Staying Positive
Wishes and expectations for the year 2021
When I was told to talk about my unforgettable experience in 2020, a lot of good things and bad things came to mind. The year 2020 was meant to be the year of hope and prosperity for me. I had planned to do many things like visiting some of the beautiful cities and provinces in China. I had hoped to also stay with some of my Chinese friends in rural China to be able to learn about real China and also make new friends. I had learned about China from movies, and also heard some stories from various African friends before coming here.
However, these plans were not realized due to the outbreak of the epidemic. I felt shivers whenever someone from home in Africa called me to find out my whereabouts during this period. It was so painful sometimes to wake up to see an email or a text from a friend from afar, asking about my well-being during the epidemic. Although this was a good show of friendship and concern, it also made me anxious since I had been in China just for a few months.
In such situations, one could wonder whether to take a flight back home or stay put. But leaving was also not easy since the flights were canceled and we were under lockdown.
The tables turned when my country reported the first case of the virus. Whenever I got a call from home, I instantly wondered if the person was going to give me the bad news of someone being affected by the virus. It was my turn to ask about the well-being of my family members, friends and neighbors. I became used to advising my family and friends on the ways they could keep safe and offer some lessons that I had learned from the Chinese. These include checking temperature, wearing masks and practicing social distancing in public places. Staying positive about the end of the pandemic was always my talk of the day.
The pandemic has changed everything, and life may not be the same again for some time, so we need to adjust to the new normal. The normal where you have to be cautious about what you do, the places you visit and the socializing.
I see 2021 to be the year of recovery, as most of the countries are well prepared to combat the disease. My dreams are still alive. Chinese authorities have advised us on the measures to take to continue to stay safe when visiting different places. I am also hoping that I am going to get vaccinated. The good thing about human beings is that they keep adapting to the new environment. I have managed to stay in touch with my online and offline friends, and I guess, we are going to be able to realize most of our goals in the new year.
The next year to me will be a year to recuperate psychologically, and I need to focus on being a human to be able to help my African friends cope with the new normal. I have learned a lot from China which could be replicated in our countries. Chinese people deserve applaud for taking timely measures to combat the virus. I hope that the speedy development of the vaccine will help us recover some of the losses caused by the lockdowns which hit most businesses. Recovery may require strategic readjustments and cooperation in various fields. That is what I have planned for the year 2021, when I am going to work with different professionals and people with varied skills to get back to pursuing my objectives. When we join hands despite our race, color and ideologies, great things can happen and a community with a shared future can be formed.
I have learned a lot from China which could be replicated in our countries. Chinese people deserve applaud for taking timely measures to combat the virus.