I scrapped the first one as it bored me to tears, writing it and reading it this morning! The second one I lost looking for a picture 🙄 now you get a ranty one 😂
As I post all these beautiful pictures and maskless selfies traveling around Europe (I ditch it for a photo, yes, but I put it right back on) I realised that as touchy a subject as it is for some I can't talk about my travel experiences right now without touching on the 'great mask debate'.
It reminds me of the 70`s when wearing seat belts became mandatory.
So today is an informative blog, I honestly don't want to discuss whether it is right or wrong and opinions can be saved for some more important occasion. Although I guess I make mine pretty clear 😂
Yes they are weird and uncomfortable, especially in 40 degrees (as a glasses wearing gal -40 with a mask can suck as well) but if it is required by law, especially in a country that is not my own, you better believe I'm wearing one when required.
Here in Europe they have become a bit of a fashion statement, color/style, and even how you wear them when they aren't required!
I once had a friend ask me how far I was willing to go on something that I found extremely unfair and upsetting. She asked me if this was the hill I was prepared to die on. Figuratively, of course.
The hill you want to die on describes something so important to you that you are willing to fight to the death to accomplish it. Often used when describing something that will make or break one's reputation, or result in either glory or ignominy.
For me this is not that hill. I might consider the one below!
Arriving in the Czech Republic at the beginning of July, the normality was both a relief and uncomfortable. I like to think I'm pretty open minded but so much fear and death in the last little while has made normal feel strange.
Here is a better explanation of what the Czech Republic did to get where they are right now. Please note I'm not onboard with bashing other countries but the explanation of how the Czechs dealt with this particular situation.
What the Czechs did... Click this link!
Friends told me how in the beginning they hated to go out, how strange and uncomfortable it was to have your face covered, even on an empty street. How quickly it felt normal, in the Czech Republic material was donated, help your neighbours was encouraged, millions of masks were made and given for free to the public.
Then when under control, it was no longer mandatory outside, only inside and for now only mandatory in metros and medical facilities, encouraged in taxis and other public transport.
My friends told me how they continued to wear them all the time because it felt wrong not wearing them and gradually became comfortable only wearing them when required or in large crowds.
On planes they are mandatory, some airports mandatory and some requested, make sure you find out for each place you go.
So how do you eat? Well, I usually prefer with my mouth but whatever floats your boat 😉
Of course you can take it off to eat and drink but then you are kindly asked to put it back on when you are done. At the moment restaurants in the Czech Republic don't require masks but they did. In Italy they are mandatory indoors, no exception, in some places outdoors, so know before you go!
Restaurants in Italy you wear them whenever you are moving, entering and exiting, going to the bathroom but not once you are sitting at your table (inside or out).
You don't like? You want to make a fuss? Remember that staff member behind that mask they have to wear all day didn't make the rules, do you really need to to make their day worse by taking your frustration out on them?
I work with the public, well, not at the moment but let me tell you, asking people to follow rules is awkward, uncomfortable and just damn hard. Under current circumstances even more so, save your belligerence for the lawmaker if you want to be a law breaker. Kindness, compassion and sensitivity should be automatic. You don't know the waiter, the flight attendant, the museum guard, the tour guide, the police officer....
You don't know how this has affected them, their life, job, family, loved ones. It isn't our job to make sure what we might not like, makes their day one that has them sitting at home in tears after their day is done.
Put yourself in their shoes and treat others with the kindness and respect that you would expect yourself.
I personally don't care if you wear a mask or not, I care that you be kind and respectful no matter your stance. Alright rant over....because this took me so long that I had to finish it here.....and now I'm off to enjoy that pool!
