2020 has been a year to definitely remember. I recall that everything has been upside down back from the late 2019 because of the protests across the country... so for a single moment, I thought this year was about to be a new chapter full of good news and renewed sympathy, but life gave us another perspective of the year coming ahead.


The first week of March wasn't bad... I remember going to the shops, getting my clothes ready for a new school year, buying some stationary items (as ussual) and then I just started working surrounded by world news about that "increasing infection" that seemed to be so far away from our boarders. Days went by until it finally came over: Covid-19 was within our lives. Suddenly, there really was no hope. Nothing but news of illness, death, and despair and even a total chaos turned into everyday increasing examples on national television and friends' internet posts (even up to now). 


While locked at home, I realized that everything was not that bad (leaving aside my social life, of course) but what I mean is that I began to think about all those everyday experiences I am extremely hopeful to do again, as well as those simple things that I miss the most and that I have managed to value even more than before.


School is one of those things... (yeah, it is) don't get me wrong, I love what I do but when my battery's running out I always ask myself: when are holidays coming? but it is undeniable the bond we have with our students and those colleagues that we love sharing with. The simplicity of a single talk or sharing our snacks at break is certainly missed, emotions and memories that shape with every day contact are certainly missed.


Nature environment also made my cut. I have to be honest, many times I prefer to lay on my bed, to chat or to read a novel, but one thing is for sure: having the freedom to decide whether to go to a park or to see the afterglow on the beach with a friend with some coffee nearby or breathing the winter air in the middle of nowhere are free things that nowadays seem to be essential and that I truly miss. (I mean, I bought my car not to have it parked but to sneak around whenever I feel it!).


Another thing I certainly miss is travelling... or at least making plans about it! Here come the sad news: I bet that some of you were planning some time abroad for the months we have recently seen that vanished away in front of our windows at home. It’s easy to fall into a trap of irritability and demotivation when there are no travel plans on the horizon. While the future of travel is still uncertain, there are ways to cope with our sudden stillness. From exploring hidden destinations in our own country to quelling the burgeoning wanderlust via inspiring photographs, the key is keeping our itchy feet busy. This is the best time to start planning and saving for your perfect post-corona vacation (I have just started doing it and it feels very engaging!)


But the ultimate thing that I miss the most is very touching: Hugging people. I miss hugging my relatives, my friends living nearby, my colleagues at school or my bestie. It seems to me that this pandemic has taught me the real need I have when I interact with the people I care about. I have finally understood that hugging the ones I love or touching their hands is a synonym of trust or care and that even when I sometimes think those details are not necessary (because I get use to them) these are actions that make me feel connected with those around me. 


Anyway, to make the looooooong story short, I've only suffered the inconveniences of quarantine. Compared to those whose encounters with trauma and tragedy have changed their lives forever, so in one way or another I've been blessed. But as scary and difficult as the covid-19 lockdowns have been, they have also been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to know myself, to get to know my needs, to get to know the things I cherish the most, to get to know how much I love to be free, to share and to be loved... and even though my hope to overcome this situation is way up, I keep thinking this pandemic is so close yet so far to come to an end. I wish things were different... I wish countries had understood the importance of supporting scientific field regarding new illnesses' treatments, instead of wasting money on belic wars that hardly occur nowadays. 

In the meantime we wait for those dreams to come true... Stay safe and safe lives.