Interview 14: Lea Lim
Dublin Core
Title
Interview 14: Lea Lim
Subject
COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Hoboken, New Jersey
Description
An oral history with Lea Lim, volunteer, regarding Hoboken's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her personal experiences with it.
Creator
Hoboken Public Library
Publisher
Hoboken Public Library
Date
Recorded July 19, 2022
Format
Uploaded recording: .mp3
Preservation recording: .wav
Preservation recording: .wav
Language
English
Type
Oral history
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Digital audio file
Duration
00:18:44
Transcription
B: Yes, my name is Bernadette. I'm a librarian here at the Hoboken Public Library. And today is July 19, 2022, and I'll be conducting the interview today. And here today we have Lea if you'd like to share your name, if you're comfortable how old you are, any other relevant information you want to share about yourself as background about yourself.
LL: My name is Lea Lim. I am a resident of Hoboken Shelter. I'm 56 years old. And I have schizophrenia. (Unintelligible 00:00:33), but I'm what you call high functioning. High functioning.
B: And, yeah. So I want to take us back into time a little bit. If you could just remember when the initial lock down was announced last March 2020. Do you remember where you were on that day or moment when you heard of this pandemic?
LL: Of course. I was in Jersey City at my residence, which is in Greenville area and Seaview Avenue. I was volunteering at the Triangle Park Food Pantry. And I quit that job because my things were still in line. My driver's license, every place I ever worked, every place I've ever gone to school my ID was missing because I had it in my purse. I would carry around with me. Don't ask me why I carried around all that ID, but I did. So I quit. But during the pandemic I was staying in Seaview Avenue in the Greenville section, and my landlord had asked if we could have our rents be directed to his payroll through our bank so he could get paid automatically as opposed to doing it before, which was periodically you did your business differently before the pandemic. I was paying with the US Money Postal Service, money order, which was pretty good, because it had a tracking device, and I never had a problem. But ever since I put him on my Wells Fargo account, I've always had a problem. I've always had a problem with it. There's somebody from the bank was calling me about my brothers and sisters, asking me questions about my brothers and sisters, or that I wasn't getting the proper service from the landlord like I should.
So to end a bad situation, I stopped participating in Wells Fargo, and I closed my account with my landlord, and then somebody kept calling my landlord telling them that I was disturbing the area, the apartment. So I was being taken - the cops were called, and they would take me to the Jersey City Medical Center for a follow up exam, and find out what was going on with me. And I told them that I was locked out of my apartment for three days, and I couldn't take my meds because, you know, I didn't have my keys. So the police officer asked me, “Well, can I have your permission to check the apartment so I can find your keys?” So he did that. I gave him permission. He couldn't find my keys, but I wound up going back into the apartment and found the keys in the bathroom.
So ever since that experience I told the landlord I didn't want to live there anymore, because there was just too many problems. The cops being called, and I'm always being asked to go to the hospital. So that's how I wind up at the Hoboken Shelter. I never got an eviction notice. I never got an eviction notice as of – this is July, and this happened in May. May was the last time I lived in the apartment. So I've been homeless for two months. And now I'm trying to get my driver's license. I already have my marriage license back, and I have my birth certificate back. And in two weeks I'll be getting my social security number. And August 13th I'll be getting my driver's license ID. Did I say ID? So everything's in the works. It just takes time for things to process. And that has been my experience during the COVID-19 experience.
I've been keeping busy by volunteering or even going to Wonder Bagel, because they were the only ones that were open during the pandemic. Dunkin Donuts was closed, and who else was closed? And McDonald's was closed. But Wonder Bagel was the only one open, so I would walk there in the morning, and then go to my volunteer job at the Triangle Park during the week. And that kept me busy.
B: Yeah. So it sounds like you came to Hoboken just in the last two months.
LL: In the past two months. Yes.
B: Okay. Yeah, so when you first heard about the pandemic, of course there were so many changes. Like you mentioned, a lot of businesses were closed. And you know, you were going through a lot during that time. What was your emotional reaction like during that time, you know, when all these changes were happening?
