Eh Tha Yooi Lee

SPEAKERS: Ana Mendez, Eh Tha Yooi Lee

MENDEZ: Hello, I'm Ana Mendez with the COVID Oral History Project at Wells College. Today's date is April 12th 2022. I'm in Stratton 209 With Eh Tha Yoi Lee. This is an unrehearsed recorded interview-er. Thank you for joining us today. I like to begin by getting to know more about your background. Could you start by telling us about yourself-your full name, date of birth and where you were born?

LEE: Hello, everyone. It's me Eh Tha Yooi Lee and I was born in Thailand. And my birthday is May 9th 1999.

MENDEZ: Where did you live growing up? Did you live in Thailand?

LEE: So I grew up in Thailand for seven years. And then I moved to the US when I was seven. And I've lived here since.

MENDEZ: What was it like there?

LEE: In Thailand?

MENDEZ: Yes.

LEE: I mean, it was poor. I had nothing. But I didn't know I had nothing, So it's fun. But it was interesting to- growing up there because I didn't know I was poor. And I thought my life was okay.

MENDEZ: How is it similar or different from Aurora?

LEE: Aurora has running faucet, a bathroom, you know, it's very different because people do speak different languages. And Aurora does have-- people that you know, are clearly different race, different languages, different cultures. So the-- it's very different.

MENDEZ: Who do you consider to be your family? Could you tell us about your family?

LEE: um, my family include me, my brother, my mom and my dad. And then I have extended family that lives in Ithaca, New York. Just my cousins and all of that.

MENDEZ: Tell us about the people you lived with when you were growing up?

LEE: I lived with my cousins, wait no, I lived with my family, which are my cousins. I grew up with my mom, my dad, my brother. And I also-- I also grew up with my cousins. So I'm very close with my family.

MENDEZ: Are you close--Are you especially close with anyone else?

LEE: No, I'm close with my plants.

MENDEZ: What were you like as a child?

LEE: I was-- what is this? I was a good child.

MENDEZ: Could you share a special memory about yourself as a child?

LEE: A special memory? So all of my memories, I mean, memories change as you 00:03:00grow because of who you are. But when I was a child, oh, I've always I remember-- like, when it was really raining a lot, and I had to take all my stuff back to my house and I almost died. Because the rain water was getting--it was very strong, and it was raining. and I had to cross a river and went up to my chest because I was a child. And yeah, so that's how I almost died.

MENDEZ: Let's jump ahead in time to when you started to think about college. When did you first start thinking about college?

LEE: Because I grew up in an immigrant family, Asian immigrant family, I had to think about college at a very young age. Elementary School, just kidding, yeah. I had to start thinking about college when I was in middle school, and I've always thought about it. My parents are always forcing me to get good grades. My parents are always getting me to be better, go to like a school. And they have a stigma where you cannot go to a community school, but they changed that for my brother, which is-- sucks. But here I am at Aurora. And yeah, I've always thought about college.

MENDEZ: What expectations did you have for what college would be like?

LEE: My expectation would be, I would be away from my family. And I am away from my family, and I really liked that. That's that's all I wanted in life just to be away from my family.

MENDEZ: When did you first hear about wells College?

LEE: I grew up with a lot of wells woman. Since the age of three, my mentor was a Wells woman, and as I grew up, she talked to me more about wells college. And then she took me here for a tour, and so that's how I know about wells college.

MENDEZ: And what made you decide to come to wells?

LEE: What? Well, I had a lot of people who told me I should go to Wells because of the wells woman that I'm with, but also I came to Wells because it is the only college that I applied. And I got it in, so I was like might as well just go to this one college that accept me and not waste my time on other colleges.

MENDEZ: And what was the experience you were hoping to have at Wells?

LEE: I don't know. Thats not really helpful is it. What? Can you repeat that, please?

MENDEZ: What was the experience you were hoping to have at Wells?

LEE: What was I hoping at Wells? I was hoping to be a good student. But it turned out that was a lie. I'm not a good student. That's my only expectations. But yeah.

MENDEZ: What did you plan to study when you started college?

LEE: I always wanted to go into like the science field, so I chose microbiology-- biochemistry and molecular biology, because I thought it was the closest thing to biochemistry and molecular biology, wait no-- that is my major. Bioengineering, medical bioengineering-- I thought I was close to that, but now that I think about it, I can never be a bio engineer because I cannot do math.

