraid of Look in the eyes my friends, in the heart of other world epicentres, when they tell me how sick their loved ones are, when they tell me that they work in hospitals without any day off and they see So many deaths that could have been avoided. I'm scared in the tail of supermarkets when I hear a man convince everyone else that It's just the government that wants to intimidate people. and that there is no epidemic.

But I'm not afraid of living, here and now. Because this reality we have no choice but to make with. However, we have the choice of how we're going to deal with. Our future depends only on us. Every day, the idea that when it's over I could see my parents and friends in other cities, other countries, help to hold. The idea that one day I will wake up in my tent, in the middle of nowhere, and take fresh air with full lungs. »

Finally, Pavel wanted to add a word to his testimony:

« PS: Yes, according to statistics this virus is less dangerous than others. Yeah, maybe 70 to 80% of the population will eventually get contaminated, as some researchers say. But until this virus can be fully studied, we must slowing down its spread. How? Just by reducing the number of social contacts. Reducing the number of social contacts means containing the number of serious cases. Contain the number of serious cases, to give a little strength to doctors and epidemiologists We're counting on to defeat this virus, but it's even more: It's giving them time.

So even if you feel healthy: Stay home. The speed at which we return to our normal lives depends on the actions of each of us. Take care of ourselves, our families and loved ones, as well as those who care for us and need our help. »

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