LL: Well, I stayed busy. Because I didn't want to stay in the house. They were telling us to stay in the house, don't go nowhere, don't do anything. But I had to get out of the house, because I was going crazy. Even if it was just for a walk. But I was surprised that Triangle Park was hiring volunteers, because like I said, it was a pandemic going on. And they hired me on the spot, because they were looking for people to help out with the neighborhood. So you know, that helped. So I was pretty busy.
B: Yeah. And then back in 2020, you know, 2021, what specific challenges did you happen to face in your day-to-day life during the pandemic?
LL: Not too much. Like I said, I was busy. I was at Triangle Park. I was busy. I was helping with people that needed to be fed, women that needed clothing and food for their babies, housing needs for people who were homeless, people who needed food, like the senior citizens. So I was busy. I didn't have time to think of myself. I was busy.
B: Yeah. It sounds like through your work, back during the pandemic, you got to talk to a lot of communities about everything they were going through. What were some of the things that you got to talk about with them? Like what were they facing during this really unprecedented time?
LL: It was a lot of foreign women, like from Egypt, Jamaica, Haiti. It was a lot of foreign women. Having to deal with things back home, but needed supplies while they were here. So you know, it was tough. It was tough, but we managed to help what we could.
B: So you were giving out supplies to the community.
LL: Food, supplies, Pampers, baby goods. During Christmas we gave out toys, clothes, carriages, cribs, walkers, strollers, things of that nature. And then during the Thanksgiving we gave out turkeys. Yeah. We gave out turkeys.
B: And then did a lot of these community members, were they experiencing hardship and had to seek out other resources because of the pandemic?
LL: Well, I'm not sure. I just dealt with what was initiated. It would be if they needed any further assistance, we would give it to the director directly.
B: Yeah. And as the pandemic progressed, how did your life personally change throughout 2020 – 2021, and of course you moved to Hoboken.
LL: Well, my experience was the services I received from the landlord, and the services I received from Wells Fargo. Because Wells Fargo wouldn't let me take my money out of the bank when I wanted to close the account, and they were like, “No, you can't take the money out.” “Well, why can't I take my money out of my account? It's my account.” “Well, we don't know who you are.” “I'm giving you my information. Why can't you just close my account?” So now I don't want to service minority banks anymore. I just want to deal with African American services, because I've had too many bad experiences with the services I received with the opportunity that was given to me.
B: How did your view about yourself and your situation change as the pandemic passed?
LL: It made me me. It made me me. I have never been dissatisfied with anybody, with any type of services I've ever received until now. And I needed those services because, you know, I'm sick as it is, and I shouldn't be put on a back burner. You know? But I've been with Wells Fargo since they were Wachovia, but it became Wells Fargo. So I've been with the bank for a long time, so I shouldn't have had to go through what I've gone through. But you know, that's where it is now. I'm just going to change banks as soon as I can get my ID and things cleared away.
B: And how has your family and friends and others in your community, how did their lives change during the pandemic?
LL: Well, I haven't spoken to anybody. My uncle so happens to work for the Hoboken Shelter, so he's the only one that stays in contact with me. Everybody else doesn't stay in contact with me. I write to everybody. Well, I write to my immediate family (unintelligible 00:11:15) stay in contact with. But they don't respond back to my letters. And I can't call because my phone can't, so I just write them. But nobody has written me back.
B: I'm sorry to hear that.
LL: Yeah. Not a letter back.
B: And then you mentioned that it was your uncle who worked at the Hoboken Shelter?
LL: Who works at the Hoboken Shelter.
B: So he was the one who told you about it, and how to access the services and everything?
LL: And utilize the services there. Yeah.
B: Yeah. How was that like, you know, getting to talk to him about it?
LL: Well, he's only there part time because he's retired. So he's just there in the evening. Sometimes Monday through Friday. Not all the time Monday through Friday, but he is retired. He does weekends with his retirement, but he helps. Makes sure I take my meds, and makes sure I go to my appointments, and he checks on me. But it is a process. It's a process.
