Lockdown Stories
“I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of the land on which I’m living and creating. I
would also like to pay respect to the Wurundjeri Elders,past and present, and extend this respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.”
This book contains eleven portraits of women of colour living in Melbourne, their experiences during the lockdown and how they managed to be resilient during those difficult times. Special thanks to Tamara Leacock Achut Thuc
Hesen Ali-Darwish Laura Chavarro
Ridhima S. Kapoor Wi Vern Ng
Rasha Tayeh
Simone Etheve
Graciuse Amah
Kathleen Espejo Flábia Sousa
for inspiring this work and sharing your stories.
Lockdown was very challenging but this last lockdown was a necessary period of
growth, breaking unhelpful, old habits, developing new habits that are uplifting and supportive of happiness and renewal, and looking at myself fully.
Taking care of myself In my apartment I have a study that I leave mostly empty and clutter free
with a desk, yoga mat and a notebook. This small room and leaving space for it has been essential for me to reevaluate my life and the decisions that has led to each day to ensure that I am truly leading a joyful life filled with that
which truly nourishes me, I am responsible for, and that I choose. It is my self healing room of sovereignty, self loving, rediscovery, and responsibility.
Soul food recipe I used to be more of a cook than I am now lol! but I cook my variation of a tofu scramble/a tempeh scramble: 1. Sauté half red onion in olive oil
with sea salt, paprika, coriander powder, cumin and hemp seeds.
2. Add 1/4 block of tempeh chopped into very fine pieces.
3. Add 1/4 bag of spinach to mix
and cook until spinach is fully mixed in 4. Serve with a wholemeal wrapped lighted warmed on the pan.
Achut At the start of the lockdown I felt that Melbourne was just doing extra
precautions and that we were safe from the virus. I thought it would only end 6 months - 1 year yet here we are still battling variants of corona. I felt
extremely bored not being able to attend any creative spaces, festivals or go on walks in different areas to explore their streets.
Self Care Tip Find a counsellor or life coach to talk to, it helps when Music and dance helps with my mood as well.
you feel really low.
Spoile yourself recipe Really loving smoothies at the moment: Chia seed blueberry smoothie. Ingredients:
-Blend Blueberries, strawberries, chia
almond milk and dairy free yogurt.
with chia seeds in a blender and serve.
Blueberries, strawberries, chia seeds,
Process:
-Mix the chia seeds with water in a bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes.
seeds, almond milk dairy free yogurt
-Find a counsellor or life coach to talk to, it helps when really low.
Hesen Lockdown for me was life-changing, might sound like a cliche answer but it was.
Being in this situation, with financial struggles, plus away from my family, having
to make the hard decision to stay and be strong gave me so much perspective on how capable I am to cope with challenges.
I came to Australia to launch a fashion project which was launched just before COVID, so in addition to the above, seeing my business fail was just devastating.
I am grateful for my resilience, I trusted myself. I started working as a design freelance, getting clients through platforms like Airtasker and so many freelance
pages. This kept me active and positive as I could see some income still coming in, especially during the first lockdown.
Doing yoga every single day, and learning how to do headstands, handstands, and chin stands (still not able to do it!!) kept me sane, to be honest. This is
where the life change happened, I chose to follow the path of becoming a yoga instructor, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and this was the end of the first lockdown.
I survived, got a job in a social media agency, and started my path to become a yoga and meditation teacher.
Some extra bright sides, I self-taught myself how to skateboard, living in
Elwood, was a massive silver lining for me, going to the beach and breathing
the breeze just did it for me, bringing me the peace a needed to stay strong and positive that everything will be ok, and everything was ok.
It was hard, I won’t lie, having so much spare time, made me rethink my life, and I am so grateful that the result of all that was beyond anything I could ever possibly imagine.
Lockdown helped me to become a better version of myself, now I know I can live anywhere in the world, overcome any financial challenge, let go of a dream and pursue another one.
Taking care of myself Yoga yoga yoga, that’s all I can say, long meditations and stretching my body
are what kept me sane during the lockdown, all that helped me understanding my reality, accepting it and being able to have the best time possible regarding the
living conditions. Also, and not less important, I started a night beauty routine that I still keep doing.
Soul food recipe Causa de atún This is the Peruvian appetizer or starter par excellence: a perfect dough of mashed potato made with ají amarillo chili pepper layered with tuna fillet and a slight hint of mayonnaise topped off with a slice of boiled egg. “How can something so simple be so tasty?”
Ingredients:
through a potato ricer three times until
For the potato base:
consistency. Add the olive oil, ají amarillo
-3 pounds floury potatoes ½ cup olive oil
-3 ají amarillo chili peppers very finely chopped
-Juice of two limes
-Salt and pepper to taste
-A few sprigs of chopped parsley For the filling: -5 ounces canned or fresh tuna 1 can -1/2 onion chopped
-1 tablespoon of mayonnaise -1/2 avocado sliced
-2 hardboiled eggs chopped into cubes
-1 ají limo chili pepper chopped finely, or another similar chili pepper Instructions: -Place the unpeeled potatoes in a large
the dough achieves a smooth and soft peppers, salt and pepper to taste and
the sprigs of parsley. Knead the potato dough until you get a pliable and form texture
-To serve, use a greased 3-inch
diameter mini-springform pan to help
you put each individual causa together.
