Downey Residents Stay Busy
May 12, 2020
Downey, California, U.S. All photos provided by interviewees.
03/19/20: “The first three weeks we were completely isolated. After the three weeks we would drive around in the streets just to get out. Eventually, we started ordering food supporting the small businesses in Downey. I started working out with my kids in the backyard. We have Zoom meetings with the family and play games like loteria. We played Uno and games. The kids have been doing homework and playing. And we watch movies.”
About the Contributor
Jezabel Perez, Podcaster
Going into her second year as a podcaster for the Downey Legend, Jezebel Perez is finishing off her last year of high school strong, growing closer to her goals of becoming a welfare social worker in being involved in the Thirst Project. Additionally, Perez is acting as the president of DHS’s Kiwins club during her fourth and final year. She proves to focus on her set goals but is also open to try new things, seen by her initial, new-found attraction towards the podcasting position.
Having been volunteering since her freshman year of high school, Perez enjoys giving back to her community, “The most important thing for me is to help others in any way that I can,” Perez stated. “It’s an amazing feeling to be in service clubs that have members who inspire me to continue helping.” She devotes the majority of her time to volunteering and finds happiness in being able to be the change in her community.
Having been volunteering since her freshman year of high school, Perez enjoys giving back to her community, “The most important thing for me is to help others in any way that I can,” Perez stated. “It’s an amazing feeling to be in service clubs that have members who inspire me to continue helping.” She devotes the majority of her time to volunteering and finds happiness in being able to be the change in her community.
![4/26/20: “I placed them [bunny drawings] all around the living room in the most obvious locations to see if they would see all of them quickly. But, first I tested my sister to see if she could find all of them and it took her about 1 minute and 40 seconds to find them all. The one in the kitchen was the one they all struggled finding for some reason. So they were trying to find all 4 but they were struggling. My sister and I started laughing at them because they had passed by the last one like three times. When they found all four I asked them which was their favorite. The one in the kitchen was their favorite because it was cartoony. Then I told my parents that one of the reasons I drew bunnies [was] to honor our pet bunny that we loved. Then my mom told my sister and I to go to the room so she could hide all the eggs in the living room. We did the little scavenger hunt as a family. My parents were watching us look for all of them while giving us clues.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Estephany-Hernandez-475x475.jpg)
![4/25/20: “It’s scary because over the news you hear about people dying. I was scared and I wore a face mask. Only one person was allowed into the room unlike my last pregnancy, [so] I was so happy to come home. It’s difficult because we have to tell people no they can’t see the baby as a precaution to not get her sick. They’re seeing the baby through videos, Facetime, and it’s crazy! I’m panicked; it’s really hard to do everything (anybody can get her sick) - emotionally draining.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Amelia-Gonzalez-469x475.jpg)
![4/22/20: “For me the quarantine has affected every aspect of my life; being stuck at home has forced me to have more responsibilities. I have to balance being a full time college student and keeping up with all the work that I’ve been assigned. It’s been a lot more stressful because my professors have been assigning a lot of work that makes it hard for me, especially since I have to also watch after my two younger siblings. One also has online courses and needs a lot of attention being in 1st grade. I have to help him with his assignments while also watching over my other brother who is only 2 years old; he requires a lot of attention. My mom’s hours have also changed at work and now that she works more hours; I’m basically the only one running the household. The thing is I also have to attend mandatory Zoom lectures and that’s also difficult because I can’t focus on my classes due to all my responsibilities. And I’ve been having to do a lot more around the house. I have a lot of chores such as picking up after my siblings and doing laundry [and] making meals. And it’s been taking a toll on me because I feel overwhelmed with everything going on, especially with my mom being on the front lines. She comes into contact with people with the virus daily so we have been taking extra precautions at home and sanitizing everything. A family friend recently passed away of covid and it was really scary for my family. It was scary for my family because this family friend lives only 5 mins. away from us.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Ashley-Urizar-356x475.jpg)
If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a gravatar.