B: Yeah. And of course these were very difficult times for so many people. And were there patterns on how you saw people cope with the pandemic? You said for yourself it's the first time you felt such frustration, even getting angry.
LL: Getting angry. Yes.
B: And so did you see others kind of experience different changes as well? Like other people that you observed, or other people in your life?
LL: Well, you just had to deal with it. You know, there's no way around it. You just have to manage the best way you know how, and cope. Yeah.
B: And were there some things that happened to you that you think that others in your situation might not realize? Like for example, tried to get medical services.
LL: Well, medical services has been good. Like I said, when the police were called and the ambulance were called, they would automatically take me to – what was the hospital? CarePoint out in Bayonne. I was always given the opportunity to have medical services, so that wasn't the problem. And getting my meds. That wasn't a problem either. Staying on my meds. I always stayed on my meds, because I didn't want to deal with the aftereffects of it. I didn’t have any problems with the medical services.
B: Did you have any other unexpected challenges throughout the pandemic?
LL: No. No. None. No.
B: What was your experience getting these new supplies? Like, suddenly everyone needs a mask, people need hand sanitizer, things like that. Did you ever - what was your experience of getting access to these types of items?
LL: Well, the shelter offers sanitizers and masks. If you came in without it, they supplied it for you. They always give. As soon as you come in they ask, you know. And two, only ones that have access to the Food Pantry are mothers and children. Everybody else had to be serviced outside in the tent. The only ones that would come inside would be the mothers and pregnant women and children. Everybody else would be serviced outside. So it was limited.
B: And then how about obtaining things? Like, you know, having access to food, or access to other general, like, life necessities? What was your experience having that access?
LL: Everything was available to me. If they needed help other than what we could provide for them, like I said, it would be referred to the director. So, yeah.
B: Yeah. And during the pandemic, you were between Jersey City and Hoboken. Did you notice any differences in the way that the two cities sort of handled the pandemic or handled the needs of people during the pandemic?
LL: Well, I stayed in Jersey City during the pandemic. It's only just recently within two months after the pandemic hit where before during the pandemic you had to wear a mask. Whereas now it's optional. You wear it, you wear it. You don't, you don't. But I try to wear mine everywhere I go just in case. I just feel safer.
B: Yeah. And of course the pandemic was this unprecedented, like, occurrence in this world that put everything (unintelligible 00:15:53) for so many people. Do you feel like there was any life experience you had in the past that prepared you for the challenges to the—
LL: No, this is my first time ever experiencing anything like this. I'm not of the age of the whooping cough, and the measles, and all that other stuff that happened in the past. But this is my first major experience with a world catastrophe.
B: And do you feel like right now things have gone back to normal, or do you feel like do you still see the impacts of the pandemic still?
LL: I see the impact, because you now have the monkeypox. So now it's scary. It's scary.
B: Yeah. And you know, facing essentially almost two sort of pandemics at the same time, or these two, like, health crises, what precautions do you personally take to—
LL: I just keep the sanitizer, and I keep face masks in my duffle bag, and just pray. That's all we can do is just pray.
B: And yet, have you made any changes in your own personal life during the pandemic that you think you'll still keep on doing even after the pandemic is over?
LL: I'll still continue to wash my hands, and as long as they want, wear the face covering and pray. That's all we can do.
B: Yes. And is there any other experiences that you'd like to mention that you haven't talked about yet that you had during the pandemic, or here in Hoboken, you know, at the shelter that you haven't shared yet?
LL: No. I've shared everything. I guess it's a process, and I just have to take my time with the process.
B: And what would you tell future generations of what they should know about during the pandemic? And what would you tell those who might live through a similar event in the future? What would your message be to them?
LL: Don't panic. Don't panic. It will get better. God's in charge. And pray. Yeah. That's all you can do.
B: Okay. Well, those are all the questions that I have for you today. And we really appreciate you making the time to do the interview.
LL: Not a problem.
