When nobody can travel abroad and you are working for a popular German destination at the Baltic Sea

Sierksdorf, Germany, Paul, German, 41, 2nd Manager of a destination management organisation (DMO), Married/Kids: None (but living in a far distance relationship)

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
Everything seems to be rather normal right now. Working for a popular German destination right at the Baltic Sea with millions of people spending their vacation here you can hardly tell the difference compared to a ‘normal summer’. The ‘2nd wave’ can only be found at our beaches but not facing towards Covid 😉

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
In my area not very much at all. But in the entire country you can experience how hard it is to stick to the rules because infection rates in Germany are so low. An example: Sometimes you see people wearing their mask below the nose. You just face an enemy which feels to be far away. That kind of causes some tension at certain points.

How are you and your family?
My family and myself, we are doing absolutley fine. Everyone is healthy. Nothing special there. Even though my 79 year old dad had some trouble adapting to the new circumstances (like not meeting his friends anymore).

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
While most people had to deal with short-work (“Kurzarbeit”) and how to take care of their kids I experienced the opposite – being with my company for more than seven years, I’ve never had so much work before. Therefore, my overtime hours skyrocketed.

I’ve never had so much work before. My overtime hours skyrocketed.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
The very moment they closed down all schools throughout the country.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
To be honest, so much happend in such short time that I have some trouble to remember. Every single day there were new rules. Hard to follow. But in the end it felt like life our fast spinning world just came to a full stop. Which I believe was the best thing that could happen.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
As far as I am concerned they did absolutely right. Just look at other countries. They manged to stop the spreading of the virus – without forcing us to stay in our home. We were still be able to leave the house. Which was great.

What would you like to say to your government?
Everything you did was for the best of the people. Thanks for acting responsibly for not putting peoples life at risk. And thanks putting up supporting programs so quickly with hardly any bureaucracy.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
This is no game.

Our fast spinning world just came to a full stop.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
There were hardly any people I know of. Just two cases who were infected that I know of.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
Yes, I did two tests as part of a case study working in the tourism industry enabled by our university hospital.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Not really. If you stick to some basic basic rules I am sure everything is going to be fine – especially in Germany.

If you stick to some basic basic rules I am sure everything is going to be fine.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
In the beginning – like mid March – almost everything closed down. You were not allowed to leave the state except for certain reasons like work. That was quite spooky because streets were absolutely empty. You were not allowed to meet friends any more. The only thing still allowed was to get groceries from the supermarket or order food.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I live with my dad. So I spend quite a lot time with him. My sister and her familiy lives next door. They came over quite often. But our way living has hardly changed at all as we work quite a lot on improving the house and our property.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
The only thing I can think of: Going swimming and to the sauna. Nothing else. Maybe meeting with friends. But we did regular Zoom-Meetings which was quite funny. We did so much laughing.

It was quite spooky because streets were absolutely empty.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
It’s funny. While so many people had to suffer with shorter hours the total opposite happend to me: My overtime account exploded. No home office. Still drove to our company and worked sooooo many additional hours. Event on weekends.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Not very much. My close friends live all over Germany and the rest of the world. I hardly see them in real life anyway. And being busy working all around the clock I did not have much time to think about it. But today I’d say we are as close as ever.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
None. I worked full time getting my regular salary. Being a landlord as well I had quite some worries that my tenants might have some trouble to pay the rent. But luckily did everything on time.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
I am still working very hard hardly having any free time at all. Corona made it possible for me to acquire a second development program paid by the state I live in. In every day life everyhting feels almost normal. Except that no one is shaking hands any more. Still feels quite unfamiliar.

No one is shaking hands any more.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
There are quite a few people that impressed me. Like nursing staffs taking care of the needy without any hesitation and everybody who still provided services for the good of the people even though they exposed themselves to others. I am member of the voluntary fire fighters – did any of my team hesitate to help those who need help? No.

What did the crisis show you?
First of all: That our country is able to survive such a crisis. That we won’t run out of supplies, except toilet paper 😉 That most of us take responsibility in their actions and look after one other. That we don’t loose hope or humor in such a crisis.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
… that we don’t have to wear masks any more. No, seriously. I think I appreciate that we got reminded that there is nothing we can take for granted and should be greatful for what we have. And I am happy that the digital development accelerated. When it comes to things we cannot do right now: It’s going to be a great feeling to be able to travel again by train and plane.

Which images will you never forget?
The empty beaches on a sunny day and calm nights right were I live at. Those huge supermarkets in the evening with full supplies and no customers at all. All those hotels with dark windows because they were closed down. So many planes just standing on the runway of our international airport.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
Hard to tell … probably when my colleague started to cry because she had to work from home. My sister being afraid of what the future brings. My father acting as normal as ever saying he survived World War 2. To him that was real suffering. Nowadays Corona feels more like a curfew with all the advantages of modern times: Safe food supplies, the warmth and shelter of a house, TV, Internet, …

Corona feels more like a curfew with all the advantages of modern times.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
Nothing when it comes to Corona. I am more concerned about my work-life-balance which doesn’t feel right, to be honest. Luxury problems. 2018 my mom died of cancer, 2019 our house almost burned down and my dad got almost killed in the fire, 2020 my girlfriend left me after four happy years (and my ex tried to convince me to take a second chance) … how could it possibly get worse?

What gives you hope?
Hope gives me regardless of what happend throughout the last months life still feels absolutely normal with just very few limitations. I have a feeling that everything is gonna be alright.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Of course! Still within Germany or our next door country Denmark. But hopefully there will soon be a possibility to fly places. Cannot wait to board a plane to my most beloved country the United States.

If they find a vaccine, would you take it?
Sure. If my docotre says it’s safe I won’t hesitate. I absolutely trust him.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
That we should focus on real problems – like world peace. No kidding. Things can only work out fine when we stick together.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
2020 – the year our fast spinning world pulled the emergency brakes.

I have a feeling that everything is gonna be alright.