Spread the potato dough on the base, about 1 inch high. Then place a layer
of avocado slices, followed by a layer of the tuna filling, and finish your causa with another 1 inch layer of potato
dough. Remove the springform and repeat 3 more times.
-Decorate each serving with chopped egg and ají limo chili pepper, and enjoy! Notes
pot of cold water, adding 2 tablespoons
This is a starter served cold, and can
potatoes until they’re cooked and soft.
(up to a maximum of 12 hours) but
of salt. Bring it to a boil and boil the Strain and set aside to cool.
- When the potatoes have cooled
sufficiently, remove the skin. Pass them
be kept in the fridge for a few hours
flavor-wise it really tastes best when it has just been prepared.
Laura “En el lockdown me la pase literalmente cocinando mucho más, también hablando con personas con las que no hablaba hace mucho tiempo.”
Self Care Tip “Tomarse el tiempo de comer sin afán, de preparar los alimentos y disfrutarlos.”
Soul food recipe
-Cut the onion as you prefer, preferred
Colombian Shrimp Cocktail
-Cut the mangos in brunoise.
(COVID times) Ingredients:
-Jumbo Raw Shrimp: Peeled & deveined -Salt
-Black pepper -Red onion
-Lime juice: fresh -Fresh garlic
-Tomato sauce
-Mayonnaise, Japanese mayo -Cilantro: fresh -Mango
-Avocado How to make it: -Start by cleaning the shrimp and
cooking it until pink. Do not overcook it as it gets rubbery. Drain immediately.
-The trick is to soak them in iced cold water, with salt and lime juice for a
few minutes before adding it to the rest of the dish.
not too big.
-Cut the avocado in small dices
-Place the shrimps, the onion, the lemon juice, the garlic and the sauces (equal
parts of tomato sauce per mayonnaise) in
a bowl (reserve the cilantro), mix it, and keep it refrigerated for 1 hour before serving.
-Before serving, sprinkle some cilantro. How to serve the cocktail: In Colombia, this ceviche is served with saltine crackers or plantain chips. This time we will serve it, with
mango, avocado, coriander and a bit of mayonnaise on top.
“This last lockdown was a necessary period of growth...” “I ended up falling in love with my friend.”
“The lockdown pointed out my insecurities but also helped me see the beauty in myself.”
Ridhima The pandemic for me surfaced all kinds of emotions that I never knew existed subconsciously within me.
While there was so much uncertainty and fear, there was a sense of calm as well. While there was a whole bunch of hopelessness, there was also hopefulness that it would soon be over.
Self Care Tip Even on your most busy days, give yourself permission to pause.
Heart warming recipe I think being a Chai cafe owner, I’d like to share how to make superb
cuppa chai at home. A hearty cup of chai can make you feel good in so many ways. The spices used in chai are rich in antioxidants, help with hay fever/cold, and support your immune system.
Ingredients
Directions
-1 pc clove
small pot, Boil water and add pounded
-1 inch ginger -1 whole black pepper -3-4 cardamom pods -1 tsp fennel seeds -2 inch cinnamon
Pound all spices in a mortar pestle. In a spices. Let it simmer for 2 mins.
Tip : Make sure you always cover the pot.
-3/4 cup Milk of choice
Then add your choice of milk, tea leaves
-1/4 Water
the milk boil a few times and sieve and
-Sweetener of choice
-Tea leaves - 1 and 1/2 tsp
and sugar and simmer for 7-8 mins. Let enjoy your beautiful cup of chai.
“While there was so much uncertainty and fear, there was a sense of calm as well.” “I am grateful for my resilience, I trusted myself.”
Wi Vern There was definitely a sense of dread and fear that lingered in the streets
of Melbourne. I couldn’t go back home, my shifts at the Vietnamese bakery
were dwindling, and prospects of a full-time job seemed far-fetched for a fresh grad. My cousin, who just started her very first year of Bachelors at RMIT University, was eager to explore this new country but found herself traversing
each corner of our small two-bedroom apartment instead. However, in the midst
of the new case numbers, deserted streets, and zoom meetings, I ended up falling in love with my friend.
Self Care Tip Take a long walk early in the morning
Soul food recipe Eat a bowl of noodles (or any other comfort food) with a lighthearted tv show (either alone or with loved ones).
My feeling in lockdown was somewhere between calm and anxiety, or one or the other.
Self Care Tip Embrace the stillness, meditate, move the body, and still the mind. eat well.
Heart warming recipe Aynar Spice Infusion is a truly unique spice infusion and traditional Arabic medicine blend. This sweet and spicy blend is designed for healthy blood circulation and body warmth, making it the ideal blend for winter. Ingredients
teaspoon of Aynar Spice Infusion to
Beit e’ Shai Aynar Spice Infusion
to the boil on the stovetop. Lower heat
-Cinnamon -Aniseed -Ginger.
one and a half cup of water and bring immediately and simmer for 8–10 min. Serve in a teacup, with walnuts for added flavour.