B: Yeah. We feel like everyone's story is so important. So many people had different experiences, and we want our oral history project to include as many stories, as many perspectives as possible.
LL: Good luck. Good luck.
B: Yeah, thank you. We appreciate it.
LL: Thank you.
LL: My name is Lea Lim. I am a resident of Hoboken Shelter. I'm 56 years old. And I have schizophrenia. (Unintelligible 00:00:33), but I'm what you call high functioning. High functioning.
B: And, yeah. So I want to take us back into time a little bit. If you could just remember when the initial lock down was announced last March 2020. Do you remember where you were on that day or moment when you heard of this pandemic?
LL: Of course. I was in Jersey City at my residence, which is in Greenville area and Seaview Avenue. I was volunteering at the Triangle Park Food Pantry. And I quit that job because my things were still in line. My driver's license, every place I ever worked, every place I've ever gone to school my ID was missing because I had it in my purse. I would carry around with me. Don't ask me why I carried around all that ID, but I did. So I quit. But during the pandemic I was staying in Seaview Avenue in the Greenville section, and my landlord had asked if we could have our rents be directed to his payroll through our bank so he could get paid automatically as opposed to doing it before, which was periodically you did your business differently before the pandemic. I was paying with the US Money Postal Service, money order, which was pretty good, because it had a tracking device, and I never had a problem. But ever since I put him on my Wells Fargo account, I've always had a problem. I've always had a problem with it. There's somebody from the bank was calling me about my brothers and sisters, asking me questions about my brothers and sisters, or that I wasn't getting the proper service from the landlord like I should.
So to end a bad situation, I stopped participating in Wells Fargo, and I closed my account with my landlord, and then somebody kept calling my landlord telling them that I was disturbing the area, the apartment. So I was being taken - the cops were called, and they would take me to the Jersey City Medical Center for a follow up exam, and find out what was going on with me. And I told them that I was locked out of my apartment for three days, and I couldn't take my meds because, you know, I didn't have my keys. So the police officer asked me, “Well, can I have your permission to check the apartment so I can find your keys?” So he did that. I gave him permission. He couldn't find my keys, but I wound up going back into the apartment and found the keys in the bathroom.
So ever since that experience I told the landlord I didn't want to live there anymore, because there was just too many problems. The cops being called, and I'm always being asked to go to the hospital. So that's how I wind up at the Hoboken Shelter. I never got an eviction notice. I never got an eviction notice as of – this is July, and this happened in May. May was the last time I lived in the apartment. So I've been homeless for two months. And now I'm trying to get my driver's license. I already have my marriage license back, and I have my birth certificate back. And in two weeks I'll be getting my social security number. And August 13th I'll be getting my driver's license ID. Did I say ID? So everything's in the works. It just takes time for things to process. And that has been my experience during the COVID-19 experience.
I've been keeping busy by volunteering or even going to Wonder Bagel, because they were the only ones that were open during the pandemic. Dunkin Donuts was closed, and who else was closed? And McDonald's was closed. But Wonder Bagel was the only one open, so I would walk there in the morning, and then go to my volunteer job at the Triangle Park during the week. And that kept me busy.
B: Yeah. So it sounds like you came to Hoboken just in the last two months.
LL: In the past two months. Yes.
B: Okay. Yeah, so when you first heard about the pandemic, of course there were so many changes. Like you mentioned, a lot of businesses were closed. And you know, you were going through a lot during that time. What was your emotional reaction like during that time, you know, when all these changes were happening?
LL: Well, I stayed busy. Because I didn't want to stay in the house. They were telling us to stay in the house, don't go nowhere, don't do anything. But I had to get out of the house, because I was going crazy. Even if it was just for a walk. But I was surprised that Triangle Park was hiring volunteers, because like I said, it was a pandemic going on. And they hired me on the spot, because they were looking for people to help out with the neighborhood. So you know, that helped. So I was pretty busy.
B: Yeah. And then back in 2020, you know, 2021, what specific challenges did you happen to face in your day-to-day life during the pandemic?
