Role Reversal

Several months ago, I felt so incredibly lucky to be in Japan.  A country where community comes first so everyone was masked, distancing and sanitizing.  All taking care of each other.  How blessed I thought, to live here.

And then time passed.

My parents got vaccinated. Exhale.

My brother and sister got their #firstjab. Exhale.

My US friends and their kids are getting their shots too. Exhale. 

Now I see the CDC lifting the mask mandate.  I see you back at restaurants with friends.  I see you hugging your parents. 

And then I remember - I don’t live in the US.  I live in Japan.  Inhale.  (Actually, more GASP.)  And now, I’m feeling maybe not so lucky.    

Currently, there a State of Emergency in Tokyo that has been extended to the end of the month. And while the population has always obediently followed the government’s orders, it’s easy to see COVID fatigue starting to play out, until everything shuts down at 8:00pm.  I get it - I am COVID fatigued too! 

And the case numbers are creeping to almost the highest they have ever been.  Which are still way smaller compared to the states, but for Japan, it’s pretty legit.

As for vaccines, they just started vaccinating the elderly population and are expected to continue that focus into the summer.  In Japan, the execution will be flawless but there is a price to be paid for the time it takes to get to that perfection.  When will I be able to get my vaccination in Japan?  Only a crystal ball knows.  

But to be honest, it’s been easy to continue living our normal life.  My US heavy social media feed has me thinking - everything is just fine.  When in reality, it might not be.  

What does that mean for me?  All I know is I will make choices day by day that sit good in my gut and give myself permission to change my mind on the daily.   

But this I know for sure: I am jealous of you, my US friends.  And I will be counting the days til our return home this summer, like so many of my expat friends, so I can get a needle in my arm.  It can’t come soon enough. If only I could pack my non-US friends, that aren’t as lucky, in my suitcase.  

But then come August, I will be oh so ready to get back to this country I love so much, so I can continue to enjoy it with mask-on gusto and fully-vaccinated grace.