Brewing
Tip: your brew is best when simmering
For single serve, add one heaped
third.
Simmer 100ºC | 8–10 min
has reduced the liquid quantity by a
Lockdown for many was a challenging, strange, upsetting and surprising time. For me it was a mix of emotions. Every day was a new emotion, new way to express or combat.
Health was a big factor. Both physically, mentally and spiritually. I was going through a
lot of anxieties, doubt and depression. It was the first time I had to be at home every
day of the week. I saw myself in the mirror everyday (my house is full of mirrors). I was constantly looking at myself in the mirror pointing out things like my nose is a weird shape, neck lines and my smile was not perfect. The lockdown pointed out my insecurities
but also helped me see the beauty in myself. Slowly each day with each positive emotion I began to smile. I’ve always hated my smile. It’s not the most “perfect” or “beautiful”
smile but it’s a smile that tells stories and felt warmth and happiness and has poured
positivity and love into the atmosphere. My smile during this lockdown was the power for others to heal and smile too.
Self Care Tip We all live busy lives and never take a moment to ourselves even if it’s for 5
mins. Instead of coming home from work or if you have had an exhausting day. Make meditation part of your downtime. We are constantly on our screens we forget to connect and reflect with ourselves about the day we have had or any feelings we may have come across.
Heart warming recipe I love coffee! And also was on Tik Tok for much of the lockdown. I enjoyed
making Dalgoda Coffee! it’s a coffee, sugar and a bit of hot water whipped and poured over with your choice of milk products.
Gracieuse “I went through different phases because obviously we had different lockdowns in
Melbourne. I will say the first ones were much about spots, and teaching my classes because I’m a dance teacher.”
The lockdown period was an interesting experience for me. It was a challenging time
for a lot reasons, some even completely unexpected–but surprisingly illuminating as
well, which made it rewarding in its own strange way. I think the difficulty we faced in being expected to so immediately and effectively adjust to such unsettling and
severe restrictions, ultimately allowed an opportunity for a closer kind of introspection for me,
and forced me to tap into deeper personal stores to source the stability
and fortitude we all so badly needed at that time. It was a great test that taught me that I am far more capable than I had initially thought.
Self Care Tip My greatest self-care tips and the mindset that got me through lockdown in
a nutshell: Be the best kind of friend/mentor/parent/support team that you dream about having, to yourself. Then be that for the people around you. And do things from love, not for love, always.
Soul food recipe Whenever you ask Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike about what dish first comes to mind when they think of filipino cooking, there’s no question the answer you’ll most likely get is ‘Chicken Adobo’. Hearty but not heavy, tasty but with flavours that are never
overpowering, this punchy recipe (served always with rice) is the quintessential Filipino meal, my favourite from home, and a definite crowd pleaser.
Chicken Adobo
Chicken and Marinade -750g / 1.5 lb chicken thigh fillets, boneless and skinless (5-6 pieces)
marinade) and place in the pan. Sear both sides until browned – about 1 minute on
each side. Do not cook the chicken all the way through.
(Note 1)
3. Remove chicken skillet and set aside.
-1/3 cup (85ml) soy sauce , ordinary all
4. Heat the remaining oil in skillet. Add
-3 garlic cloves , minced
purpose or light (not dark soy sauce, Note 2)
-1/3 cup + 2 tbsp white vinegar -4 bay leaves (fresh) or 3 dried For Cooking
-2 tbsp oil, separated (vegetable, canola or
garlic and onion, cook 1 1/2 minutes. 5. Add the reserved marinade, water, sugar and black pepper. Bring it to a
simmer then turn heat down to medium high. Simmer 5 minutes.
peanut)
6. Add chicken smooth side down. Simmer
-1 small brown onion, diced
to stir), turning chicken at around 15
-3 garlic cloves, minced
-1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water -2 tbsp brown sugar
-1 tbsp whole black pepper (sub 2 tsp
uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes (no need
minutes, until the sauce reduces down to a thick jam-like syrup.
coarse cracked pepper)
7. If the sauce isn’t thick enough, remove
Serving
simmer by itself - it will thicken much
-2 green onions/scallions , sliced (garnish). Instructions: 1. Combine Chicken and Marinade
ingredients in a bowl. Marinate for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over high
heat. Remove chicken from marinade (reserve
chicken onto a plate and let the sauce
quicker - then return chicken to the skillet to coat in the glaze.
8. Coat chicken in glaze then serve over rice. Pictured in post as a healthy dinner plate (415 calories) with cauliflower rice and Ginger Smashed Cucumbers.
“ Dancing has always been a healing process.”
Flábia “Lockdown was a time to rest, to learn english, and to spend time with my housemates and share life with them.”
Heart warming recipe Macapuccino. Ingredients
Preparation:
200 ml of coconut milk
Heat all the ingredients together so that
1 dessert spoon of maca
of your preference.
1 dessert spoon of 100% cocoa (or Peruvian ginseng)
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger
it is homogeneous and at the temperature
Book Concept & Illustrations by
Karen Bravo