LL: Not too much. Like I said, I was busy. I was at Triangle Park. I was busy. I was helping with people that needed to be fed, women that needed clothing and food for their babies, housing needs for people who were homeless, people who needed food, like the senior citizens. So I was busy. I didn't have time to think of myself. I was busy.
B: Yeah. It sounds like through your work, back during the pandemic, you got to talk to a lot of communities about everything they were going through. What were some of the things that you got to talk about with them? Like what were they facing during this really unprecedented time?
LL: It was a lot of foreign women, like from Egypt, Jamaica, Haiti. It was a lot of foreign women. Having to deal with things back home, but needed supplies while they were here. So you know, it was tough. It was tough, but we managed to help what we could.
B: So you were giving out supplies to the community.
LL: Food, supplies, Pampers, baby goods. During Christmas we gave out toys, clothes, carriages, cribs, walkers, strollers, things of that nature. And then during the Thanksgiving we gave out turkeys. Yeah. We gave out turkeys.
B: And then did a lot of these community members, were they experiencing hardship and had to seek out other resources because of the pandemic?
LL: Well, I'm not sure. I just dealt with what was initiated. It would be if they needed any further assistance, we would give it to the director directly.
B: Yeah. And as the pandemic progressed, how did your life personally change throughout 2020 – 2021, and of course you moved to Hoboken.
LL: Well, my experience was the services I received from the landlord, and the services I received from Wells Fargo. Because Wells Fargo wouldn't let me take my money out of the bank when I wanted to close the account, and they were like, “No, you can't take the money out.” “Well, why can't I take my money out of my account? It's my account.” “Well, we don't know who you are.” “I'm giving you my information. Why can't you just close my account?” So now I don't want to service minority banks anymore. I just want to deal with African American services, because I've had too many bad experiences with the services I received with the opportunity that was given to me.
B: How did your view about yourself and your situation change as the pandemic passed?
LL: It made me me. It made me me. I have never been dissatisfied with anybody, with any type of services I've ever received until now. And I needed those services because, you know, I'm sick as it is, and I shouldn't be put on a back burner. You know? But I've been with Wells Fargo since they were Wachovia, but it became Wells Fargo. So I've been with the bank for a long time, so I shouldn't have had to go through what I've gone through. But you know, that's where it is now. I'm just going to change banks as soon as I can get my ID and things cleared away.
B: And how has your family and friends and others in your community, how did their lives change during the pandemic?
LL: Well, I haven't spoken to anybody. My uncle so happens to work for the Hoboken Shelter, so he's the only one that stays in contact with me. Everybody else doesn't stay in contact with me. I write to everybody. Well, I write to my immediate family (unintelligible 00:11:15) stay in contact with. But they don't respond back to my letters. And I can't call because my phone can't, so I just write them. But nobody has written me back.
B: I'm sorry to hear that.
LL: Yeah. Not a letter back.
B: And then you mentioned that it was your uncle who worked at the Hoboken Shelter?
LL: Who works at the Hoboken Shelter.
B: So he was the one who told you about it, and how to access the services and everything?
LL: And utilize the services there. Yeah.
B: Yeah. How was that like, you know, getting to talk to him about it?
LL: Well, he's only there part time because he's retired. So he's just there in the evening. Sometimes Monday through Friday. Not all the time Monday through Friday, but he is retired. He does weekends with his retirement, but he helps. Makes sure I take my meds, and makes sure I go to my appointments, and he checks on me. But it is a process. It's a process.
B: Yeah. And of course these were very difficult times for so many people. And were there patterns on how you saw people cope with the pandemic? You said for yourself it's the first time you felt such frustration, even getting angry.
LL: Getting angry. Yes.
B: And so did you see others kind of experience different changes as well? Like other people that you observed, or other people in your life?
LL: Well, you just had to deal with it. You know, there's no way around it. You just have to manage the best way you know how, and cope. Yeah.
B: And were there some things that happened to you that you think that others in your situation might not realize? Like for example, tried to get medical services.
