In the second part of her Student Diaries, Natalia tells us about how she’s learned to be positive and dream again, despite these crazy circumstances.
Last week, Natalia told us about how she was finding ways to have fun and stay connected with her loved ones during lockdown. We caught up with her again to find out what she was doing to be productive:
The pandemic continues. We’re still locked down and still stuck at home. But then again, life isn’t all bad, and some positive things did happen this week.
First of all, I would like to emphasise how important it is to stay upbeat. Look for the silver linings of each day. Start by writing a list of good things that happened to you. Update your list every evening to be sure that you didn't miss anything. Appreciate even the smallest reasons to feel happy or proud of yourself.
"Look for the silver linings of each day"
Speaking of new skills, I’ve decided to spend my lockdown learning a new language. Because of my Dad's business connections with China, I've decided to start learning Mandarin. Now I'm approaching the end of my course and I have to say that I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made. Of course, I’m not fluent (yet) but my Mandarin is already better than I expected it to be. A lot of institutions and companies offer free language courses for students, and the list of available languages is impressive.
During one of my Mandarin classes, I got distracted thinking about holidays, beaches and the sun. It got me thinking about how I can eventually use my newfound linguistic skills to travel around China when things are back to normal. I’m hoping that it will be possible to do these things again by the summer, provided you’re careful. Flights have never been cheaper!
So, as well as being enthusiastic about life, this week also taught me to dream again. Life is so much better when you’re surrounded by positive vibes. Remember to make plans, look to the future, and think about how you can take advantage of these times.
"As well as being enthusiastic about life, this week also taught me to dream again"
Until next time, stay safe and keep positive!
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