So, 2020 has been a hell of a year, eh? The beginning of the year held so much promise, which quickly turned into living in some sort of a horror film. I always knew that there would be something major to happen in my lifetime. History has shown some interesting patterns. To be honest, out of the two, I figured it would be war, not a pandemic, that I’d see. I initially thought it would be interesting to document my experiences, but I really didn’t want it to be a focus on here. There is enough being discussed on the news and in other blogs/vlogs. I wanted this to be a space where you could get away from all of that, even if it was just for a minute.

We kicked off 2020 with CES, which was a blast as usual. We also spent some time at Disneyland while it was still decorated for the holidays. They do such a beautiful job! . I completed my dissertation and received my PhD (finally), which had been my goal since I was young. There were fires after the rains– rain that we haven’t had for such a long duration in ages. The fires covered the sky in a brownish-orange tint, and ashes fell from the skies just like the rain had before it.

A pandemic closed down stores, emptied shelves (the toilet paper went first), has us staying in, and has forced people to be more hygienic, although whether or not they are is debatable. We saw, first-hand, how individualist cultures and selfishness and mindsets set us back, and people aren’t willing to change. There has been some good in that people have paid it forward without expecting anything in return. Does staying in suck? At times. However, we need to make the most out of our situations. Take the extra time to change that lightbulb, learn a language, sharpen a skill, spend some quality time on yourself, check in with others, be productive, etc. The most important thing is to stay safe and healthy.

We had a contentious election in the US, and that’s still an issue. If it’s not that, it’s the pandemic, so it can be difficult to escape if you watch television. This year was also filled with protests, marches, riots, and was filled with turmoil. Friends and families were divided, and everything seemed so surreal– some of it still does. 2020 has proved to be something else. Luckily for me, it went by fast. There may not be such a thing as time, but since we live our lives cyclically. Let’s hope that there isn’t too much repeating and there is more healing.

As I’ve stated, I really hope that 2021 is better. It’s supposedly going to be a lucky year, so I guess we’ll see. We have some things coming up over the next few months that don’t involve travel, but are still exciting. And speaking of exciting… It is finally the Year of the Ox! I have been waiting, since it is my zodiac animal (I’m also a Taurus). Fun fact: Even though I don’t really believe in astrology, I have many traits of both the Ox and Taurus. More on future plans in the first post of the new year. Here’s something fun. Type in new year in the google search bar, and see the confetti fall.

Thank you so much for the continued love and support. Hopefully you enjoy the content. It might sound odd but I, more likely than not, wouldn’t continue the blog without you. Let me know what topics you’d like discussed in new year. Have a safe and fun NYE, and we’ll see you in 2021!

Peace & Love, always!