Tiia Poppy Knowles
13, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
"We had a nightly curfew. The police would patrol the streets and the whole of Dubai was sanitized"
"We had a nightly curfew. The police would patrol the streets and the whole of Dubai was sanitized"
About me
What level of lockdown or quarantine are you in?
During the beginning of lockdown in March/April we were in the strictest level of quarantine. Children under 12 could not leave the house, you had to ask permission to go to the shops and only one person could go. When you left the house, you had to wear a mask and gloves at all times. No one could go to work; no public transport and we had a nightly curfew, the alarm for the curfew on our phones scared me the first time I heard it. At night the police would patrol the streets and the whole of Dubai was sanitized. I felt that they were trying to do everything to protect us and the country.
What has changed since coronavirus started?
So much has changed. We still have to wear masks at all times, even during school which can be tough. At school our desks are separated, and we cannot mix with anyone out side our class, PE is basically running on the spot and such activities and pretty much all our work is on laptops as we can’t exchange or pass around papers. My school Jebel Ali has been amazing, I feel very safe there and know that they are doing everything to keep us safe and keep the school open for us. We have to always keep 2 meters away from everyone unless they are living in our household and constantly clean and sanitize our hands.
For me the biggest change is that we can no longer travel the way we used to. I can’t go and see my Grandparents in case I pass the virus onto them or there is a travel restriction. I miss them a lot and it’s hard not being able to hug them like I used to. It’s really painful.
It’s sad that we can no longer touch or hug our friends and it feels like you have to treat and be suspicious of everyone like they have the virus.
Are you able to go to school/work?
At the beginning of March during quarantine my school moved to distance learning until September 2020. It was difficult at first, but my school did a great job and I appreciate my teachers more now.
Where do you spend most of your time now?
Most of my time is at home, we sometimes go for walks, swims or play in the garden, but it is now getting too hot.
How do you communicate with your friends?
The main ways I communicate with my friend’s is through zoom and WhatsApp.
Do you see your family more or less now?
I maybe see a little more of them.
What do you see when you leave your house?
Emptiness and quiet.
How do other people look when you go out?
People look fearful and completely covered up.
How do others act when outside their house?
I see other people maintaining distance, not talking to each other and being quick.
Has anything changed for the good in your life since coronavirus started?
I actually worked a lot harder with my school work and saw what I was capable of doing without distractions. It also made me realize who my real friends were.
What is the worst part of social distancing for you?
Not seeing my friends and having some freedom and I’m always scared that I will pass the virus to my parents or grandparents.
If all restrictions have been lifted in your area, is everything back to normal, or are there still changes that you can see?
The Quaranteen Project
My Gallery
THe developing project
The Developing Story was created to give a voice to those seeking to be heard, while encouraging and empowering all communities to speak their truth through the medium of photography. Through our capsule storytelling projects, we amplify ordinary voices, offer the wider world a new perspective on current affairs, and encourage visual arts in every community around the world.