1 00:00:03,330 --> 00:00:12,090 Samantha Chen: Okay. Today is Thursday, March 7 2020. My name is Samantha Chen, interviewing Arik Burakovsky for the Covid-19 Documentation Project. 2 00:00:12,660 --> 00:00:21,240 Samantha Chen: Do you consent to this interview being recorded and donated to Tufts Digital Collections and Archives in order to be made openly available online and the Tufts Digital Library? 3 00:00:21,750 --> 00:00:22,230 Arik Burakovsky: Yes. 4 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:29,490 Samantha Chen: So, can you tell me your affiliation with the school and what you are studying or doing there? 5 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:45,000 Arik Burakovsky: Sure, thanks Samantha. So I am the Assistant Director of the Russian-Eurasia program at the Fletcher School, where I manage communication on behalf of the program, exchanges 6 00:00:45,690 --> 00:00:57,990 Arik Burakovsky: for students, and faculty with Russian universities and think tanks and a number of events on campus. I also manage 7 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:09,990 Arik Burakovsky: several student assistants who helped with our program. I completed my MALD at Fletcher in 2017 focusing on International Security Studies, international 8 00:01:10,530 --> 00:01:24,660 Arik Burakovsky: communication and regionally on Russian Eurasia and currently I'm working toward a PhD and researching the role of public and elite opinion in the United States and Russia. 9 00:01:25,620 --> 00:01:31,320 Samantha Chen: Okay. And how is the pandemic discussed in or handled before the campus closure? 10 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:44,280 Arik Burakovsky: So I think we first heard the news about the pandemic back in January when many of us saw 11 00:01:45,750 --> 00:01:49,950 Arik Burakovsky: the news about Covid-19 in Wuhan China. I don't think, 12 00:01:52,230 --> 00:02:10,830 Arik Burakovsky: hardly anyone thought the disease would spread worldwide in the way that it did. I remember that many people discuss it as, quote unquote, China's Chernobyl, at the time without having really much concern that it would reach the United States. 13 00:02:12,090 --> 00:02:21,810 Arik Burakovsky: And throughout much of February, more and more people started getting concerned about the possibility of trips getting canceled as the disease spread through 14 00:02:22,620 --> 00:02:36,240 Arik Burakovsky: Asia and Europe, but few of us saw it as a serious danger that could lead to the shutdown of the university. I recall that on multiple occasions Tufts 15 00:02:38,220 --> 00:02:46,380 Arik Burakovsky: sent updates to the community saying that there is no real risk from the coronavirus. 16 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,440 Arik Burakovsky: And it wasn't really until 17 00:02:50,670 --> 00:03:04,980 Arik Burakovsky: early March that people began to see it as a serious danger. At the time I was in the midst of planning a major study trip to Russia for Fletcher students and faculty 18 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,560 Arik Burakovsky: over spring break, and 19 00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:22,530 Arik Burakovsky: we were planning travel to St. Petersburg and Moscow for a conference and policy workshop at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations or MGIMO, which is a partner institution of Fletcher. 20 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:29,640 Arik Burakovsky: These events were on US-Russia relations and international politics forecasting, and 21 00:03:31,590 --> 00:03:43,860 Arik Burakovsky: I remember that the the last week of February and the first week of March were probably one of the most turbulent and challenging professional experiences I've ever had. 22 00:03:45,090 --> 00:03:46,350 Arik Burakovsky: It taught me a lot about 23 00:03:47,790 --> 00:03:59,100 Arik Burakovsky: crisis management, particularly how to quickly respond to a rapidly evolving situation, and how to handle a major setback. 24 00:04:01,890 --> 00:04:08,070 Arik Burakovsky: If I may, I can go through how the events unfolded because this is quite interesting. 25 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:09,810 Arik Burakovsky: Just to give you some context, 26 00:04:10,770 --> 00:04:15,270 Arik Burakovsky: this is a study trip that gets planned over six months, costs 27 00:04:17,610 --> 00:04:30,540 Arik Burakovsky: over 100,000 dollars, has multiple sponsors, includes meetings with decision makers both at the US Embassy in Moscow and the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 28 00:04:32,070 --> 00:04:32,520 Arik Burakovsky: And uh. 29 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:38,940 Arik Burakovsky: Despite some of the conflicting information about the pandemic 30 00:04:40,050 --> 00:04:41,790 Arik Burakovsky: that was coming in, 31 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:43,890 Arik Burakovsky: we were still 32 00:04:45,030 --> 00:04:49,230 Arik Burakovsky: fairly confident that the study trip would happen up until the last minute. 33 00:04:50,310 --> 00:04:52,110 Arik Burakovsky: I remember that this was 34 00:04:53,820 --> 00:05:13,440 Arik Burakovsky: late-February when Professor Josephine Wolff told us that her conference in Bologna, Italy might be cancelled. And as a result, she would have to redirect her flight and go straight to Moscow. She was planning to spend a few days in Italy before coming to Russia. 35 00:05:15,930 --> 00:05:27,060 Arik Burakovsky: Ultimately, we just rebooked her flight tickets and her hotel room, understanding that the Italy part of her trip would be cancelled but, you know, she would still go to Russia. 36 00:05:27,540 --> 00:05:37,350 Arik Burakovsky: And then a few days later, I got a phone call from our partners at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian studies at Harvard University. 