Korea has had a post-independence day surge in coronavirus cases. There was a big annual protest (protesting is THE THING to do during a government Holiday, these are highly organized things with decorations and speakers and everything. Everybody shows up dressed in their special protest outfit and has all the chants memorized, really something to see). Bunch of people got coronavirus at the protest because of course they did. This prompted the various authorities to re-institute measures that contained the last surge. So no in-person dining (take-out OK). Regionally restricted travel with a job exception (you may travel across zones for work only). Social distancing everywhere and generally followed guidance to avoid public transportation if you have the means. Mandatory masks. Note that there is zero enforcement of these things, beyond the train conductors reminding you to put your mask on/booting you from train if you don't have one (there's always someone there with an extra if you forgot yours). Virtually 100% voluntary compliance. In the town I work in, they instituted a mandatory mask policy even while indoors working, and when the announcement went out everyone just calmly put on their mask and went back to work. Most people were working from home.
These things are annoying, true. Especially if you don't speak the language, food is much more of a hassle this way, but whatever, we figured it out during the last round so this feels like dusting off an old skill rather than dread at whatever mystery meal was going to show up. And I've since moved and have the ability to cook for myself now so really there's little difference between this standard of lockdown and the general "control covid" precautions we've all been following up to now.
Yesterday there were 315 new cases, it's the third straight day of over 250.
This is a people that as a collective, do not really believe in hygiene the way we do. I brought my own soap to wash my hands at the restroom at work, is what I'm saying.
So when I see what's happened in the US, especially places I used to live where I know you could go about your day, changing almost nothing, and never even TALK to another human being, what a total shitshow.
Strangers. Strangers in Korea, on the street, see my face, guess I'm American (probably because fat), and offer sympathies. Talking to strangers isn't a thing here, at all.
If you were wondering how the world sees it, have no doubt. A confusing mix of sadness, anxiety, resignation, and disappointment. That's how I would describe it.
The thing is, from living in the US most of my life, I know what I'm seeing on the news isn't accurate. That seems obvious to me, but maybe it is? I'm not there? I call my people that live there and they are a bit baffled as well. They aren't seeing what the news is reporting, but "maybe its like that elsewhere?" I think there's crazy disparities going on. I think some communities are being absolutely devastated, but others like...wore their masks and stayed home and are fine.
I think it might be a highly localized catastrophe playing out in enough different places so that it looks like its happening everywhere?
But then my mom is like..."I don't give a shit I'm going to the movies" because I guess gotta die from something...
Take care of yourselves Mustachians.