LL: Well, medical services has been good. Like I said, when the police were called and the ambulance were called, they would automatically take me to – what was the hospital? CarePoint out in Bayonne. I was always given the opportunity to have medical services, so that wasn't the problem. And getting my meds. That wasn't a problem either. Staying on my meds. I always stayed on my meds, because I didn't want to deal with the aftereffects of it. I didn’t have any problems with the medical services.
B: Did you have any other unexpected challenges throughout the pandemic?
LL: No. No. None. No.
B: What was your experience getting these new supplies? Like, suddenly everyone needs a mask, people need hand sanitizer, things like that. Did you ever - what was your experience of getting access to these types of items?
LL: Well, the shelter offers sanitizers and masks. If you came in without it, they supplied it for you. They always give. As soon as you come in they ask, you know. And two, only ones that have access to the Food Pantry are mothers and children. Everybody else had to be serviced outside in the tent. The only ones that would come inside would be the mothers and pregnant women and children. Everybody else would be serviced outside. So it was limited.
B: And then how about obtaining things? Like, you know, having access to food, or access to other general, like, life necessities? What was your experience having that access?
LL: Everything was available to me. If they needed help other than what we could provide for them, like I said, it would be referred to the director. So, yeah.
B: Yeah. And during the pandemic, you were between Jersey City and Hoboken. Did you notice any differences in the way that the two cities sort of handled the pandemic or handled the needs of people during the pandemic?
LL: Well, I stayed in Jersey City during the pandemic. It's only just recently within two months after the pandemic hit where before during the pandemic you had to wear a mask. Whereas now it's optional. You wear it, you wear it. You don't, you don't. But I try to wear mine everywhere I go just in case. I just feel safer.
B: Yeah. And of course the pandemic was this unprecedented, like, occurrence in this world that put everything (unintelligible 00:15:53) for so many people. Do you feel like there was any life experience you had in the past that prepared you for the challenges to the—
LL: No, this is my first time ever experiencing anything like this. I'm not of the age of the whooping cough, and the measles, and all that other stuff that happened in the past. But this is my first major experience with a world catastrophe.
B: And do you feel like right now things have gone back to normal, or do you feel like do you still see the impacts of the pandemic still?
LL: I see the impact, because you now have the monkeypox. So now it's scary. It's scary.
B: Yeah. And you know, facing essentially almost two sort of pandemics at the same time, or these two, like, health crises, what precautions do you personally take to—
LL: I just keep the sanitizer, and I keep face masks in my duffle bag, and just pray. That's all we can do is just pray.
B: And yet, have you made any changes in your own personal life during the pandemic that you think you'll still keep on doing even after the pandemic is over?
LL: I'll still continue to wash my hands, and as long as they want, wear the face covering and pray. That's all we can do.
B: Yes. And is there any other experiences that you'd like to mention that you haven't talked about yet that you had during the pandemic, or here in Hoboken, you know, at the shelter that you haven't shared yet?
LL: No. I've shared everything. I guess it's a process, and I just have to take my time with the process.
B: And what would you tell future generations of what they should know about during the pandemic? And what would you tell those who might live through a similar event in the future? What would your message be to them?
LL: Don't panic. Don't panic. It will get better. God's in charge. And pray. Yeah. That's all you can do.
B: Okay. Well, those are all the questions that I have for you today. And we really appreciate you making the time to do the interview.
LL: Not a problem.
B: Yeah. We feel like everyone's story is so important. So many people had different experiences, and we want our oral history project to include as many stories, as many perspectives as possible.
LL: Good luck. Good luck.
B: Yeah, thank you. We appreciate it.
LL: Thank you.
Interviewer
Bernadette Patino
Interviewee
Lea Lim
Location
Hoboken Public Library, Hoboken, New Jersey
Citation
Hoboken Public Library, “Interview 14: Lea Lim,” Hoboken Public Library's 2022 COVID-19 Oral History Project, accessed May 15, 2024, https://hobokenoralhistory2022.omeka.net/items/show/14.