37 00:05:39,330 --> 00:05:41,220 Arik Burakovsky: Alexandra Vacroux who directs 38 00:05:41,730 --> 00:05:44,970 Arik Burakovsky: the Center asking if we had a contingency plan 39 00:05:46,260 --> 00:06:02,160 Arik Burakovsky: if Covid-19 spreads to Russia. And I thought, well, we've gotten some community updates from the university. They only mentioned travel to areas affected by the disease. Russia only had a few cases at the time. So I said well, we'll basically 40 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:12,690 Arik Burakovsky: follow the guidance of Tufts Global Operations on this, but I didn't really think that there was anything threatening the trip. 41 00:06:14,820 --> 00:06:15,510 Arik Burakovsky: I think 42 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,810 Arik Burakovsky: in the 43 00:06:20,610 --> 00:06:22,320 Arik Burakovsky: first couple days of March, 44 00:06:23,580 --> 00:06:29,130 Arik Burakovsky: we really saw the beginning of the unraveling of the trip because 45 00:06:30,330 --> 00:06:35,400 Arik Burakovsky: one of the professors at Harvard, Thomas Remington, cancelled his participation. 46 00:06:36,450 --> 00:06:40,020 Arik Burakovsky: And then Alexandra Vacroux also canceled. 47 00:06:41,430 --> 00:06:54,960 Arik Burakovsky: But still I called the Tufts Global Operations team and they assured me that everything is okay, that we can proceed with the study trip as planned. And so we thought, well you know, let's wait and see. 48 00:06:56,730 --> 00:07:06,990 Arik Burakovsky: And this was also around the time that other universities started canceling events and international travel, my brother, who is doing his 49 00:07:08,670 --> 00:07:15,780 Arik Burakovsky: MBA at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh had already canceled his trip to Japan. 50 00:07:16,260 --> 00:07:20,610 Arik Burakovsky: But still we figure that there was nothing to worry about regarding Russia. 51 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:22,560 Arik Burakovsky: In fact, 52 00:07:23,670 --> 00:07:28,440 Arik Burakovsky: even though some of the professors were getting more cautious, 53 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:33,480 Arik Burakovsky: when I asked the students, they all told me that they were 54 00:07:34,410 --> 00:07:53,130 Arik Burakovsky: far more concerned about not being able to go to Russia than they were about getting sick or getting stuck in quarantine. So our policy at the time was basically, we're operating under the assumption that study trip is happening, unless the university tells us otherwise. And so it was 55 00:07:54,180 --> 00:08:06,480 Arik Burakovsky: actually, there was another announcement made by the university on March 5, I believe, saying that travel to CDC level two and three countries is canceled. 56 00:08:07,020 --> 00:08:08,520 Arik Burakovsky: And that they're suspending 57 00:08:09,390 --> 00:08:11,370 Arik Burakovsky: extracurricular student travel. 58 00:08:12,780 --> 00:08:24,600 Arik Burakovsky: But we got Dean Rachel Kyte to weigh in on the situation, and she said that the study trip to Russia is essential travel, and it is part of the curriculum because students are taking a 59 00:08:25,170 --> 00:08:39,900 Arik Burakovsky: US-Russia relations class, so it's still okay to go. So we were basically one of the last holdouts. I think all of the other student trips had been canceled. At that point, and many of the faculty trips 60 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:54,540 Arik Burakovsky: had also been canceled and, and all of a sudden on March 6, we got information that Moscow has instituted a high-alert regime. 61 00:08:55,470 --> 00:08:58,770 Arik Burakovsky: And that they were starting to quarantine travelers from 62 00:08:59,010 --> 00:08:59,700 Arik Burakovsky: quote, unquote 63 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,590 Arik Burakovsky: from countries with undesirable coronavirus conditions. 64 00:09:06,030 --> 00:09:07,770 Arik Burakovsky: Um and so 65 00:09:09,180 --> 00:09:13,290 Arik Burakovsky: we started getting a lot of conflicting information, but to boil it down, 66 00:09:14,340 --> 00:09:29,130 Arik Burakovsky: we realized that the United States had been briefly included on that list of high-risk countries. And so the following day, we ended up canceling the study trip. It was 67 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:38,490 Arik Burakovsky: pretty disappointing to have to inform all the participants, partners, and sponsors about 68 00:09:41,340 --> 00:09:49,020 Arik Burakovsky: the inevitable change of plans and it was a pretty devastating day, also because March 7 is my birthday, so 69 00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:59,070 Arik Burakovsky: you know, it was pretty disappointing to have to make the cancellation and you know, this is something that I had been working on for 70 00:10:00,570 --> 00:10:07,320 Arik Burakovsky: well over half a year and and so it was a pretty sad time, 71 00:10:08,340 --> 00:10:08,880 Arik Burakovsky: but 72 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:15,390 Arik Burakovsky: we... we thought we made the right decision, all things considered. 73 00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:23,520 Samantha Chen: Okay, and then how did you learn of the university decision to close the campus entirely? 74 00:10:24,780 --> 00:10:28,200 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah, so we've been following this pretty closely. Actually 75 00:10:30,330 --> 00:10:37,200 Arik Burakovsky: one of the first events to get canceled at Tufts was was one we hosted um. 76 00:10:38,490 --> 00:10:41,940 Arik Burakovsky: So this was around March um 77 00:10:43,260 --> 00:10:45,780 Arik Burakovsky: four through sixth we were planning to host 78 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:55,950 Arik Burakovsky: an expert on Ukraine, Mikhail Minakov. It so happens that he lives in Milan and 79 00:10:57,750 --> 00:10:59,850 Arik Burakovsky: nobody else seemed to know this, but 80 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:02,820 Arik Burakovsky: two days before 81 00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:04,770 Arik Burakovsky: his 82 00:11:06,660 --> 00:11:15,780 Arik Burakovsky: anticipated traveled to Boston, I suddenly realized that we were about to host a speaker from the epicenter of the pandemic in Italy and 83 00:11:16,830 --> 00:11:17,340 Arik Burakovsky: I was 84 00:11:18,540 --> 00:11:19,560 Arik Burakovsky: immediately 85 00:11:20,670 --> 00:11:32,790 Arik Burakovsky: worried about this. So I contacted our co-directors, professors Chris Miller and Daniel Drezner, as well as the Tufts Global Operations team to get their feedback on what to do. 86 00:11:34,860 --> 00:11:35,910 Arik Burakovsky: Ultimately, I 87 00:11:37,410 --> 00:11:44,790 Arik Burakovsky: bumped into Professor Diana Chigas, who's the Senior International Officer and Associate Provost 88 00:11:45,810 --> 00:11:58,140 Arik Burakovsky: for the university and I explained the situation to her, and her advice was that we should go ahead and cancel the events with his participation. He was planning to speak not only at Tufts, but also at 89 00:11:59,190 --> 00:12:02,430 Arik Burakovsky: other venues in Boston, and even in Washington DC. 90 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,200 Arik Burakovsky: And so ultimately, when we canceled his trip 91 00:12:08,430 --> 00:12:13,110 Arik Burakovsky: we coordinated with the other institutions planning to host him. And they all said 92 00:12:14,610 --> 00:12:20,850 Arik Burakovsky: it made sense to do so. And then a few days later, I think it was March 10 that the university 93 00:12:22,650 --> 00:12:28,770 Arik Burakovsky: was closed or the announcement came that the university would be closed after spring break. 94 00:12:31,140 --> 00:12:39,150 Arik Burakovsky: There was even a Fletcher faculty and staff meeting on March 11 when we discussed how would we would operate 95 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,580 Arik Burakovsky: with students gone from campus, but we were still under the assumption that 96 00:12:45,690 --> 00:12:49,080 Arik Burakovsky: that we would be able to come into work and then 97 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:56,160 Arik Burakovsky: March 15th came around when we learned that all staff had to work remotely. 98 00:12:57,570 --> 00:13:00,870 Arik Burakovsky: I remember it was it was an interesting time because 99 00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:06,000 Arik Burakovsky: that Friday, March 13 before spring break, 100 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:12,270 Arik Burakovsky: we all gathered on the tennis courts by Fletcher. Were you there? 101 00:13:12,570 --> 00:13:14,730 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah and um. 102 00:13:16,110 --> 00:13:16,890 Arik Burakovsky: I think 103 00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:21,510 Arik Burakovsky: you know, people, people understood 104 00:13:22,830 --> 00:13:25,980 Arik Burakovsky: what was happening, but I don't know if if everyone truly 105 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:40,110 Arik Burakovsky: realized the gravity of the situation. Like some people kind of thought that, well maybe we'll still have the commencement ceremony in May. Maybe we will still come back for final exams. 106 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:50,310 Arik Burakovsky: And and things became clear pretty quickly that that wasn't actually going to happen. So, um it was, it was 107 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:52,320 Arik Burakovsky: a pretty 108 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:54,540 Arik Burakovsky: difficult 109 00:13:55,740 --> 00:13:58,860 Arik Burakovsky: time to be saying goodbye to 110 00:14:01,230 --> 00:14:09,240 Arik Burakovsky: you know, to many of the students. And my hope is that we can still have the graduation ceremony in-person 111 00:14:10,290 --> 00:14:10,950 Arik Burakovsky: someday. 112 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:24,780 Arik Burakovsky: So we went on to postpone all of our on-campus events. We had some public opinion polling presentations, both in Boston and Washington DC that that have gotten postponed and 113 00:14:25,740 --> 00:14:36,390 Arik Burakovsky: we had another study trip that was being planned for May to Moscow and Vladivostok to the Far Eastern Federal University, and that got canceled as well. 114 00:14:38,970 --> 00:14:47,910 Arik Burakovsky: We did lose a considerable amount of money, but luckily we managed to get refunds and credits for future use from most of the 115 00:14:49,770 --> 00:14:53,700 Arik Burakovsky: airline companies, hotels, tour operators, and other suppliers. 116 00:14:54,030 --> 00:14:54,570 Arik Burakovsky: So. 117 00:14:56,820 --> 00:15:14,220 Arik Burakovsky: That was, that was good. I spent a couple of weeks, going back and forth with with partners in Russia, but they ultimately instituted quarantine as well. So they recognized, you know, that they would have to make compromises. 118 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:27,450 Arik Burakovsky: And uh, and so we're now looking to conduct many of these activities in the fall if campus re-opens and international travel restrictions are lifted. 119 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:38,580 Samantha Chen: Okay, just going back to something you said earlier, on March or you know, March 13th when we had that big gathering on Fletcher field, 120 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:46,290 Samantha Chen: what were your thoughts? Were you thinking that this would be a short term thing? Or were you thinking that this might be a more of a long term thing? 121 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,940 Arik Burakovsky: Um, so 122 00:15:52,650 --> 00:15:57,420 Arik Burakovsky: I- I was hopeful that it would be shorter term. 123 00:15:58,710 --> 00:16:06,390 Arik Burakovsky: You know that they had announced that the closure of campus would only be through April 30 at the time. 124 00:16:09,090 --> 00:16:10,980 Arik Burakovsky: The most challenging part of 125 00:16:12,420 --> 00:16:15,300 Arik Burakovsky: all of this is the unpredictability. 126 00:16:16,740 --> 00:16:21,030 Arik Burakovsky: Everyone wants to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 127 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:27,330 Arik Burakovsky: There's a reason we kind of held out for as long as we did with 128 00:16:28,530 --> 00:16:31,200 Arik Burakovsky: the March study trip to Russia because we 129 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:37,980 Arik Burakovsky: kind of hoped that you know that things would subside fairly quickly. 