As I finish up this post, Germany is finally coming out of its very long 6-month lockdown. I am happy to be returning to some normalcy as we begin to pack up and go home. Of our 3 years here in Germany, 50% of it was impacted by COVID. How I feel about that loss is another post for the future.
Since I have had so much time at home to think and reflect, I thought I would share a few things I learned along the way.
1. I am more extroverted than I realized.
If you met me in person, either one-on-one or in a very small group, you might think I’m an extrovert. But am I really an introvert? The answer: Jein [note: combination, of “ja” (yes) and “nein” (no).] I find big groups overwhelming, scary, and exhausting. I love time with one, two, and maybe three people. After that, I get exhausted.
What I have discovered during this past year is I need non-family people, almost daily. Even if it’s just small interactions or an hour-long walk. Being around friends and co-workers does give me more energy than I ever imagined. Days of being at home and watching TV, while sometimes fun, I find depressing and draining.
Related: Living the German COVID Restrictions, As Told By an Exhausted Parent
2. Travel & exploring is essential.
The Germans call it #WirBleibenzuHause which means, “We Stay at Home.” After a year in and out of lockdowns, I say no way. Since COVID found its way into our daily lives, we’ve been staying pretty close to home. We managed three trips last summer: Munich, Bologna, and Prague. So in retrospect, that’s not too bad.
There is a huge difference between choosing not to travel and being told you cannot travel. The Robert Koch Institute creates a list (almost weekly) of all the places that are considered “high risk,” which require quarantines and tests to return. No one really knows where that data comes from because many places on the list have far less COVID than Germany. Nevertheless, this is the list that keeps up put in our places.
Even though we cannot travel outside of Germany or even within Germany, my wanderlust spirit cannot be contained. So I find other ways to explore. Either wandering new streets of downtown Frankfurt or driving to the next city over for a self-guided tour. Not to mention lots and lots of hikes to explore new trails.
Related: Why I Will Travel the First Chance I Get
3. I am a news media junkie seeking the whole story.
This is a new thing for me that started in January of 2020. Though, to be honest I think it comes with having too much time on my hands. I have a journalism degree and for many years, in my younger days, I really would comb all the newspapers and magazines. Somewhere along the way, mostly likely when my kids were born, that stopped. However, Corona has really jump started this obsession again. I read a ton of news sites. I compare them and then go out and seek more information to get the real story or disprove one. I’m now having to make myself step away from the everlasting doom scrolling.
Related: What to Know About Traveling During a Pandemic
4. I am not the reader I thought I was.
This one may be the hardest to admit. I grew up reading tons of books. I am married to an avid reader who goes through several large, complicated books in a week. When lockdowns started, I was excited to catch up on my reading. Even thinking, I’d read one book a week. That just hasn’t happened. Any book I have read has been because I made myself do it. Occasionally, when I have the right book, I will enjoy the read, but for the most part it’s become a chore. I am proud to say that in the past year I have read 20 books, but it wasn’t nearly the number I had hoped to reach.
Related: Teens Going Back to School in COVID Times, Germany Edition
5. I like to watch TV and movies.
I’m not entirely sure if this book vs. movies is because of the state we’re in right now. But I have been seeing this trend grow over the years. When I am stressed or lost and the world seeming to be falling apart, I really just want to curl up with a very predictable movie or show, like Friends.
6. Politicians get it wrong everywhere.
Living in Germany has been a unique situation. For three years ( during the Trump into Biden era), we have been closely watching US politics and many times defending what we as Americans do. On the flip side, I have become really tuned into German politics, a little UK politics, as well as what the French are up to. What I have learned over the past year of COVID is every politician makes many mistakes. Germany has made some great ones in the past few months regarding its reaction to Corona. Every politician has a dark side and corruption runs rampant. We think as Americans we’re the only ones with big problems. The truth, I’m finding out, is every place has big problems.
7. I need a break from cooking, but I don’t like people messing around in my kitchen.
Like the rest of the world, we have been baking (bread included) and cooking far more than we ever have before. Partly it’s because restaurants have been closed and many do not do (or do not do well) take out. In the beginning, when we were all home everyone took turns trying out new dishes. Don’t get me wrong, I loved not having to cook on those nights. But man, am I possessive about my kitchen, including, what bowls, platters, and gadgets should be used.
Related: Podcasts Feeding my Soul When I Can’t Travel
8. Families need a break from each other.
Now, over a year of lockdowns and togetherness, I openly declare that we all do not need to be together every minute of the day. Families were not meant to be together all the time. Even back in the old days, I imagine the family got up and went out their separate ways farming, selling wares, going to school, playing in the streets and didn’t spend all this time together.
I am so lucky as I love my husband and adore spending some time with my kids. But families need to not spend 24/7 together to be happy. In fact, they should have designated ‘we should not be together’ times to remain a happy family.
9. Germany is not the place I want to be during a crisis. Ever again.
If someone had asked me three years ago: You will be trapped in a pandemic for a year and a half, which European country would you like to live in during that time. My answer would have been: Germany.
I have been proven wrong. Germany has its pros and cons like any country. But what makes them not set up for a crisis is the following:
- Fear. People here are terrified of germs, data privacy, climate change, strangers, or any kind of change. I have never experienced such a risk-averse country. COVID seemed to send people here into a new state of fear.
- Bureaucracy. I don’t even need to explain this one, but when in a crisis sometimes you just do what you have to do to get the job done. In the past 9 months, the amount of bureaucracy and politics and talking about COVID could have been spent on doing things to get kids back in school and business back in business.
- Ability to be imaginative, creative, flexible, quick. When in crisis mode, the ability to think quickly and adapt is critical. I don’t need to say more than that.