MENDEZ: What is your current major and year?

LEE: I am a biochemist. Biochemistry and molecular biology, and my year is 2022.

MENDEZ: So you're a senior?

LEE: Yes, I'm a senior.

MENDEZ: Why have you decided on this major?

LEE: Why did I decide on this major? Like I said before, I thought it was very close to medical bio engineering. So I picked it.

MENDEZ: What do you plan to do after college?

LEE: After college? I want to work at a bio-- Like any place that will accept me, but mostly I'm just looking for biotechnology-- biotech job, and hopefully, you know, that's what I get.

MENDEZ: Let's turn to the pandemic now. When did you hear about COVID-19 for the first time?

LEE: When I first affected the people in China.

MENDEZ: And what did you think about COVID-19 at that time?

LEE:

I was like, Oh, it's just another Ebola.

MENDEZ: What were people around you saying at the time?

LEE: Nothing. They were like, it's not gonna come here. So they didn't talk about it much.

MENDEZ: How did you feel about these conversations that were happening regarding COVID?

LEE: What kind of conversation, like just--

MENDEZ: Like if they did not feel it wasn't going to--if they did not feel it was serious, what did you think about that?

LEE: I was like, Okay, it's not serious. In the beginning they were like, oh, it's not that serious. It's gonna come, were young. Like people were always talking about it but we didn't know it was going to become so big. Because I remember we had a conversation in class, it was like, it's okay it's not gonna come up here. They're gonna--but you know that that was a lie.

MENDEZ: And when did you know that COVID was turning into something serious?

LEE: When we left, when Ithaca first got their person infected.

MENDEZ: How did you feel?

LEE: I don't know. I didn't feel anything. I'm kind of numb sometimes.

MENDEZ: Were you a student at Wells when the pandemic began?

LEE: Yeah, I was. I was a student at Wells.

MENDEZ: What did you think when spring break was extended?

LEE: Um, when spring break was extended, I was very disappointed. I came back on campus actually during spring break to hang out with my friends. And then they extended the time so I got my stuff together, and I just left. I was like, okay, whatever this is gonna...

MENDEZ: What did you think when classes went online?

LEE: I was like, okay. Can they give us a reduction on our tuition? Because we're living at home now, so why do we have to pay boarding?

MENDEZ: Yeah, true. Where were you when the lockdown started?

LEE: What lockdown?

MENDEZ: like, you know, like, each state decided to--

LEE: Oh, I was at home.

MENDEZ: Who did you spend lockdown with?

LEE: Myself, and my parents, I guess. Yeah, I live with my parents so I had to spend with them.

MENDEZ: And how did your life change during lockdown?

LEE: During lockdown my parents caught COVID because they work at Cornell and Cornell doesn't really treat their workers very well. So they make them work hard. But once my mom caught COVID, my dad followed after that, and I thought I also caught COVID as well, but I guess I didn't because when I took my COVID test, they never really called me back. So that means I didn't get it right? But I also like couldn't taste anything so I-- but I didn't have no fever. So I thought I-- it was weird because I thought I had it but I guess I didn't and then once I finally caught it, I was like, Okay, this is different.

MENDEZ: Tell us what your daily life and routine was like during lockdown.

LEE: It was hard. My mom had her own separate bathroom because we have two bathrooms. So I would just use the downstairs bathroom because that was safer for me. Everyone, as well. So we just use a different bathroom, but and then the food had to be delivered to my mom. And my dad didn't really care for me and my brother's safety.

MENDEZ: Did you cook for your parents?

LEE: No.

MENDEZ: And what challenges did you and others around you face?

LEE: COVID?

MENDEZ: Yep.

LEE: Um, I don't know, I guess they just couldn't go certain way. Okay, so because I--it was different--Because during COVID before and after my parents caught it, it was just hard for like the, the community that I live in, to go out and get stuff because people will be staring at them. And so there was a lot of trouble happening in that situation.

MENDEZ: How did you overcome these challenges?

LEE: Um, it's-- I didn't really overcome the challenges. It's still happening now. Asian hate crime has been rising since. So, I mean, people mess with me, I'll mess with them. Thats it.

MENDEZ: Were there any unexpected benefits that emerged for you during lockdown?