130 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:48,060 Arik Burakovsky: There was actually, I think one of the last events, the university hosted-- it was, it was at Harvard. 131 00:16:49,410 --> 00:16:53,820 Arik Burakovsky: It was the European Conference. And I remember that 132 00:16:55,230 --> 00:17:11,010 Arik Burakovsky: half the speakers didn't come. Many of them were from Italy or Spain, places where a virus already spread, but you know they still insisted on going through with it. I was too busy that day, in part because I was 133 00:17:12,120 --> 00:17:13,560 Arik Burakovsky: you know, working to cancel 134 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:16,980 Arik Burakovsky: our study trip, but also because 135 00:17:20,100 --> 00:17:32,700 Arik Burakovsky: it was, it was my birthday. And so I didn't go, but I- but I remember there were many students who are starting to get worried about, you know, speakers coming from Europe and the possibility of infection and so on. 136 00:17:35,790 --> 00:17:41,670 Arik Burakovsky: But yeah, at the time I don't think I really sensed how long this would go. 137 00:17:44,220 --> 00:17:53,160 Samantha Chen: And so now, what is daily life like for you? How is it affected by the current restrictions? And then, what sorts of adjustments have you had to make? 138 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,610 Arik Burakovsky: Um yeah. Well, I mean 139 00:17:57,750 --> 00:18:01,260 Arik Burakovsky: every cloud has a silver lining. I would say that 140 00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:07,590 Arik Burakovsky: there have been some complications. But there have also been some 141 00:18:08,820 --> 00:18:19,470 Arik Burakovsky: upsides to this. Just to give you a background, my wife Maria is also a student at Fletcher and she's currently pursuing her MALD. 142 00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:32,460 Arik Burakovsky: And our son Gregory was born on February 10, so we had already had a significant upheaval to our routines. 143 00:18:34,020 --> 00:18:44,550 Arik Burakovsky: You know, we were fairly sleep deprived, doing things like feedings, and diaper changes, taking daily walks with a stroller. 144 00:18:46,140 --> 00:18:46,560 Arik Burakovsky: And 145 00:18:48,180 --> 00:18:50,130 Arik Burakovsky: what's nice is that 146 00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:58,260 Arik Burakovsky: Tufts offers staff up to 12 weeks of parental leave. I really do commend the university on that. 147 00:18:58,890 --> 00:19:03,240 Arik Burakovsky: And so I've been taking it intermittently right after 148 00:19:03,780 --> 00:19:12,870 Arik Burakovsky: the baby was born, I took formally two weeks of parental leave and since then, I've been taking a few hours here and there. 149 00:19:14,790 --> 00:19:15,630 Arik Burakovsky: And so 150 00:19:18,660 --> 00:19:32,670 Arik Burakovsky: I mean, we were lucky in February to have Maria's brother come visit us for a week, and then her mother came for a month in March to, to help us take care of the baby. 151 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:35,010 Arik Burakovsky: And so 152 00:19:36,030 --> 00:19:40,860 Arik Burakovsky: I think we've been handling things pretty well. The upside for me of 153 00:19:42,060 --> 00:19:48,450 Arik Burakovsky: having to work from home now is having more flexibility to take care of the little one and 154 00:19:49,710 --> 00:19:57,210 Arik Burakovsky: our friends in the area have been really supportive bringing food and toys and baby clothes so 155 00:19:58,260 --> 00:20:14,520 Arik Burakovsky: I think- I think we're doing pretty well. Um, I do miss not being able to come into the office and to interact with people at Fletcher. And of course, having face-to-face classes and events. 156 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,680 Arik Burakovsky: With, with the long lines, it's always a 157 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:35,490 Arik Burakovsky: you know, quite an endeavor. And it's time consuming, we obviously can't go to restaurants and cafes anymore. We have to order things on Amazon, because most of the other stores are closed. 158 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,100 Arik Burakovsky: Can't go to the gym. 159 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:42,870 Arik Burakovsky: Haven't had a haircut in a couple of months at this point. 160 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:49,350 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah, but all things considered, I would say that daily life 161 00:20:50,490 --> 00:20:59,430 Arik Burakovsky: hasn't changed significantly. So, still working a lot. I had classes throughout 162 00:21:00,450 --> 00:21:08,820 Arik Burakovsky: March and April that were uninterrupted and I think that all things considered, 163 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,120 Arik Burakovsky: the classes were still engaging. 164 00:21:13,710 --> 00:21:19,770 Arik Burakovsky: Taking care of the baby, going on stroller walks, cooking, and cleaning. A bit more time for 165 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:25,770 Arik Burakovsky: reading books and occasionally watching Netflix documentaries, now that we're not 166 00:21:27,090 --> 00:21:36,450 Arik Burakovsky: as insatiated with all of the different events at Fletcher. So yeah, I think- I think we found kind of a new normal in all this. 167 00:21:37,260 --> 00:21:42,240 Samantha Chen: Okay. And how do you think this pandemic has affected your relationships with others? 