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<strong>My dad and my step mom run a dog boarding business in their home. Their business has taken a huge hit.</strong> I don't know the full extent because my dad tends to be cryptic about finances, but I know it's bad. <strong>My mom and step dad retired and started collecting social security right before the pandemic hit. The timing couldn't have been better. </strong>My mom was a home health aid, and I can't imagine knowing she was at such high risk. My step dad was a manager at an auto parts store, and he has COPD. I worry all the time about how bad it would be if he got it. At least he's not working. <strong>My brother already worked remotely </strong>before, but I know it was <strong>an adjustment to have his wife working from home, too.</strong> <strong>One of my closest friends lost his job at an engraving shop--via text message,</strong> early in the pandemic. It's been hard on him not being able to find work in the area, feeling adrift. <strong>Another close friend of mine lost her job at an architecture firm,</strong> due to lack of projects to bring in enough revenue to keep everyone. <strong>Fellow grad students are especially grappling with lack of access to research materials</strong> (fortunately, most of my research is behind me), and <strong>remote teaching</strong> (I'm not teaching this year), but especially sobering is the uncertainty that international grad students are facing. <strong>Many of my friends are young parents, and trying desperately to keep things on an even keel.</strong>
October 9, 2020