Crowded

Growing up in a 'busy' household with 8 siblings... and being an introvert, I have always enjoyed solitude.  Number 3 on the other hand, likes company and friends and the recent MCO was a rather misreable experience for her... being unable to leave the house to meet her friends.

Despite my love and appreciation of solitude, I chose to have 5 children. I still look forward to school mornings sometimes, and I love having my little kittens home from school with their stories and updates.

Ramadan of 2020 was especially special, because everyone was together at home. Usually the university-going children will be off after 3 Ramadan to continue their studies... but this time due to the MCO we had sahur and broke fast together as a family, every day. We also appreciated the modest meals daily, because the bazaars were closed. Incidentally, for many years Malaysians have grappled with the issue of food waste during Ramadan. With the bazaars closed & having basic staples available... we do not have such issues this year. Isn't that wonderful?

How will people remember 2020? In high school I had written copious essays about Vision 2020 as we prepared for SPM. Malaysia did not become a developed nation this year. Our economy is still struggling and in fact have fallen behind out equals in the 1960s (South Korea) and the 1980s (Singapore) and may well be left behind by Vietnam and probably Thailand in the next 5-10 years or earlier. 2020 did not turn up vibrant and gung-ho as we had expected. Instead we spent most of the year (so far) indoors and many became jobless. Luxuries are food, health, money to spend, family, and excursions in clean air. Back to the very basic of basics.

Many people would probably remember 2020 as all that, but I will remember it as:

- the beginning of new possibilities i.e. working from home (YAY!!!)

- the deployment of online learning (and the many things that we all have learnt)

- the year when kindness overcame human 'badness' i.e. people helping with PPE sewing, food banks, caring for each other

- families being together

- me becoming a slightly better cook, not that much better but okaylah

- being able to stay home and not have busy weekends outside