168 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:52,860 Arik Burakovsky: Um, so it's it's interesting, not being able to spend time face-to-face with people has 169 00:21:54,300 --> 00:22:14,490 Arik Burakovsky: allowed me to spend more time engaging with people online and and the paradox in this is that, when you're restricted to using the internet to communicate the choice about whom to communicate with becomes unrestricted. It's kind of liberating, if you will. And so 170 00:22:16,590 --> 00:22:21,330 Arik Burakovsky: I think there's some kind of solidarity that everybody's feeling these days. 171 00:22:22,410 --> 00:22:27,000 Arik Burakovsky: You know, kind of facing the same challenges being stuck at home and 172 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:41,460 Arik Burakovsky: many of us feel like we're in this together. And so I've gotten to reconnect with friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues who are not living 173 00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:55,170 Arik Burakovsky: in the area. In fact, all over the world. And it's certainly not the same as in-person interaction, but it's a decent substitute while we wait out the quarantine and 174 00:22:56,310 --> 00:23:01,950 Arik Burakovsky: you know, many of these people, I may not have spoken to in 175 00:23:03,030 --> 00:23:08,100 Arik Burakovsky: you know, in months or years and so that's that's kind of nice, but 176 00:23:09,180 --> 00:23:11,250 Arik Burakovsky: But it does mean that we have 177 00:23:12,510 --> 00:23:25,890 Arik Burakovsky: limited interaction now with, with people who are living close to us. We see them sometimes going out on stroller walks and you know, stay six feet apart and chat for a while. 178 00:23:26,190 --> 00:23:26,670 Arik Burakovsky: But 179 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,470 Arik Burakovsky: you know, but it's certainly not the same as it was before. 180 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:32,700 Samantha Chen: Okay. 181 00:23:34,020 --> 00:23:45,030 Samantha Chen: And then this is probably an interesting question for you. Um, but what sorts of messages and other types of communications have you received from the administration? 182 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:47,700 Arik Burakovsky: Um. 183 00:23:49,530 --> 00:23:50,340 Arik Burakovsky: So. 184 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:58,320 Arik Burakovsky: I mean, we've received the same messages everyone else has received from 185 00:23:59,820 --> 00:24:06,720 Arik Burakovsky: President Monaco, from the Executive Vice President Mike Howard, from the Fletcher Dean 186 00:24:08,460 --> 00:24:09,330 Arik Burakovsky: Rachel Kyte. 187 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:22,530 Arik Burakovsky: I've attended all the Fletcher community town halls and it's been useful to, to try to understand 188 00:24:24,090 --> 00:24:39,840 Arik Burakovsky: what the administrators at Fletcher are considering. I know about the task force that has been convened to try to determine what to do about next semester and whether 189 00:24:41,010 --> 00:24:47,700 Arik Burakovsky: the university will be open in the fall, or whether we'll continue to have online classes or hybrid classes. 190 00:24:51,420 --> 00:24:53,040 Arik Burakovsky: And uh, and certainly I've 191 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:58,800 Arik Burakovsky: kept in touch with people in the administration to 192 00:25:00,420 --> 00:25:02,760 Arik Burakovsky: handle various 193 00:25:04,590 --> 00:25:06,660 Arik Burakovsky: programmatic changes. 194 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:08,670 Arik Burakovsky: Things like 195 00:25:10,020 --> 00:25:18,420 Arik Burakovsky: accounting for the program, you know, certain grants have to be extended through the end of the year because of delays. 196 00:25:21,870 --> 00:25:22,440 Arik Burakovsky: But 197 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:25,710 Arik Burakovsky: I would say that 198 00:25:27,540 --> 00:25:39,810 Arik Burakovsky: You know, it's not like I know a whole lot more than than most people. I'm not really involved in the university's response to the pandemic, and so 199 00:25:41,010 --> 00:25:43,680 Arik Burakovsky: I learned about it mainly through, 200 00:25:44,970 --> 00:25:51,120 Arik Burakovsky: through these kinds of messages and events and you know in staff meetings, I think that 201 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:05,130 Arik Burakovsky: I think that students are, have adjusted to the remote learning environment fairly well. 202 00:26:06,810 --> 00:26:12,180 Arik Burakovsky: There are, in some cases, upsides to using Zoom like 203 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:22,440 Arik Burakovsky: being able to see students' names on the screen, the hand raising feature. We have a couple of joint courses with MGIMO 204 00:26:23,130 --> 00:26:24,480 Arik Burakovsky: that we conduct and 205 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,510 Arik Burakovsky: I think many students were telling me that 206 00:26:29,070 --> 00:26:35,190 Arik Burakovsky: they kind of like the new format more because 207 00:26:36,750 --> 00:26:42,210 Arik Burakovsky: there is smoother transition between Fletcher and MGIMO 208 00:26:43,980 --> 00:26:45,690 Arik Burakovsky: when it comes to discussions so 209 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:48,510 Arik Burakovsky: I think 210 00:26:50,340 --> 00:26:51,960 Arik Burakovsky: again, all things considered, 211 00:26:53,850 --> 00:26:54,930 Arik Burakovsky: Zoom has been 212 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:58,650 Arik Burakovsky: I think pretty 213 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:09,810 Arik Burakovsky: pretty useful for, for maintaining the continuity of the classes but but as I said already, the hardest challenge with, with all this has been the unpredictability. 214 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:16,230 Samantha Chen: And so, how have your own academic routines changed in light of this? 215 00:27:17,850 --> 00:27:18,540 Arik Burakovsky: Um. 216 00:27:21,540 --> 00:27:21,990 Arik Burakovsky: I mean, I 217 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,470 Arik Burakovsky: think- I think it's 218 00:27:27,030 --> 00:27:46,440 Arik Burakovsky: hard to sit in front of a computer screen all day. If I was sitting in front of a computer for most of the day, now I'm doing it all day. And one of the things I've heard about is Zoom fatigue and, and I've felt it on on several occasions. 