With the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of celebrities and the public have been taking to social media to express concern over the disease, precautions they are taking and even how they will cope once our Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) ends on the 9th of June and continues with the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) here in Malaysia. Here’s what some familiar faces, namely Patricia Knudsen, Atilia Haron and Daphne Iking shared with us:
1. Have you learned a new skill/a new interest during the MCO/CMCO?
Patricia Knudsen: Patience…haha no, I have been cooking way more (haven’t we all??), but really going to the next level with learning tricks and how to cook more difficult dishes. I also just bought stuff to start drawing/painting again as that was another hobby and passion of mine. But during the 2-3 months, it has really been about my family at home and it’s great to just spend time, also a bit tough, but we are great and we make the best of it. I am also working very hard on my company P.S. Knudsen and I am hopefully going to announce more exciting news soon!!
Atilia Haron: I learned so many, I am very into “ikan”, planting my own vegetables and I am cooking everyday. I’ve never eaten out! Well, once last week at BEN’s because I was so hungry. I’ve been eating my own food and growing my plants. I’ve also started to plan melons and juicing them! I’ve never done it before! And, also I am recording myself!
Daphne Iking: The 1st new skill that I’ve learned, it’s actually a dual effort with my husband who is also my manager. He basically has tinkled around with all our camera equipment that we have around the house and he started to create this wonderful live setup for me at the convenience of our home. It started out with just a computer, then he started filling it up with the equipment – whatever DSLR that we have, over the years we’ve collected a few other lighting, Jimmy Jibs, mics and stuff like that. He maybe only bought 1 or 2 more equipment that he had to order online. We’ve got the perfect setup for the live show. That’s basically what I’ve started doing – starting streaming and going live at the convenience of my home. That would probably be my latest interest and Alhamdulillah has brought some interest to clients out there who are opting also to use the digital platform to get their messages or launches across.
2. Which country do you miss most traveling to and why?
Patricia Knudsen: The freedom to travel back to Denmark to see my family. But we had so many plans as well with our travels this year. I was supposed to plan a work trip to Morocco and at the same time see my BF’s parents who live there. I wanted to go Australia and see a couple of friends, do some food travelling and we wanted to go on a romantic trip as well as an exciting adventure to New Zealand. It’s sad that half a year has gone by that we weren’t able to make use of, but we have gotten other positive things in return. This whole year has really made us appreciate things more and put things in to perspective. We can only look forward to finally be able to explore and see our family/friends.
Atilia Haron: Not particularly a country but my dad lives in Nilai. So, that’s a different state in Negeri Sembilan – I miss going back to kampung.
Daphne Iking: I guess the country that I would love to travel to is Japan. Prior to me finding out I was pregnant, we were planning to go on a skiing trip but I got pregnant so that was scrapped out. But I’ve always loved loved loved going to Japan and now that I’ve given birth and travel plans will be on hold for a few months until this pandemic is over, we will revisit Japan and skiing. I’d probably do that.
3. What do you plan to do once the CMCO ends?
Patricia Knudsen: TRAVEL!!! Hahaha that is for sure! and WORKOUT properly!
and also make sure that I can get all my things faster for my business. It has been hard as well with import of things.
Atilia Haron: Balik kampung and of course to re-open my studio. I’ve been going to my studio a couple of times, checking the cleanliness and we’ve already done the sterilization of the studio. We’re just waiting for the government to give the okay for sports centres, gyms and yoga studios to start operation.
Daphne Iking: I suppose once that ends, it’s still going to be a new-norm. Not as if it’s going to be back to normal before the CMCO. I used to say to people I missed most getting my massages, nails done..you know simple things, getting my pampering done. But now that I’ve got my confinement lady in and getting my massages, I suppose I would really love to start travelling again. I miss travelling, I miss doing a lot of things – having alone time with my husband. So yeah, I would love to have 1 trip with the family and adapting to the new-norm of travelling.
