COVID-19 challenged and irrevocably altered the author's assumption about mask-wearing, transforming it from a benign behavior into a significant social and political symbol.
My family moved from the US to Japan years ago. Living here has been filled with surprising perks, quirks, and challenges.
Vending machines in Japan offer meals and drinks that are accessible everywhere, making them one of my favorite aspects of living hereâsomething I never experienced in the US.