Lifestyle blogger Jhunelle Jureidini with her quarantine kit,created from items found in her pantry. (Photos: Contributed)
Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder.
And when loved ones are out of reach, it’s oftentimes difficult to show them how much you appreciate them. Small gestures go a long way and lifestyle bloggers Jhunelle Jureidini and Tiana Chung show just how they maintain their friendship given their separation due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The government imposed six-to-six curfew has made socialising with anyone outside of your household almost impossible. With the coronavirus continuing to upend familiar rhythms of life, leaving bars, churches, and schools closed, hundreds working from home and others jobless, those looking for ways to pass the time have leaned towards creativity.
In the absence of busy schedules, users accept social media challenges in droves. Some bring together families for choreographed TikTok dance routines while others channel their inner fashionista with the #PillowChallenge.
All in a day’s work and in efforts to ward off boredom. But, one such challenge that seems to connect even more people is the Quarantine Kit challenge. Jhunelle Jureidini, curator of Simplylocal.life, suggested she and fellow blogger Tiana Chung, food blog curator of WongaGyal, create and exchange quarantine kits.
Plus, there's a video, see below...
“WongaGyal and I had been talking about collaborating for a while but had no concrete ideas.”
“She started selling customized quarantine kits and that's when I thought that would be a unique and thoughtful way for us to share with each other, but a little more personal,” Jureidini told Loop Lifestyle.
Instead of choosing what you want in your quarantine kit, we both agreed on criteria and filled the kits with items mostly from our pantries. Putting thought and time into arranging the kits, plus the surprise element — not knowing what you're going to get from the other person — made the experience more fun,” Jureidini mentioned.
Jureidini, who makes a living from showcasing Jamaica’s hidden gems — hotels and tourist attractions, and covering local events like Reggae Month — has more time on her hands during the lockdown.
So here goes…Jureidini shows us how to prepare a quarantine kit
First, figure out the theme or concept you’ll use to pick the items.
It could be arts and crafts, self-care, comfort food, etc. If it’s food, make sure to check for allergies.
Jureidini suggests... items from a cocktail recipe (using Appleton Estate Reserve rum); adding ingredients to make a snack; an immune booster like Tetley Super Tea, with the recommended 20% Vitamin C dosage. Then, add a wild card.
You should also wear a mask while preparing the kit, wear gloves, and wipe down everything before adding them to the container. Then agree to meet and practice social distancing while exchanging kits. Or if you are far away from loved ones, you can mail it or have it delivered to them.
