They passed up and down the aisles with handheld high tech thermal scanners, aiming them ominously at each of us.The flight attendants had been through this routine before and they were clearly over it. They cranked up the a/c about 15 minutes before landing and announced (only half jokingly) "alright no coughing, sneezing or sniffling while these guys are on board and we should be outta here in half an hour."
American Airlines is so classy!
Each day I think more and more germ-aphobic Japanese are wearing those protective surgical masks. Because the GERMS ARE COMING!!! No wait, they're already here! They're everywhere! That's why you're given a moist towelette to wipe your hands before every meal...even if it's just a Starbucks coffee. That's why you must place your money into the tray next to the cash register, never directly into the shopkeeper's hands. That's why you must remove your germy shoes and wear special germ-free slippers when entering a bathroom. And I guess that's why even a simple apple from the supermarket is nestled in protective foam, and then wrapped in plastic and inserted into another even larger plastic bag when purchased.
Coffee to go? Your cup will be placed into a cardboard cupholder, which is then inserted into a small paper shopping bag. Then the whole package is neatly tucked into an even larger plastic handle bag. Moist towelette included.
Ironically, there is a prominent sign in my hotel room that says:
The Ecological Movement.
We protect the natural environment by decreasing the times of changing sheets and reducing emissions of CO2 by less use of detergent and water for laundry. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
The sign is printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.
And then laminated in thick plastic.
I'm sure the maids spray it down with sanitizer every day, too.
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