RATIONING- ARCHIVING- STORING- RECORDING

FOOD DIARY 


In the 2020 pandemic, the notions around food changed completely. From our daily shopping of food, it became storage of food for some but for some, it became calculations of what to eat every day.


23-03-2020 -It was the first day of lockdown in Goa, before I realised the seriousness of the situation the streets were already dark and deadat 7 pm. As I went out to buy groceries the shops were already closed and fewer shops had murmurs around their closed gates. The deadliness of the town was increasing as I changed the location to find groceries for the next day, finally, I came home with nothing but tears in my eyes and they weren’t of worry about food. 

  

25-04-2020- There was information about an open shop through social media. As I got to the store, it already had a long queue. We contacted people to know if there is anything they need from the shop. But, big grocery bags of people as they were coming out made me worry whether there would be required food inside. After a long wait, they closed the shop right after I entered (I guess the old guy felt sorry looking at a small girl’s worried face). I remember most of the shop was empty, all the instant food was gone and I don't know why I added a big family pack of ice cream in my cart. Now if I look at that shopping cart, I don't know why I added things I usually don't eat.


13-05-2020 - Getting tired of everyday's smaller and weird recipe combos, we ordered from swiggy for the first time in this pandemic. They took all the measures according to the app but every bite of that meal was filled with worry, thrill as well as joy. 


18-05-2020- Finally we hopped on the train to go back to Mumbai. During the whole journey, I was so terrified of the situation. I decided not to eat or drink but the three-hour wait at Panvel station broke my fast. The house food after a long period made me happy but at the same time, Mumbai felt completely silent. There was no honking, no heavy traffic. 


19-05-2020- According to the new meal plans in my house we have shifted to pulses most of the week, only two times a week dad gets vegetables needed and no one is allowed to touch them for the next 7-8 hours. The vegetables have their own bath and drying time just like clothes. 


20-06-20- Everything started opening again, the marts, the pan shops, smaller shopping hubs. But the shops aren't open fully they have kept the most required food outside their shop on a table, some people are selling from their cars. Yesterday I was amazed by the people outside the panipuri stall filling their mouths with the whole ball of sweet and spicy mixer of things. It made me want to have it but we will make it at home if possible. 

 

21-06-20- Social media is filled with new recipes, baking, and dalgona coffee. It inspired me to bake a cake; most of the ingredients were replaced by the ones at hand. It tasted okay but will work on the same thing again with proper ingredients after this gets over. 

THE DOMAINS OF VIRTUAL AND VISUAL


Ever since the lockdown has been executed,the virtual crept into our lives and we developed new ways of sustaining this pandemic.Moreover we’ve found methods to engage with ourselves and the world.

Never before have I spent so much time with family,now that we were all forced to remain indoors, the everyday began operating in two domains-virtual and visual. While the virtual served as a source of hope by enabling a variety of functions, the visuals around were contradicting.I think that the threshold is where I belong-but to retain this state of mind is clearly a struggle.It’s an assimilation of contrasts and resemblances! It has lead me to think of different ways to archive so as to develop my interpretations over time.

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