I have learned my lesson. When 2021 began, I didn’t set any resolutions. All well-laid plans are at the mercy of COVID-19, and well, fate.
Still, a part of me thought that 2021 will be a better year. I mean, seriously, how can it get any worse than a pandemic sweeping the globe? Amirite?
The year that kept on ‘giving’
While 2020 was a WTF! year, 2021 was more of a WTF?? year. It’s like 2021 took our hope and optimism of leaving 2020 behind, stomped on it, poured glue and sprinkles all over it, and set it ablaze.
Some things that happened this year:
Malaysia’s Hunger Games-style vaccine rollout
No lie, I was a little afraid of taking the vaccine. I briefly toyed with the idea of “letting other people have it first and see what happens”. Fortunately for me, my friends were very pro-vaccine, and their enthusiasm propelled me to put my hands up for the AstraZeneca vaccination drive. See, people were so reluctant to take up the then-controversial vaccine that they opened it to the public on a “first come first served basis”.
A good idea, I suppose, if not for the fact that the government built such a crappy website that booking an appointment was down to how fast you can click and if you clicked the right button. After half an hour of trying, I nearly gave up. Luckily, my friends told me to book a slot at the Putra World Trade Centre because people were having better luck there. So clicked I did, randomly, until I got a slot.
Then came the waiting.
In countries like Britain or the United States, all people had to do was to walk into a centre and get their shots. Most Malaysians had to wait for that elusive appointment to pop up on the horribly unreliable MySejahtera app. (Note to non-Malaysians: We use the app to check-in to places; it’s also where our vaccination passports live.)
And to make it worse, clear instructions were not given. I had to rely on Twitter — Twitter! — to get any information on how to go about getting my shot.
Heres the process at the PWTC vaccination centre. My #CucukMyAZ appointment was 11am,but surprisingly I was told to line up at the front entrance at 10am. We were quickly ushered down the lane to our station and told to scan in using the normal Mysejahtera check in. 1/9 pic.twitter.com/pFkPTVYC6z— Elizabeth Tai 🇲🇾 🏴 (@liztai) May 30, 2021
And to make it even worse (what, more??) we had our Delta-fuelled surge during that period. We had up to five-digit numbers of infected in the country. Social media was filled with haunting stories of people dying while waiting for their jabs.
I believe the unpredictable, roll-the-dice rollout and scarcity of appointments drove FOMO to such a high degree among Malaysians that they rushed to get the jabs like they were limited edition BTS plushies.
Or maybe we are just a highly responsible lot that believes in the power of science.
As of this writing, 79.1% of Malaysians are fully vaccinated, making us one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, no small feat for a little country with a crappy rollout like ours.
Now, we are getting our boosters and waiting, once again, for that elusive appointment to pop out magically in the MySejahtera app. Confusing instructions are back on the menu too.
Here we go again.
COVID-19 anti-vaxxers
With all the difficulties Malaysians went through to get life-saving COVID-19 jabs, I watch with morbid fascination as folks in Western countries refuse to get their shots. I even personally know some Malaysians who refuse to get the vaccines due to “personal freedoms”. I wasted far too much time trying to understand why. In the end, I have concluded that some human beings can’t be understood.
More political turmoil
Yeah, like Malaysians need more turmoil while people are dying by the thousands? But Machiavellians have to Machiavelli, I suppose.
In response, I nuked my access to Malaysian news. Still enjoying the blackout.
Epic floods
On 18 December 2021, Selangor flooded. Big time.
This is like having snow in Texas during summer. Or hailstorms in the Sahara.
Floods are not uncommon in Malaysia during the time of this year, but it often hits Eastern states such as Kelantan and Terengganu. Selangor, where the seat of power lies, usually goes unscathed during this time.
Well, 2021 gave us a goodbye present by flooding areas such as Klang, Shah Alam and Puchong, areas that never really flooded on this scale before. (One flood epicentre was a mere 5km from my home. Our area was a hilly area and escaped the flood.)
Scores of people had to spend the night in their cars, stuck in highways that were cut off by water. Others sheltered in shopping malls and far too many spent days on rooftops waiting for rescue. Rescue, by the way, that was slow to come. While VVIPs visited relief centres in high heels and waited for their campaign poster stickers to be placed on boxes of food, Malaysians banded together to help these folks down from their roofs, fed them and clothed them.
Yet, it was a year of many landmarks … for me
Well, I’m beyond exhausted by this year. Yet, I can’t help but be amazed that I came away intact. In fact, I had many wonderful experiences this year:
- Many are returning to the office, but I am still able to work remotely. Still enjoying it!
- Became involved with an anti-workplace bullying/sexual harassment organisation, Speak Up At Work. I help facilitate sessions where we talk about workplace bullying. It feels healing to be able to turn my awful experiences for good.
- Had a taste of the digital nomad life. Bucket list item ticked off!
- Loved ones, despite battling some health scares, are still with me.
- Got over my fear of investing and bought REITs, shares, bonds and US ETFs.
- On 27 December, signed the lease for an amazing apartment with a gorgeous view, two balconies and three rooms, for the crazy price of RM1200 in a neighbourhood I had long wanted to live in
I remember a time when I firmly believed that if something goes out of whack in my life plan — say, a job going sideways — it’s over. Like, no more happiness, my life is going on a downward trajectory and I’m going to live under a bridge.
That’s what I thought in 2020 when I went through one of the worst workplace bullying experiences of my life. I had to leave what I thought was my dream job and company to save my mental health, and straight into the arms of epic financial and health uncertainty when lockdowns started. There were moments when I thought, “Can I survive this?”
Survive I did. And somehow landed better opportunities. God is good.
2021 taught me we humans are resilient, life can really surprise you, and while you’re going through crappiness right now, life can turn around and give you opportunities you never thought you’d experience.
And that we’re shitty at predicting the future.
I suppose there’s truth in what they say: Trust the process.
Meanwhile, hello 2022.
Don’t hurt us.
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Elizabeth Tai 