Speaking as a foreigner, I have long thought that comfort and convenience are cornerstones of American culture. Yes, you guys are hard-working (more hours per week than other industrial countries, IIRC). But you won't find teenagers packing your shopping for you at supermarket checkouts, a garbage disposal right in the kitchen sink because the trash can is apparently too far or a garage door leading directly to the living room here in Europe (at least not as the norm)
Yeah, it seems like convenience and limiting physical discomfort is a huge priority here, much to our detriment in terms of longterm health (all these conveniences just make us lazy/inactive, & bodies are meant to move... instant gratification junkfood everywhere... list goes on). Work hard in some respects while killing ourselves in others.
and the German language doesn't even have a word for drive-thru.
That being said, sadly mask-refusers are a problem in other countries as well as are antivaxxers. The difference is that in most places (except for some far-right populist regimes) masks and social distancing are legally required. As far as I know that's the case over most of the EU (Sweden is an exception and payed a high price and the UK is a mixed bag but no longer part of the club).
I remember hearing about the anti-mask protests in Germany awhile back.. disheartening but at the same time part of me was like, “well... at least we’re not the only ones with this embarrassing nonsense, I guess...†I’m glad for everyone’s sake that it’s mandated by law there.
I sincerely hope that you stay save and won't have to withdraw too much where you live. If this isn't being too nosy, have you been vaccinated yet or are there medical issues with that?
Oh, I got the Pfizer vaccine in March/April, so I’m fully vaccinated. I just take abundant precautions because my roommate has a kid too young to be vaccinated, and as much as I don’t want Covid
at all (even if the vaccine decreases mortality risk), I’d never forgive myself if I brought it home to someone who has no defense for it. For my hip issues, I occasionally have to go to a regional children’s hospital to see a specialist (weird since I’m 36, but that’s where they are, ha) and, again, I don’t want to get someone’s unvaccinated kid sick by being reckless.
Really as far as withdrawal goes, not much changed for me during the pandemic, and I suppose I’m lucky in that regard. I’ve always kept largely to myself. Now, I just limit grocery store trips to once a month and early morning (vs whenever I feel like it). I see my vaccinated best friend sporadically. I check on/visit my vaccinated grandmother once a week. Same as before. I really miss live music events, but, they can wait.