219 00:27:47,460 --> 00:27:47,910 Arik Burakovsky: Just 220 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:56,940 Arik Burakovsky: kind of being, being so tired of staring at a computer screen that I will, you know, either stop paying attention to meetings or classes. 221 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,880 Arik Burakovsky: Or I'll have to like shut off my camera and go 222 00:28:03,930 --> 00:28:11,880 Arik Burakovsky: you know, stand up, do some exercises during these classes or meetings to be able to refocus again. 223 00:28:13,980 --> 00:28:20,250 Arik Burakovsky: There was an interesting psychological study that I read the other day about how 224 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:28,590 Arik Burakovsky: it's much harder to understand nonverbal cues when you're 225 00:28:30,450 --> 00:28:36,120 Arik Burakovsky: meeting with people on Zoom or other online platforms, 226 00:28:37,290 --> 00:28:50,190 Arik Burakovsky: as opposed to face-to-face. It's much more difficult to read gestures and facial expressions, and so your brain is actually working much harder to 227 00:28:51,990 --> 00:28:58,080 Arik Burakovsky: understand nonverbal communication. And so I think, I think that's been a challenge. 228 00:29:01,110 --> 00:29:01,680 Arik Burakovsky: But um. 229 00:29:03,270 --> 00:29:04,740 Arik Burakovsky: I think we're making the best of it. 230 00:29:06,090 --> 00:29:10,980 Samantha Chen: Okay. And so how are you feeling mentally and/or physically? 231 00:29:12,780 --> 00:29:14,190 Arik Burakovsky: Um, well. 232 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:36,570 Arik Burakovsky: I have to say, so in the beginning of March when the quarantine started, and we canceled the study trips and and the other activities, I was feeling pretty frustrated that most of the projects I've been working on recently were discarded or postponed. And I 233 00:29:37,620 --> 00:29:38,700 Arik Burakovsky: spent a while 234 00:29:41,730 --> 00:29:47,760 Arik Burakovsky: being disappointed. I- it took me a while to calm myself and create clarity and put things in perspective. 235 00:29:50,010 --> 00:29:53,730 Arik Burakovsky: And, and also I was, of course, feeling exhaustion from 236 00:29:55,140 --> 00:30:08,850 Arik Burakovsky: from everything else going on at home. So that was tough. But at this point I feel fine, mentally, because I do have the company of my wife and son to keep me sane. 237 00:30:10,350 --> 00:30:22,170 Arik Burakovsky: I probably should do more exercise at home because I've gotten a little bit out of shape and and it's hard because you know, I can't go to the gym anymore but um, 238 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:24,000 Arik Burakovsky: I think 239 00:30:25,620 --> 00:30:28,650 Arik Burakovsky: now that the semester is over, I'll have a little bit more time for that too. 240 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:36,480 Samantha Chen: And then how are your friends, your family, Maria? How are other important people in your life doing? 241 00:30:37,410 --> 00:30:38,130 UArik Burakovsky: Um. 242 00:30:39,750 --> 00:30:45,990 Arik Burakovsky: I think I mean we're blessed that everyone is healthy and safe and 243 00:30:47,070 --> 00:30:48,960 Arik Burakovsky: everyone still has their jobs. 244 00:30:50,730 --> 00:30:51,150 Arik Burakovsky: My uh 245 00:30:53,550 --> 00:31:06,150 Arik Burakovsky: parents who live in Los Alamos, New Mexico, were sad that they couldn't come visit us in April to spend time with us and get to know Gregory. 246 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:10,620 Arik Burakovsky: They uh. 247 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:26,400 Arik Burakovsky: They felt like they missed out. Maria's mother and brother, as I already mentioned, came to see us a little bit earlier. And that was nice, then they had to be in quarantine for a couple of weeks when they returned to Moscow. 248 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:29,040 Arik Burakovsky: But 249 00:31:31,110 --> 00:31:38,010 Arik Burakovsky: yeah, I mean. Now they're back to, to work as well remotely, of course. 250 00:31:39,150 --> 00:31:43,440 Arik Burakovsky: But everyone's doing okay. We're- we're worried, of course, about 251 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:46,260 Arik Burakovsky: the 252 00:31:48,570 --> 00:32:02,610 Arik Burakovsky: older members of our family. So our grandparents, who are in Russia and Israel, they've been pretty much under lockdown since this began, and they have other people bringing them 253 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:05,490 Arik Burakovsky: food and supplies and so on. 254 00:32:07,710 --> 00:32:10,440 Arik Burakovsky: And- and they're of course, in the higher risk 255 00:32:11,790 --> 00:32:15,300 Arik Burakovsky: category for coronavirus so 256 00:32:16,980 --> 00:32:18,240 Arik Burakovsky: thankfully, they haven't 257 00:32:19,530 --> 00:32:24,000 Arik Burakovsky: been infected or had any major health problems recently, but 258 00:32:25,830 --> 00:32:27,570 Arik Burakovsky: you know, but we're certainly concerned about them. 259 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:37,710 Arik Burakovsky: Samantha, are you there? 260 00:32:44,460 --> 00:32:44,910 Arik Burakovsky: Hello? 261 00:37:20,310 --> 00:37:20,970 Arik Burakovsky: Hey, you're back. 262 00:37:21,060 --> 00:37:30,330 Samantha Chen: Hi. Yeah, I'm just using my mobile hotspot right now. Our wifi has been doing some crazy things, so I apologize for that. 263 00:37:31,020 --> 00:37:41,550 Arik Burakovsky: No, that's no problem. I'm glad you managed to reconnect. Did you hear the last part of my answer? I think it'll be part of the recording, so we can probably move on to another question. 