BULGARIA

STAN YANEVSKI RIDGEWAY 1999–2005 SOFIA, BULGARIA – AUGUST 2020

Bulgaria was one of the first countries to enter lockdown, implementing all of the recommended WHO precautions list to follow. Only pharmacies, food stores and the churches remained open. As everyone was caught by surprise there was a shortage of masks, disinfectants and similarly to the rest of the world, people stockpiled groceries and toilet paper.

The media could have acted better by not instilling fear into the population with constant communication about deaths, deathbeds, death bags etc. Reporting was often contradictory and changed from one day to the next: “this is only a normal seasonal virus and there is nothing to worry or panic about” or “this is a deadly virus, lots of people will die!”

I was impressed by the discipline of people, especially the younger generation. The elderly however refused to comply: “I’ve lived through x y z, I’m not going to be afraid of some virus”. A number of people are now suffering with panic attacks and mental health issues as a result of it, not helped by the frequent misinformation available.

I was injured for over two months of lockdown and most of my experience was spent in pain and watching the news. Once I got back to my feet I was surprised to see the fear and stress on the streets. It felt post-apocalyptic with everyone wearing masks.

The biggest impact for me was restricted opportunities for work. My job as an actor requires me to travel and this restriction has lead to a loss in business and a reduced income. I wonder how necessary this all is? Experts that I know suggest otherwise.

According to rumours we should be back to normal by summer 2021. I believe Russia has already come up with a vaccine and is starting to vaccinate its population. Soon the whole world will have access to “the cure”. There are so many theories: it will take years for the truth behind COVID-19 to emerge. I read an article published over 10 years ago predicting something like this. Perhaps Bulgaria has previously been exposed to a similar virus giving us protection? This might explain the low rate of infection here.

I have always lived a very sporty and healthy lifestyle. Pre-pandemic I built myself a home gym having previously caught a winter virus that left me exhausted. I have not changed my lifestyle really – a virus is like any other virus - and won’t change me as long as things go back to normal. Due to my job in acting, hygiene products are not new to me. If we were to panic and change the way we lived every time we got sick or sneezed we’d go crazy.

Believe it or not I often dream about MHS. I was head of Ridgeway House and left a big part of my heart there. My pupils, my house, my team achieved something that is rarely seen. We were working together on all levels like a reactive engine. We were unstoppable both academically and when it came to sports. Everyone from Fourth Form and up all the way Upper Sixth worked as equals together the House. I miss my boys and girls. I miss the fun we used to have, the gatherings in my room, all the talks and discussions. The team spirit, even the 10-mile cup training at night. I’m not sure if this keeps going on until today but I was the one who introduced training after the first prep time. I started going out running, doing push ups and sit ups on the rugby field to prepare myself as captain of the 10 mile cup team and slowly managed to get the whole house interested. Of course this had the domino effect and Burton Bank together with Collinson House soon joined. Mill Hill School is special and I believe has left a solid mark in many of us.

What I’d like to share about covid-19 is people please stop believing everything you see in the media. Use the statistics and information that is out there and do some calculations. When you look at the numbers from a different perspective, things start to take a very different form and shape. Also, the more we as humans are informed about everything that surrounds us the more we will know about life. One last thing I would like to say is – what would you rather be, the wolf or the sheep? The choice is yours!