4. What do you love most during MCO/CMCO ?
Patricia Knudsen: My home. I love being home luckily. I love my beautiful family and what we have built together, so being home for me (even though hard at times) has been comfortable and a lot of warmth. We spend time together and we love it.
The fact I get to spend time with Soph, don’t get me wrong – she also drives me nuts cause we all need our alone time, but she has grown so much and we were able to be there with her every step of the way and guide her. That is pretty special. We are so proud of who she is growing up to be.
Atilia Haron: Spending time on my own!You know me, I am such a people person, I have to go and talk to people everyday and have connection. When I have my classes, I love being with my students – adjusting them. But, I have actually regulated my pattern at home that I feel so comfortable teaching. I am not conscious with what’s happening outside. So, it’s more of an inner learning and I love that!
Daphne Iking: This is what I love most during the CMCO – as I mentioned I am without a helper. So, I think I love most because I get to reconnect not just with the children but also with my own home. Being helper-less has enabled me to be an MCO chef but my husband is the better chef among us in the family. But there are sometimes I prefer my own food because I can’t go out to get my Japanese or Chinese food or certain food that I particularly like but my husband or kids don’t necessarily like, I learned to cook it by myself with the help of YouTube! So, that’s great! I am baking a lot, teaching the kids to bake, wash and clean up the house. So,they’re learning new skills. And, what I love most is also that the fact that the kids are doing online school, I am able to monitor their academic levels and what their strengths and weaknesses are in each subject a little bit better. Prior to this, I assumed only things are okay after I got their report card or I would leave it up to their tuition teachers. But now that the tuition teachers can’t come here or they have to do Zoom classes and I have to monitor them, I know now best what I need to work on with each kid. That is something good that I’ve loved most during CMCO and the fact that my husband has been bugging me to do this live streaming since forever but this CM
CO has made us focused and given us ample time to create a system and a setup where we’re able to stream live over different platforms at the same time. We are learning new skills and adapting to a more digital platform.
5. With the new norm, what are your fears/worries/adaptation when it comes to dining out/hanging at cafes with friends/sending your children to school or daycare or would you still stay home as much as you can until a vaccine is found?
Patricia Knudsen: I actually have more fear than I thought I would. I won’t really go out yet. I also want to protect my daughter and my family of course. So we stay home and we have guests here or go to peoples houses – we don’t go out if really necessary still.
But we are trying to make it out a bit more to get things done. We have eaten out only twice since everything, but still feel more comfortable at home so why force it? For now, we are happy with the way things are and we don’t mind just being careful still and understanding that we have to live with this virus being around. As for school etc, we do look forward to that more for Soph because she needs stimulation and more things to do and we need to work as well. We will have to take 1 step at a time but for now things are going smoothly.
Atilia Haron: You know what, I think I would probably do that – staying home. Like I said, I am getting used to this pattern – of me doing things at my own time and I enjoy staying home. We are after all connected with the help of internet, I’ve gotten used to using Zoom for meetings and classes, communicating through Instagram. Yeah, as much as possible I would stay at home until a vaccine is found.
Daphne Iking: With the new norm, I am still comfortable staying at home but if I have to go out, I will adhere to the SOPs – like social distancing, hygiene is priority, wearing my mask. Basically following the rules and regulations. We will be adapting, we are not going to be staying coped at home all the time. The kids eventually.. I think it’s only fair the kids start getting out also. They come with me in the car but they don’t really go out per se or we take 1 kid out to get groceries done with the father. At least, they get to see the outside. But, other than that, they are quite happy being able to connect with their friends online. And, we’ve started to go downstairs at our condo where they start riding bikes again and getting some exercise done. I really can’t wait for my confinement period to be done where I can start exercising outside or outdoors. Right now, our gym and swimming pool has been cordoned off – that’s quite a bummer but we are allowed to start running in the park and I am looking forward to that!
Thank you Patricia, Atilia and Daphne for spending some time to answer our questions!