LEE: No.

MENDEZ: So in what ways did the pandemic impact you as a college student?

LEE: Mentally it killed me. Physically, it killed me. And uh-- with homework wise, everything else like that, I think I just, I gave up. Life was not important.

MENDEZ: What challenges did you face?

LEE: All of them. I faced all of them. I couldn't get up. Because I was like, eh, What's the point? And I didn't want to do anything. I was just-- I was just in my room being depressed baby. And I was like, What is the point? So that was a-- that was a big challenge for me.

MENDEZ: Were you able to overcome these challenges?

LEE: Im alive. Yes, yes, I did. But like I said, it's still here. And I'm still struggling a lot with it.

MENDEZ: And did any unexpected benefits or opportunities emerge as a result of the pandemic While you were--while you were a college student?

LEE: Wait what does that mean?

MENDEZ: Um, I don't know, like maybe remote learning? Was that a benefit for you?

LEE: Remote learning was not a benefit for me, it was very hard because I didn't get to see my teachers, I mean, shit-- professors.

MENDEZ: Yes, it's okay.

LEE: Okay. Remote learning was really hard for me because I, I'm a very in person, person. So I had to make sure that everything is being right. So I have to make sure that I talk to people on one on one. And if that doesn't happen, I just shut myself down, and I need people to people communication, or else I can't read people's emotion. And so that's why it was really hard for me, I thought I did such a terrible job with everything.

MENDEZ: Can you compare what Wells was like prior to COVID to what Wells was like during the pandemic?

LEE: There was totally more events before COVID-19 hit wells, and now it's just there's more restrictions, and it was really boring, and it was just not something that I would want to go through again,

MENDEZ: What do you make of those differences?

LEE: What do you mean?

MENDEZ: How do you feel about those differences?

LEE: I don't like them, I just--it was isolating, and it was just not something that I want to--it was traumatizing if you say all of that.

MENDEZ: In what ways did Wells and life at Wells change over the course of the pandemic?

LEE: I think wells--food-wise they've taken more precaution because there's a virus and before I don't think they really did. So people are more better at hygienic stuff I would say. But then like now I'm seeing there's a pattern they're going back to not washing their hands and thats nasty.

MENDEZ: What do you think of those changes?

LEE: I like the changes. I wish everybody started washing their hands again, but we can't wish for something that's never gonna happen.

MENDEZ: So Wells has many traditions, how were they impacted during the pandemic?

LEE: Well, Odd/Even had to be altered, we didn't have Weinachten, sorry, we didn't have that. We didn't have a lot of traditions and it's kind of really sad because traditions makes up Wells, and without that it was not Wells.

MENDEZ: What did you think of those changes?

LEE: I don't like it. Um, like I said, without the traditions, without Odd/Even, without Weinachten, there was no tea, like tea time. It was just really sad.

MENDEZ: Did you notice differences in perception of the pandemic, between the community at Wells and your community back home?

LEE: What do you mean?

MENDEZ: So how did people think of the pandemic here at wells or, and your community back home?

LEE: So in my community back home, we took it very seriously, because there's a lot of older Asian population. So we stopped going to churches, so they don't go to church anymore, and they do everything through zoom, which it's kind of annoying, because now they pray like three days a week. It's--my mom is on it all the time! And so, you know, they do it, and I guess I'm okay with it, but three times a week, it's just too much. And it's not even an hour either, it's like, like five hours and more long. So to hear my mom on Zoom, just talking and talking and talking, singing, talking, singing is different. We take it very seriously, so everything went on Zoom. We couldn't do Caroling. So it was just yeah, and then we couldn't have our annual Christmas event, so it was it was really sad. Because our Christmas annual event is where basically everybody, the ones that don't even go to church, come to--and come and we celebrate and we give gifts, and we sing and we pray, and even the ones that don't pray, they pray. They end up praying, and then we eat food. So yeah.

MENDEZ: And how did these differences impact you?

LEE: I mean, it didn't. It was sad, because you know, it happened every year. And then that one year, it just didn't happen, caroling didn't happen. It was really sad. Everyone, like was sad. My community got sick as well. So it was just like, it was hard for everyone. And they were just like, oh my goodness, what's gonna happen? What's gonna happen? They're not going to know what's gonna happen. So all they could do is pray. I think there was more praying than usual. And they pray a lot, So.

