hi I’m making this thread to state that somehow life feels normal again despite not being normal and I’m seeking your commentary regarding your feelings

Like in a way life feels better than before

Hbu

It is most certainly not normal what is going on in life. I don’t think things are going to change either.

yep, totally called it feraligtrFTW, got it in one!

though hopefully it'll get better at some point, what's it like in the US?

in australia, the government has pretty much given up and has opened up lockdown even though we get 100s of cases a day.

I'm in Japan and every time it peaks it goes up higher than before, they keep starting and ending "states of emergencies" to the point that they've lost most of their meaning for the most part besides not being able to eat out past 8:00

Although the government denies it there's proof that people are being denied Covid tests and they don't have temporary hospital buildings/tents like some places which leads to people getting turned away (many have to stay at home with severe symptoms) so it's hard to know the real numbers of cases + deaths.

"what's it like in the US?"

Depends where in the country you are. We have enough vaccines for everyone; our problem is that a lot of people just refuse to take them. In places with low vaccination rates, case numbers were at record highs this summer. In places with higher vaccination rates, things are a lot better.

I'd agree that things are back to normal where I am but I heard other places like Trinidad and Tobago aren't doing so well

It's pretty much normal where I am now sans for a few places such as schools requiring masks for everybody

I feel the same as OP. I'm in the UK and COVID is still really bad here. I barely left my house for the first year, but now I'm fully vaccinated I've been actually going out and about for fun again. I'm still taking a lot of precautions, but since I'm not holed up at home 100% of the time anymore, things feel more normal than they did last year, even though it's not normal normal. It's much easier to see my friends now too since we can all do those free at-home COVID tests before we meet up. I could live like this.

I'm curious, what are the at home tests like? Are they nasal swabs or is it different?

Yeah! They're usually nasal swabs, although I each time I order a pack of tests it seems to end up being from a different manufacturer, and one of them said to swab your nose and throat. But most of them are just nasal swabs. Actual swabbing aside, they're kind of fun and science-y to do because you have to put the swab into a solution and then put drops of it onto the test strip.

Oh heck no I'd HATE to have to do that all the time. I've gotten multiple nasal swab covid tests throughout the past year, sure, but I still hate the experience very much and probably will forever since it isn't pleasant to me

Haha that's totally fair! It's still not exactly pleasant, but I definitely prefer doing it myself to having someone else do it. I feel bad for everyone's noses this past year or so )

How are we doing now?

still mourning the ambiguous loss of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do in 2020

I kinda felt that cuz I was supposed to get a job in 2020 but that got pushed back more than a year because of the beginning of the pandemic. Now I'm more so annoyed about the way things are going but hopeful it can end soon

Just wanted to say I'm in 2022 rn and it's not any better!!!

correct!

it's only the first of january, though.

I've played more AC:NH this week than in all of 2021 if that's any indication of how normal things are now. Stuck in isolation, not much else to do than return to my island and see what's changed.

How about now?? Is life better for you all? I sure hope so
And if it isn’t as good as it can be yet, it will be!!!

Maybe we need a real life island getaway. Nook, where you at??

It's looking like I'll be able to see my family for the first time in 3 years in less than 5 months so that's good

From what I know the booster is most effective for the first 3 months so since I'm still not able to get it now anyways I might time it so that it's still in the peak then since it would really put a damper on things to get covid then ;/

For real, do what makes you feel the most comfortable. I hope it all works out no matter what

Thank you!! I really hope it works out. I'm assuming that numbers will peak again in summer... I'm fine just sitting in my parents' house if the situation isn't good I just want to keep watching things and make sure that I can get back into Japan (where I live now) safely which makes planning in advance tricky.

Last time I saw them was summer of 2019. They asked if I could come back that year for Christmas but I thought it was too soon so I decided on Christmas of 2020 and, well, y'know.

Awww I’m so sorry. Nobody ever expected life to change so dramatically all at once.
I’m happy you will get to see them soon, I’m manifesting it.
Also I bet Japan is super cool, you’re living your best life

Thank you again, I appreciate it Oh yeah, definitely pushed me to stop putting things off
Well it must come true then
I am at the very least trying my best everyday haha

Is there anywhere you'd like to travel to soemday?