Programming — Thomas Jadallah
If you’re searching for a fun, socially distanced activity to pass time, look no further than your computer screen. Programming is a challenging, yet inclusive activity that anyone can learn and practice at no cost. Just download an Integrated Development Environment like Xcode if you have a Mac, Visual Studio for Windows or sign up for an online IDE like Repl.it if you use a Chromebook. Then head to a site like Medium, YouTube or StackOverflow to try to learn the basics of a language and challenge yourself to write some basic programs.
I usually write apps in Objective-C for iPhone, and I think of each component as like an individual puzzle piece. By itself, it may accomplish a menial task like displaying an image or playing an audio file, however when put together, they form a full fledged application just like those you might download off of the App Store. And for those who are wondering: no, you do not need to be a math genius to write programs. In fact, programming is actually a lot like learning a second language. Depending on the language you choose, you can accomplish different tasks; some languages are geared towards writing applications for smartphones or computers, some are specially tailored for web apps, some, for example C, can even be used to write complex games like those you’d see on a console.
Programming is completely safe, yet it can be a sociable activity too. You can collaborate with friends on projects over the phone, all while in the safety of your own home.
Paddleboarding — Rahul Vishwa
Paddleboarding is a water sport where participants either lie or kneel on the board and propel themselves forward with their arms in a swimming motion. Stand up paddleboarders stand on a floating board, moving themselves forward with a long paddle. Both are becoming increasingly popular, because they can be done while socially distancing.
“You have the chance to paddleboard by yourself, and there [are] not a lot of people in the water,” said senior Mikayla Wong, who paddleboards with her family to get some fresh air. “When you are paddleboarding, it feels like you’re surfing, but [it’s] not as dangerous.”
The serenity of being surrounded by water allows people to calm their minds and relax. People can rent paddleboards, foam or inflatable, from a variety of places. The Foster City Lagoon, which has calm waves, is a common and safe place to begin. Mornings are the best time to go, as there are less people, the water is usually very still and the sun is just rising.
Photos and captions by Thomas Jadallah and Rahul Vishwa.