MENDEZ: So moving on to government responses. As scientists learn more about virus--the virus, government officials began to impose mandates. What did you think when the mask mandate began?

LEE: I love the mask mandate, because first of all, I hate people. No, I don't hate people, but I like it, because in in parts of the world, if you are sick, 00:15:00you should wear a mask to protect yourself and other people. And I think this is a great idea, because I did my research on COVID, and it will prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that's, that's all we can do to prevent it from spreading to where we don't want it to go.

MENDEZ: And what were your thoughts-- thoughts when a vaccine was announced?

LEE: Oh, my thought was like, okay, the vaccine is here, so we're going in the right direction. I'm also like glad that I wasn't the first to get it. Because Im like, you know what? Maybe not. But I really like this. I was like--I was one of the first people to try to get it, the vaccine so that I don't die from it. So I like it yeah.

MENDEZ: What did you think of the vaccine mandate?

LEE: What is the vaccine mandate?

MENDEZ: So when the government said that we have to get vaccinated.

LEE: I think we should get vaccinated unless you're allergic to it then find a different thing that works for you.

MENDEZ: What did you make of the controversy that emerged over these mandates?

LEE: Um, the strongest will live and the weakest can die. If you don't want the vaccine, okay, expose yourself and if you don't die, strong, if you die, weak. Um is this like gonna go, is someone gonna listen to this? Im kidding.

MENDEZ: The government provide stimulus checks during this time, what did you think of that decision?

LEE: Wait what?

MENDEZ: The government provided stimulus checks during this time. What did you think of that decision?

LEE: I liked the decision, here's why: because a lot of people who don't-- who got fired--who has been fired because of the pandemic, who cannot go to, what is it called work anymore? They need that check. They need that money to pay for the rent to pay for their water bills to pay for anything like, seriously, like people have been fired, people have gone through lockdowns and their work is not even paying them. So I think it's a great idea that's happening, but not only that, it just helps with like--especially if, if the person did have-- caught COVID, and you have to isolate. It's just better and the new like--cleaning equipment--like it's, you know, it's just, it's just boost them up a little bit. It wasn't a lot, but it helped a little, you know?

MENDEZ: How did the stimulus check impact you and your family?

LEE: Well, we pay--my parents got--worked at Cornell, so they do get a little bit of the payment from Cornell if they didn't go to work, but they also get a stimulus check. So they basically just pay off our rent as- as that. And because they're not getting money by working, and--they are getting money, but it's not as much as you know, as they're working. So they're just like, trying to survive 00:18:00paying off bills, like check, heat, house, and like getting food and being like, Oh, we don't have enough TP. Like, we went to the store, and theres like, no TP. Like, why do people like this so much. They can just literally use, I have, okay I have--Like you know the shower you can take? Just put it under your butt, it'll wash it off. Im just saying, its like a bidet.

MENDEZ: Bid--Bidet yeah thats what it is.

Lee: Bidet

MENDEZ: Okay, um, several political protests took place during this period, many had to do with COVID, but others were associated with Black Lives Matter and other social movements, did you or others around you participate in these protests?

LEE: I personally did not. Because I didn't want to go to a place where there was a lot of infected people, people that were affected, it was pretty new at the time. So I didn't want to risk it, come back, and then give it to people and then give it to my community. Because at that time, we still have in person church, and I was still Christian. And so I would've still gone, and I would have spread it to like older people that, you know, don't really--can catch it. So I was planning on doing it, going, but I didn't ended up going because just because I wanted, like for safety reasons, stuff like that.

MENDEZ: Mhhm, Okay. And--

LEE: But like, I don't think it should be--I feel like now it's a trend now. Because at that time, everybody's like, Oh, Blackout, black, black lives matter. Now, no one's talking about it, and I think it should be talked about still. Because--just because it stopped doesn't mean black people aren't still being targeted, racially.

MENDEZ: Were you engaged in these discussions or topics and other ways outside of protesting, such as social media?

LEE: I was. I did not do the blackout thing, because that was fucking dumb. What is that going to do? But I made an awareness, um, I posted some stuff, and I got in fights with a lot of people. Because they're dumb, and they don't know the difference between police brutality and, you know, yeah.

