While worrying about schoolwork and mildly panicking about the situation we find ourselves in, I've had a lot of free time, to say the least. I'm bored frequently and I can't scroll through any social media app anymore without feeling like I should be more productive. So, here are a few things that I've done to keep myself busy and lessen the effects of the endless loophole of fatigue that I currently find myself in.
Baking
(From the author's personal archives; photograph by Leticia Loyola)
I have to say that I've been baking a lot more than I should be. I've made endless types of cookies and multiple batches of cake but the recipe that stands out to me the most is a brownie recipe, released by "Brownie do Luiz." It's extremely easy to make and uses ingredients you most likely already have at home. The result is absolutely mouthwatering and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.
Ingredients
6 eggs
330g of sugar
390g of flour
330g of butter
660g of cocoa powder - (Preferably Nescau)
Instructions
First, mix the egg and the sugar in a bowl.
Then, add the flour and the butter.
Add the cocoa powder.
Grease a pan with a bit of butter and flour.
Spread the batter onto the pan and leave it in the oven for 30 minutes at 180 °C.
Learning a new language
This year and especially in the last few weeks I've set a goal for myself to learn Libras, the official sign language of Brazil. I'm using YouTube and other online resources to learn, and I hope that when we get back to normal life I'll have obtained fluency.
Films
I've also been watching a lot of movies, and although I enjoyed many of them, the following two mentions are especially good:
Little Women
Little Women is an adaptation of the coming-of-age book by the same name. The film perfectly captures the lives and struggles of the four March sisters. I absolutely loved Greta Gerwig’s style of directing in this film, which I felt captured each character’s essence and personalities extremely well. It’s definitely a must-watch.
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society is a love letter to the humanities. It's unapologetically raw, idealistic, and at times a bit cheesy, but it's a film that sticks with you. The transcendentalist poetry tied in with the story is also extremely relevant and insightful. The characters feel so real that while watching it seemed like I was growing alongside them. It really is an amazing movie, that I undoubtedly recommend.
“Dead Poets Society.” Virginia Film Festival, 9 Nov. 2014, virginiafilmfestival.org/films/dead-poets-society/.
Erbland, Kate. “'Little Women': Florence Pugh Turned the Brat Into the Film's Breakout Heroine.” IndieWire, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2019, www.indiewire.com/2019/12/little-women-florence-pugh-amy-interview-1202198108/.
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