Pandemic Diary

In “Pandemic Diary,” published in Words Without Borders, a digital magazine, Argentinian writer, editor, and lecturer Ricardo Romero explores his own disconcerting experience of COVID-19 lockdown. Translated into English, the diary captures his life in Buenos Aires during the pandemic’s initial summer, delving into the challenges of isolation and the loss of self. Romero reflects on the newfound significance of physical distance, remarking, “At a distance of one meter, other people’s faces become important … suspicious. We look at one another as if asking ourselves: who’s dreaming this, you or me?” (Romero). Stripped of external stimuli, Romero measures time by changes in behavior, such as transitioning from shorts to pants as autumn approaches. The confinement intensifies the significance of mundane details and imbues inanimate objects with an enigmatic power. In this disconcerting account, Romero reveals the plight of individuals thrust into a leading role as they grapple with an unexpected confinement, becoming bad actors in a bewildering state.