264 00:37:42,720 --> 00:37:43,380 Samantha Chen: Okay. 265 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,290 Samantha Chen: Do you hear my question about the media coverage or should I repeat that? 266 00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:53,220 Arik Burakovsky: Please repeat that, I didn't hear that. 267 00:37:54,000 --> 00:38:00,690 Samantha Chen: Okay. So what are your impressions of the media coverage of the pandemic, both currently and before it arrived in the US? 268 00:38:02,310 --> 00:38:04,200 Arik Burakovsky: So that's a good question. Um. 269 00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:07,230 Arik Burakovsky: I think there's been 270 00:38:08,850 --> 00:38:09,630 Arik Burakovsky: a lot of 271 00:38:11,370 --> 00:38:13,800 Arik Burakovsky: misinformation and disinformation about 272 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,480 Arik Burakovsky: Covid-19 itself, which 273 00:38:19,830 --> 00:38:26,730 Arik Burakovsky: often happens during periods of unease and uncertainty. I think people who 274 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:33,780 Arik Burakovsky: want to exploit people's fears and uh, 275 00:38:34,860 --> 00:38:44,760 Arik Burakovsky: lack of understanding can do so, and I think coronavirus is a fruitful area for that. And so 276 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,630 Arik Burakovsky: I think it's led to a lot of 277 00:38:49,770 --> 00:38:57,660 Arik Burakovsky: partisan polarization in the media. Trump really did miss an opportunity to 278 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:06,990 Arik Burakovsky: to have a rally around the flag effect. Most of the time if there's a crisis that affects everyone 279 00:39:09,030 --> 00:39:10,740 Arik Burakovsky: it's a good opportunity for 280 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:19,560 Arik Burakovsky: the government to unite the country but unfortunately, that hasn't happened. It's become 281 00:39:20,670 --> 00:39:24,930 Arik Burakovsky: very much a partisan issue and, and an issue 282 00:39:26,460 --> 00:39:29,940 Arik Burakovsky: of tension between the federal government and the state governments. 283 00:39:31,140 --> 00:39:33,540 Arik Burakovsky: And uh, and the trouble is that 284 00:39:35,220 --> 00:39:40,080 Arik Burakovsky: in the media coverage, there hasn't really been much room for 285 00:39:41,310 --> 00:39:52,440 Arik Burakovsky: a middle ground in response to the pandemic. It's either taking the precautionary principle and shutting everything down, or it's opening the economy completely. And I think 286 00:39:54,450 --> 00:39:56,910 Arik Burakovsky: there needs to be a lot more discussion about 287 00:39:59,970 --> 00:40:13,440 Arik Burakovsky: efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, while still ensuring that we have a functioning economy. There needs to be some kind of 288 00:40:16,350 --> 00:40:21,180 Arik Burakovsky: you know, some kind of sweet spot in this, where we can do 289 00:40:23,130 --> 00:40:38,040 Arik Burakovsky: things like, you know, social distancing, and tracking, and tracing, and testing, and all the things we hear about, but at the same time make sure that people 290 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:44,190 Arik Burakovsky: have the means to survive and 291 00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:48,000 Arik Burakovsky: you know, unfortunately, 292 00:40:50,610 --> 00:40:57,060 Arik Burakovsky: so many people are losing their jobs, and and we're not really sure when those jobs are coming back. 293 00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:07,410 Arik Burakovsky: That you know, we need some kind of economic response more so than even the stimulus that the government has passed. 294 00:41:10,050 --> 00:41:11,820 Arik Burakovsky: And so I think 295 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:21,930 Arik Burakovsky: that has been in some sense overshadowed by the constant partisan bickering and 296 00:41:22,950 --> 00:41:26,220 Arik Burakovsky: misinformation and disinformation that's coming out. 297 00:41:27,540 --> 00:41:27,780 Samantha Chen: Yeah. 298 00:41:29,340 --> 00:41:39,300 Samantha Chen: So what seems normal to you now, or what seemed normal a few weeks ago, that seems strange to you now? And what are you doing now, that will seem strange to you? 299 00:41:40,650 --> 00:41:41,280 Arik Burakovsky: Well, I mean. 300 00:41:42,690 --> 00:41:48,480 Arik Burakovsky: The- the timeline of this question is a little bit tricky, because we've already been in this for 301 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:51,720 Arik Burakovsky: a month and a half. 302 00:41:52,980 --> 00:41:54,390 Arik Burakovsky: But, um. 303 00:41:55,980 --> 00:42:10,290 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah I mean, there- there are certain changes in routines like having to wear a face mask in public, not being able to use rideshare so you know, things like Uber and Lyft. 304 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:26,280 Arik Burakovsky: I'm now resorting to Zipcar instead, because we don't have, have our own car. But having to disinfect everything with wipes and hands and, you know, using hand sanitizer and 305 00:42:27,570 --> 00:42:29,610 Arik Burakovsky: yeah, of course it's it's a bit strange 306 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:34,380 Arik Burakovsky: not being able to interact with people in the way that 307 00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:50,880 Arik Burakovsky: we're used to. Not being able to shake hands, having to stand six feet apart. But at this point, you know, it doesn't seem strange because because we're already into this and and frankly, I don't know 308 00:42:52,620 --> 00:43:05,670 Arik Burakovsky: how long it will be before life will return to normal. In fact, this kind of is the new normal. Um I- I'm not sure that in a month or two, we uh 309 00:43:08,070 --> 00:43:25,140 Arik Burakovsky: you know, we can get back to the same routines, we had before the pandemic. I think social distancing will be a reality for the foreseeable future, at least until there's a vaccine. The hope is that 310 00:43:27,420 --> 00:43:31,170 Arik Burakovsky: you know, we'll be able to go back 311 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:43,290 Arik Burakovsky: into the building at least, but even that's not certain. So yeah, I can't really predict what what what's going to seem strange to us 312 00:43:44,430 --> 00:43:53,220 Arik Burakovsky: in a month or two. My impression is that this will go on for a while, and and even when we have the vaccine, 313 00:43:54,750 --> 00:43:56,130 Arik Burakovsky: you know, unfortunately, 314 00:43:57,180 --> 00:44:10,200 Arik Burakovsky: I've been reading economic analyses of the crisis that this- this may well be worse than the Great Depression. And the Great Depression lasted for four years, right. 