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WORLD SOCIAL PROBLEMS
The Land of Nose-Blowing and Sneezing
Sneezing and nose-blowing, Germany’s biggest social problem, pre-pandemic
My observations while living in Germany …
In America, everyone carries his or her own personal water bottle or coffee around. You’ll see people with them on the streets, in cars, on public transit, and in shopping malls and supermarkets. That’s not the case in Germany. A personal pack of tissues, or snot rag, is the norm — one must always keep some close by.
It’s a foregone conclusion that a German will either sneeze or blow his nose in your presence.
They can’t all have colds, can they?
“I’ve never seen so many people blowing their noses at one time,” I said.
“Ya have to get the stuff out,” said Kathleen, who proceeded to grab a tissue from her purse to blow her nose.
I rolled my eyes as we otherwise sat quietly on the train en route to an unknown store on our perpetual shopping journey.
“But how come so much?” I asked.
She complacently stared out the window as if never hearing my question. I would go on to address the German nose-blowing and sneezing epidemic with her again. I would also end up…
