How Do We Move Forward?
Living overseas has been a real wonder, and I have loved nearly every aspect of it: the diverse cultures, the traditions, the gorgeous landscapes, the history, and don’t get me started on the amazing food!
The country acted quickly with shutting down most things before COVID-19 had a chance to majorly impact Germany. While businesses are slowly (and I mean slowly) opening back up with new rules and regulations, I can’t help but wonder what our remaining time here will be like?
How will the future look when we move back stateside?
Will the grip of this pandemic disappear as quickly as it infiltrated our lives?
As online schooling comes to an end for my eldest son, we start the shift into summer vacation. It is not like summer vacations of the past where kids celebrate their last day of school, backpacks are loaded with everything that once decorated their classrooms, and all the neighborhood kids play outside together until the parents call them in for dinner as the sun begins to set.
No, this year is different.
The kids play in much smaller groups and less frequently.
Families on a whole still seem very isolated and wary of any negative consequences of large gatherings.
Many days, I still don’t have interactions outside of my home.
When I get the quality time with friends to catch up, I almost feel like I have lost the gift of socializing. I recently went on a coffee date with a dear friend before she PCS’d. My fear was no longer one of “I hope I can pronounce the pastry I would like correctly,” but more so, “Am I standing far enough away from the gentleman in front of me?” Or, “Should I speak louder so they can hear me clearly through my mask?”
Once seated, I knew I was allowed to take off my mask, obviously to eat and drink, but I was still concerned if I was supposed to. Going out in public no longer feels like an exciting adventure of the new treasures we might stumble upon but constant worry if I am following all the rules (and the potential fear of being fined if I do not).
I don’t know what the future will hold, but I do know, for myself and my family, we will be continuing to practice many of the CDC recommendations. Even if COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past, the fact that there might be another invisible enemy means it is wise to make this experience a habit for everyone’s safety.
