End Of Social Distancing

After two years and a month, social distancing caused by COVID-19 disappeared. Restrictions on the number of private gatherings and business hours of multi-use facilities such as restaurants, bars, and cafes have finally been lifted. Is our long-awaited daily life back to normal  now? So begins the Diagnosis of the Times Column in the Catholic Peace Weekly.

 

These days with the spring weather, sitting at an outdoor cafe table, sipping a cup of espresso, looking at the passers-by on the street,  at the shops selling various things, and gazing at  the leaves and flowers sprouting from the trees while listening to a  a Louis Armstrong song 'Cheek to cheek'  playing somewhere. The lyrics: When we're out together, dancing cheek to cheek—come to mind.

 

In fact, spending time alone enjoying coffee in a cafe during the day has been possible in the past, and the change brought about by the final lifting of social distancing is likely to be a dinner party at night. Unsurprisingly, I hear stories of an increasing number of business meetings. 

 

In the past  we had many cases of the  classic workplace dinners: first round was some pork and soju, the second round was beer and chicken at a pub and the third round  would end up at a karaoke room. Not only because of  COVID-19,  a lot of criticisms about the workplace dinner culture was a burdened on the employees. There have been a lot of controversies over eating out, and the drinking culture is changing. More and more workplaces prefer lunch or finish at the first round in the evening.

Since we are reflective beings, we need to think carefully about how to readjust our lifestyle and culture after COVID-19 and make it desirable. It is said that the importance of home has increased during the process of COVID-19. Parents had increased telecommuting and increased their time at home. Students participated in classes non-face-to-face at home, and the burden of infant care increased.

During this period, we also saw the dark side of our society,  family disputes,  marital conflicts  and child abuse increased.

 

What we need with the end of social distancing is the culture of the streets. 

restaurants that are filled,  crowded bars, and karaoke rooms are all important to revitalize small business owners who have suffered so far, but it is important that all of these ecosystems are connected to enrich, entertain, and make our lives happier. Vibrant streets and cities are indicators of life. When we go around the neighborhood to enjoy the seasons and feel the beauty, we are renewed. It's still a good world to live in.

 

We are familiar with stores that gave us confidence in what we bought,  trendy cafes and pubs gave us joy in meeting friends.  We see people walking into and coming out of parks, at times looking happy and some looking sad.We feel sympathy for the many we see. These are small  communal experiences  that stimulate us in our daily lives and have been missed.

 

He has been a regular visitor for more than 20 years, at a live bar he hasn't frequented during the past two years. Once he has a  beer listening to the familiar house band, he will know the distancing is over.