Rich Conversations: 031. Julissa Alvarez

Julissa Alvarez talks about how she’s spending her quarantine in Chicago. She discusses some of her new motivations lately and reflects on memorable experiences in her life.

How are you doing during the coronavirus situation?

I’m doing okay. Just trying to get by the best way possible. Just trying to take it day by day.

How do you normally spend your time in Chicago?

My normal life is a little bit more hectic. I work every day. During the week I’m going downtown and bartending and serving on the weekends. So I’ve actually never had this much time at my house before since I moved in.

What’s your daily routine like social distancing?

Let’s just say that my inner lazy girl has really come out. I’m someone who goes to extremes. I’m either extremely busy or when I have time, I’m extremely lazy. On the weekends now, there’s no time. I go to bed when I want and wake up when I want. Initially I was like, “Why am I doing this?” but I also don’t know when I’ll ever have this opportunity to do this again.

What’s something new you’re doing or feeling that surprised you?

I’ve been meditating a bit. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day. I allow myself to just calm down and not think about everything I’ve been thinking about. I’d like to get better at it. I’d like to develop a skill in it hopefully.

What music have you been listening to since social distancing?

I’ve resorted to a lot of my EDM music. Because I live in a basement, I feel like I live in my own little bunker. So I feel like these techno vibes or deep house vibes with a lot of bass, it’s pitch black, I feel the music. Oh my God. I love it. There’s been a lot of live streams going on with DJ’s all over the world. I think that’s cool.

What are you most excited to experience again in the city?

Honestly, it’s very simple. I cannot wait to just not be paranoid when I’m around people. To be able to go to the beach with people. Or play volleyball or softball. I just want to be calm. I love talking with people and being with others.

What’s one restaurant you’d love to just go visit and dine in right now?

All I really want is to go to any rooftop or patio, have a margarita, and just chill.

Describe the best day of your life.

When I was in high school, my senior year we went to Japan. I’d been working up to going there for four years—learning Japanese and communicating with house families. It’d always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I had a curiosity in it. My second or third day there, we were taking a bus to where our homestay families were. We passed this sea of bamboo and rice fields, and I just started crying. I was so full of emotion. For the first time in my life, I did it. I accomplished something that I told myself I was going to do. To invest yourself into something and have it come together. I’ve had similar experiences since then, but that was one of my firsts.

What’s your favorite travel experience?

When I moved to Canada. Toronto. I don’t know if that’s considered a travel experience. It was just the beginning of something new. Going somewhere—growing somewhere. Coming back, I’ve seen how my values have changed. It ultimately rounded me into who I am.

What’s the most memorable scent in your life? Sound?

It’s colognes that men in my life had worn. It’s like a flood of memories.

I think when I listen to music. I can always tell when something is from a different time. Taking one thing and piling it on top and piling it on top.

What’s the most influential book you ever read? Film or TV show watched?

Inward by Yung Pueblo. It’s a book of poems. It goes hand in hand with my meditations. Basically like these poems about life, love, and happiness. I read one or two and pause and reflect on it. How has something I learned, changed and made me positive? I’ve been reading it in the morning with my coffee to get the brain flowing a little bit. This is probably the first book I bought in years.

I’ve been watching a lot of Netflex recently. Kim’s Convenience. I found this show about an Asian family in Toronto. I’ve never seen a tv show like that. It’s something new that I haven’t seen before.

What’s something about you that few people know or understand? 

I think a lot. About everything. Excessively. I tend to explain myself to people when it’s not necessary. Sometimes I just need to talk it out. I feel like it’s how philosophers work. They talk and talk and have to think of every possible scenario and situation. It might seem like I’m indecisive, but I’m just trying to figure out the best solution. It’s important for being in politics. I want to understand. I don’t want to dismiss someone because they think different than me. With that is a conversation. Have you ever been challenged or have you ever thought more critically about it? Help me understand you.

Can you remember a time you decided the kind of person you were going to be?

That’s an interesting question. I think the closest I’ve gotten to that is when I moved back to Chicago from Canada. I didn’t know exactly, but I knew the direction. I have a high standard for myself and I’m still trying to figure that out.

After this pandemic situation passes, what’s a positive result that you imagine could emerge?

People will realize how interconnected we all are and that we depend on each other. We can use that to create better healthcare systems or housing. People who’ve had that fight before will have very clear proof. Invest in things that matter. Human rights. I’m hopeful for that.