I walk late at night with my headlights on, and read papers, paperback books on iPad.

We passed through the main gate of the university on our walking route, and there were three vans and about a dozen university students gathered, looking like they were getting ready to go somewhere.

Well, it was late at night, so they were not noisy, but were not wearing masks either.

"I'm sorry for them, but they are in 'peer pressure'"

I thought that.

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Here is a part of my column manuscript that will be released this month.

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I was in the U.S. for only two years, and I kind of understood it then (and the last presidential election made me realize it again), but not all the people in that country are intelligent, rational, and have high-income jobs like the people in "Radio English conversation".

In some places in the U.S., there are communities that are more closed than "The Village of the Eight Graves," and nearly half of the population still rejects the theory of evolution for religious reasons.

Furthermore, it is clear that in this day and age, there are a certain number of people (including the nation's top leaders) who have unscientific ideas such as "anyone who wears a mask (to prevent infection) is a chicken (weakling or coward).

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Well, regardless of age, gender, or sex, "peer pressure" occurs in a group, no matter how big or small.

People who resist 'peer pressure' are hated by the group as 'airheads'.

And most of us switch our response depending on the situation, not on which is right, but on which is less disadvantageous to us.

When I was young, I remember struggling to fit in with the "mood" and "atmosphere" of the place.

I don't think it was a waste of time, either -- although it was quite painful.

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That's why it's so easy for me to be in a position where I can decide for myself if I belong to a group or not.

At least, I feel happy that I don't have to "take off my mask and have a happy conversation with my friends," even though I understand the horrible risks.