315 00:44:10,470 --> 00:44:11,100 Arik Burakovsky: So 316 00:44:12,300 --> 00:44:15,690 Arik Burakovsky: yeah. This unfortunately is with us to stay for a while. 317 00:44:18,660 --> 00:44:25,320 Samantha Chen: And how have your plans changed for the near future? What were you planning to do this summer, but is now uncertain? 318 00:44:26,130 --> 00:44:28,140 Arik Burakovsky: Um yeah. So 319 00:44:29,370 --> 00:44:30,540 Arik Burakovsky: many things have changed. 320 00:44:30,690 --> 00:44:34,950 Arik Burakovsky: We've been planning international travel, as I mentioned to you, two 321 00:44:35,250 --> 00:44:40,830 Arik Burakovsky: major trips to Russia, Maria and I were planning to take Gregory to see his 322 00:44:42,690 --> 00:44:49,590 Arik Burakovsky: great-grandparents in both Russia and Israel over the summer. That's not happening anymore. 323 00:44:51,870 --> 00:44:52,320 Arik Burakovsky: And 324 00:44:53,640 --> 00:44:59,820 Arik Burakovsky: there's also uncertainty about the fall of course, because we still don't know if classes will be online, in-person, or 325 00:45:00,900 --> 00:45:02,940 Arik Burakovsky: hybrid and so 326 00:45:04,290 --> 00:45:14,820 Arik Burakovsky: we're still thinking about what to do. Does it really make sense to stay in Boston, have to keep paying rent in one of the most expensive cities in the country? 327 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:28,650 Arik Burakovsky: As I mentioned too, my parents live in Los Alamos, New Mexico. So we're thinking, well you know, should we relocate to New Mexico if we don't have to be on campus next semester? 328 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,760 Arik Burakovsky: Then again, it's not easy to 329 00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:38,010 Arik Burakovsky: travel with a three month old and particularly in a pandemic, so 330 00:45:39,030 --> 00:45:52,350 Arik Burakovsky: we still haven't decided on what to do. We're still in the wait-and-see mode. And I think we're going to wait until the university makes some kind of decision about next semester. 331 00:45:55,980 --> 00:46:11,790 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah, we're not really sure if it's safe to travel. I know that airlines are doing everything they can to try to disinfect planes and and maintain social distancing of passengers, but 332 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:18,330 Arik Burakovsky: we'll have to see. So for the time being, we're staying put in Boston and 333 00:46:20,070 --> 00:46:22,440 Arik Burakovsky: you know, luckily, 334 00:46:23,580 --> 00:46:28,020 Arik Burakovsky: there's still plenty of work to be done and I can work on 335 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:31,350 Arik Burakovsky: you know, research and 336 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:34,440 Arik Burakovsky: many projects that 337 00:46:34,500 --> 00:46:44,790 Arik Burakovsky: were put on the backburner previously. Now that uh, now that many things have been postponed to the fall, 338 00:46:45,810 --> 00:47:03,360 Arik Burakovsky: my time has freed up, and you know, and I'm able to hire a number of student research assistants for the program. So those are all positive developments and as I said, we're trying to make the best of the situation. 339 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:09,960 Samantha Chen: Okay. Well, those are all of my questions. Is there anything else you would like people to know? 340 00:47:11,370 --> 00:47:16,350 Arik Burakovsky: Uh well, I mean, I understand that- that many people are really 341 00:47:17,370 --> 00:47:24,210 Arik Burakovsky: struggling right now, given the economic turbulence around the world. And 342 00:47:25,290 --> 00:47:36,180 Arik Burakovsky: many students have had job opportunities and internships fall through. But it's important to stay optimistic. 343 00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:38,460 Arik Burakovsky: Even 344 00:47:41,310 --> 00:47:47,010 Arik Burakovsky: you know, even when we're faced with these challenges because 345 00:47:48,450 --> 00:47:50,190 Arik Burakovsky: I think we're all going to come out 346 00:47:51,390 --> 00:47:56,640 Arik Burakovsky: of the situation stronger and more resilient than before, and 347 00:47:57,900 --> 00:48:02,490 Arik Burakovsky: you know, we're already becoming more technology savvy and more health conscious, and 348 00:48:03,960 --> 00:48:05,790 Arik Burakovsky: you know, just grateful to be alive 349 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:10,410 Arik Burakovsky: amidst all of the the death. 350 00:48:12,510 --> 00:48:21,030 Arik Burakovsky: And focus on the things that truly matter in the grand scheme of things, you know. I feel so blessed to have my wife and 351 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:24,960 Arik Burakovsky: son here with me and 352 00:48:26,220 --> 00:48:33,390 Arik Burakovsky: you know, and that's really what's most important to me right now. And I have a feeling that 353 00:48:35,220 --> 00:48:37,920 Arik Burakovsky: that we're all going to persevere. We'll get through this. 354 00:48:39,330 --> 00:48:41,490 Samantha Chen: Okay, thank you so much for your time. 355 00:48:42,300 --> 00:48:53,700 Arik Burakovsky: Thank you, Samantha. Let me know please, if there's anything else you need from me. I'm happy to clarify any of the things I said, and I hope this will be useful. 356 00:48:54,750 --> 00:48:55,080 Arik Burakovsky: Yeah. 357 00:48:55,800 --> 00:49:02,520 Samantha Chen: Just one thing, I think that you are now the host. So if you could hit stop on the recording, that would be great. 358 00:49:04,260 --> 00:49:06,900 Arik Burakovsky: Sure, yes. Stop recording.