The year 2021 has just finished, Happy New Year! And guess what, the pandemic is still here, and so am I! This blog is still going strong, so let me review what has happened during the past year by giving this overview post. This is the twelfth time I am doing this: I have been doing this since 2010, and I think it's a good way to wrap up the year.
2021 was a year of hope, considering what happened the year before. The pandemic is still here with us, yet there are vaccines now, and we're all collectively trying to inch toward getting back to normality. Life still happened, even while navigating a pandemic. I have successfully naturalised and have received German citizenship, after renouncing my Philippine citizenship, of course. Work is still fun, but given the current pandemic situation, I am not making it as the sole focus of my life for now, and instead I am optimising for happiness, whatever that might mean. And yes, given that vaccines are now available, I have slowly ventured out of Germany this year.
So overall, 2021 feels slightly better than 2020, and I am still chugging along.
So what else happened in 2021, at least according to this blog?
In January, I stopped using WhatsApp because of privacy concerns. And I also was missing a haircut: it was lockdown after all and my salon was forced to close for the time being.
In February, it snowed again, which was memorable as I haven't seen snow for a while. And now that my application for naturalisation was being processed, I wondered what my next big adulting project should be. I also wrote about my supply chain woes, in particular, about my heavily delayed new laptop. It was also really cold this month, which considering the recent winters, was rather atypical. I also further reduced my digital footprint.
In March, I reached the point where it's been a year since I last flew. Given that I love traveling, this was a remarkable moment. Another remarkable moment was when I got a haircut again since salons were allowed to reopen. I cleaned up my digital footprint even further, by closing forgotten accounts. Finally, my outfit evolved, thanks to the pandemic.
In April, I received my first vaccine shot. I also started getting used to covid testing. And since outdoor activities seem to be preferred given the reduced transmission risk, I also started enjoying farmer's markets. This was also the month when I started venturing out, little by little, first by doing a day trip within Brandenburg, to Prignitz.
In May, the pandemic situation seemed to improve, so I started planning an escape, i.e., a vacation. I also received my second vaccine shot. I learned to be picky with wine. And as Germany emerged from lockdown, every now and then I experienced some cognitive dissonance. Finally, I did another day trip this month, this time to Uckermark.
In June, things started to open up, at least for the fully vaccinated, like me. I further reduced my digital footprint, by asking for some of my ancient music online to be deleted. I also expressed frustration about deliveries. And I did something I haven't done so in a while: I attended a live concert. And regarding travel, this was the month when I traveled again outside of Germany, spending a week in Luxembourg.
In July, the EU-wide digital covid certificate started to be rolled out. Everyone started needing a QR code to do things they wanted to do. By this time, I also received the guarantee from the German authorities that I would receive German citizenship, pending renunciation of my Philippine citizenship. It was also around this time when I started wondering whether a fourth wave would occur: this later turned out to be true. But while the infection rates were still low, I traveled a bit this month, first by spending a week in Poland, and also later in the month and into August, another week in Bavaria.
In August, covid-related restrictions were ebbing away, and I had vacation days I needed to use, so I wondered where to go next. Also this month, I had to run some errands with my bank, and for some ancient reason, physical presence at the bank was required. Around this time, the pandemic has been with us for more than a year now, so people started learning how to live with covid. This was also the time when I became briefly stateless as I renounced my Philippine citizenship. Finally, things were opening up and so former routines were coming back, and so walking became weird again, even though that was an early pandemic-related feature.
In September, I finished the naturalisation process, having received German citizenship, and applied for my identity card and German passport. I also started catching up with friends who I haven't seen in a long time. And something I haven't done in a while, I dodge counterculture again. And since I am now a German citizen, I voted for the first time. And by the end of the month, autumn arrived. And I also realised how I actually like big cities.
In October, after a long hiatus, I flew again. I spent two weeks in Italy, which was the longest period of travel I have done in a while.
In November, the fourth wave made its presence known in Germany. Meanwhile, I checked out Berlin neighbourhoods that I haven't been to in a while. I also received my booster shot. And finally, covidiots became very real.
In December, I talked about Filipinos who didn't share my narrative. I also flew again this month, first heading to Madrid for a short city trip, and from there directly heading to Budapest to spend the Christmas holidays with the in-laws.
This year, I wrote about 39 books, 1 theatre performance, 1 opera and 2 other musical events. Given the pandemic, cultural activities that I typically like still is a rarity this year. In any case, I still kept on reading interesting books.
Summarising my travel, 2021 is still an interesting year, but I started venturing out of Germany as the pandemic situation allowed it. My country count remained at 50, as I didn't visit any new countries. But I revisited countries I have been to before, discovering new places within them. I went to Luxembourg, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Hungary this year. In addition to that, I explored Germany further, as I returned to Bavaria this year. It's still a very different travel pattern, and while the pandemic imposes limitations on international travel, I'll keep on being flexible and adapt my travel style.
What else? I still walked a lot. I completed the Baruther Linie in the spring. I started the E11 in Brandenburg, aiming to cross the state from end to end, and perhaps even the entire Germany, at some point. I continued working on Berlin's 20 Green Trails throughout the year. And I even traveled just to hike, covering a large part of the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg in June, as well as of the Fränkischer Dünenweg in Bavaria in July and August.
Happy 2022 everyone! Stay healthy, and hopefully I still see you here this year!
