How COVID-19 Situation Turned My Life

COVID-19 impacts many aspects of life, however, it is something fortunate, rather than unfortunate for me.

Friday, 27 March 2020 — It was the date that last time I can enjoy my full hours before being stood down. I had mixed feelings about it. Being home to minimise the risk is the best thing to do, however, it means that I cannot to go to work and have no income. Then this is how my life starts to change.

I am employed as a Guest Service Agent in Mercure and ibis Brisbane, part of the Accor brand hotels. Since 2 years working there, I always feel welcome (Which is part of the Accor slogan) by everyone. Even the managers and senior leaders are one of the best there. I am grateful that throughout my time working there, I experienced many things that help me to develop myself as who I am now.

Last January, one of the best month so far, I experienced something that I never did before, becoming a Duty Manager. Although it is only a short 3 weeks of experience before my annual leave, it transforms my working lifestyle forever.

After I am back from holiday, things getting a little strange. Occupancy was recorded as the lowest that it has ever been. Demand was very low and cancellations becoming common. I started to think that this pandemic is becoming more serious. I was hoping that I don’t lose my job, although my friend suggesting me to start looking for another job. Well, it did not happen as I expected, because the hotel is too quite to put everyone in a normal shift.

Few days after that, I started to think about so many things that I can do. I find various ideas that I can do to support myself and try to always be productive, such as learning how to code from Apple’s Swift Playground, subscribing on SkillShare and learning how to do Twitch streaming.

However, at the same time, I experience my lowest moment too. I am concern about not getting temporary jobs, thinking about my visa for PR and many more.

I kept thinking “What is God’s plan on everything happen here?”. Well, I have not to find the absolute answer yet, but I started to think positive about everything. This pandemic has changed my life forever. I feel that I become a much more positive thinker and always looks everything on the bright side. There is a light at the end of every tunnel. I received numerous supports from my family, friends and my girlfriend. We always talk every night and she is my main mood booster and encourage me to never give up.

I never gave up on hope. Last April after Easter, I received a call from my manager to work some extra shifts to cover my missing hours. It’s not much, but better than nothing. Although I was being stood down again, my hotel manager also gave me numerous support apart from the JobKeeper payment, such as giving me a care package that includes fruit, vegetables and some chocolates.

I learnt a lot from what I experience between these 2 months. For most people, early 2020 has been tough, however, I felt that these months helped me to learn and reflect more. It helped me to broaden my mindset and ways of thinking ahead. In some ways, it also helped me to be more productive than ever, being at home and thinking about things that I could do. I learnt to always think positive and never give up, even the worst things happen to you.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness

– Desmond Tutu

Christopher Reno Budiman is a writer, explorer and entrepreneur-minded person. He received Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management) and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management with Swiss Hotel Association accreditation. He’s on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn if you would like to know more about him.