In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, France fell into general confinement on Tuesday. Measure planned to last fifteen days, but which should "very probably" be extended, as recommended this Thursday the public health agency France.
How then to maintain our social ties, to allow us to better live this sometimes heavy camera? For great evils, the great remedies: many French people have started to organize Skype aperitifs, that is to say by videoconference.
Diane, 39, launched for the first time on Sunday, even before going into total containment. “Without the coronavirus crisis, I would never have had the idea of organizing a Skype aperitif: almost all my friends are in the Paris region. It's easy to see yourself, ”concedes the photographer, based in Houilles (Yvelines).
"People need to change their minds"
First step, before organizing an aperitif by videoconference, choose the software. “Some people didn't have an iPhone, so they couldn't use FaceTime. Others did not have Skype. So we chose Zoom, free software, which worked very well, ”says Jean-Côme, a 31-year-old Parisian, who is on his second long distance aperitif since the start of confinement.
Same choice for Audrey, 41, commercial in real estate in Vaison-la-Romaine (Vaucluse), near Avignon. “On Messenger, there can only be eight. So this [Thursday] evening, I'm testing an aperitif with around twenty people on Zoom ”.
When general confinement was decreed, the dynamics of their forties launched a private Facebook group to organize Skype aperitifs. His entire address book in Avignon is now connected to it. "There are 140 of us in all," she says. “People really need to change their minds. At this time of year, we are all on the terrace… ”
"The feeling of being together"
His very first Skype aperitif, organized on Tuesday, was "perfect". “I have a friend who played the guitar. Some people no longer wanted to disconnect, ”she laughs. "And there was a tragedy when one of the guests realized that he no longer had pastis at home [laughs]".
Diane too is quite satisfied with her experience. “We hadn't been able to hear from each other since the start of the events. Videoconferencing allows you to see each other, to make jokes, you have the impression of being together, without coming together, ”she reports.
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If the 30-year-old tolerates loneliness relatively well, some of her relatives, who are not in a relationship like her, do not live in confinement as easily. “It is important to maintain links with them. To know that they are not alone, ”she insists. "And I know that some of my friends have been in contact with people infected with the coronavirus. These aperitifs, it makes it possible to take news ”.
"There may be white people"
Tuesday evening, Diane and her friends "reoffended", still at six people. “It was Saint Patrick's Day. We put on dedicated hats, the atmosphere was very good, ”she smiles. “With my boyfriend, we broadcast the conference on a video projector. We were facing our friends almost at full size. It's great to be together while being far apart. ”
The only downside: “In real life, everyone can speak at the same time. On Skype, you can't hear anything. You have to wait until everyone is silent before speaking. So there can sometimes be whites, ”says Diane.
“There cannot be background music, like in a bar. So the whites are real whites, ”says Jean-Côme. This freelance graphic designer and artistic director, who tested the Skype aperitifs for two and six, recognizes it: "With two, the conversation is much more fluid".
“An aperitif every two days! "
Besides that at home, one can more easily be distracted by something or be tempted to go to bed quickly. This is less the case when you are in a bar. "The Skype aperitifs last less than the real aperitifs," confirms the thirty-something.
Not enough to shower the impulses of Diane and her friends, who are meeting this Thursday evening for a new virtual aperitif. "We plan to make board games or online games," says the photographer. "During confinement, it will be a video aperitif every two days!" Jean-Côme plans to do this regularly with "his three different groups of friends".
It also works with tea!
Less adept at social networks, some may rather indulge in Kalsarikännit , a Finnish term which designates the pleasure of having a drink alone at home, in briefs or panties! An anti-stress trend that develops in the logic of the Danish Hygge, the art of living in a cocoon home by taking the time to appreciate small pleasures.
But beware, solo, duo, trio or with all its Skype repertoire, alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. And nothing also prevents you from being in a group conversation for a little tea.