MENDEZ: Okay. Now, I'd like to hear your personal experience with COVID. These questions will focus on illness and possibly bring up grief and other challenging topics. Remember, we skip any question that makes you uncomfortable? Did illness impact you and your family?

LEE: Yes.

MENDEZ: Would you mind sharing those experiences with us?

LEE: No, Im kidding! Yeah, so I already talked about when the illness caught my mom and dad, but I've never talked about the one that happened to me. So it happened like three or four weeks ago, I caught COVID, and it wasn't--I don't want to say it wasn't bad because it was terrible. My muscle hurt, I couldn't move, could not breathe, because thats how bad my coughing was, every time I cough. Instead of my lungs hurting, it was like, right by my chest. It was not even my chest. It was where it was not supposed to be, but that happened. And then I had the highest fever, and I was like, Okay, what, what will lower down 00:21:00my, my, my fever? And so I took ibuprofen, and I found that ibuprofen does help. So I took ibuprofen and my temperature went down, but I was checking my temperature every like minutes or so. And every minute was just rising up until it got to like 101.5 So.

MENDEZ: And how did this personal experience with COVID impact your outlook on the pandemic?

LEE: Its different because when other people that I talked to about had it, they were just like, "oh yeah, my wasn't like that bad, I just did this and this". Mine was terrible. I don't know. But like, I was--I felt terrible and I had to get everything ready. So I was, I don't know how to explain it, but it was bad.

MENDEZ: Looking back on those experiences, what do you take away from them?

LEE: Don't get caught. I don't know. I'm just like, get tested when-- whenever you can actually, because I, when I caught it, I didn't even know how I caught it. And the people that were surrounding me didn't catch it either. So I'm thinking how? And I didn't even go out that much either, I went to like one place, so it was really weird.

MENDEZ: Now that vaccines are available and cases are decreasing, life is closer to how things were prior to the pandemic. How do you think that transition is going?

LEE: Um, for me, it's going to be hard because I love the masks. So people were like, Oh, you don't have to wear a mask in here and Im wearing my mask. So I look different. People look at me because I'm still wearing my mask, but you don't know who has it, and they don't show any symptoms. So I'm not gonna stop wearing my mask until I'm 100% sure that no one on this goddamn Earth has it.

MENDEZ: Do you think we will have a normal life without COVID?

LEE: I mean, yes, we will. It's gonna go back to normal, but it's going to be different. We're going to care more about our hygienic? But I think COVID will be like the flu in like 50 years, but also like COVID, It's COVID-19 not Coronavirus. So, like coronaviruses has affected many people throughout our lives. And COVID-19 is different, but it is just going to be one of those Coronavirus that affects all, affected people. So yeah.

MENDEZ: Do you think another virus can impact us this much as COVID? Has?

LEE: Yes, Its human, like, human, it's human history for viruses, diseases to attack us, and it is scientists responsibilities or just like human responsibility to find a cure or a thing that lessen the effect of it. So there's, there was like a black plague, the--I don't know, that's my only thing. There's like the Black Plague and all that diseases that has come through, and we all fought over it. And I'm pretty sure in 100 years just like the Black Plague, we know how to prevent it.

MENDEZ: How will you make decisions about masks and such when the mandates lift?

LEE: Um, I'm still gonna wear it. Im no pussy. I'm not going to let the government control what I can or cannot do with my body.

MENDEZ: What lessons or knowledge have you gained over the past three years of the pandemic that you will take with you into the future?

LEE: Um, people are dumb, and, and people really be thinking that there-- I don't know. I don't want to say-- I don't know what I'm gonna say actually. What have they taught me? What has it taught me?

MENDEZ: Yeah. What has the pandemic taught you?

LEE: Uh bitches be be fake. I'm kidding. It has taught me to be more aware of my surrounding, to think about where my hands have been, before I put it in my mouth, nose and eyes and ears. Not really my ears, but my eyes and nose. Right? I tend to think about that a lot. And I'm more aware of my surroundings when it comes to hygienic stuff.

MENDEZ: As we conclude this interview, are there any topics you expected or hoped that we would cover but that we haven't addressed today? No. Are there any topics in our conversation that you would like to revisit?

LEE: I don't, I don't remember anything.

MENDEZ: Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

LEE: You're welcome.

TRANSCRIPTION: Ana Mendez, 5-6-22