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The situation in the morning: Readers of the SPIEGEL morning situation look back on 2020

2020-12-29T04:43:42.659Z


How do you look back on the 2020 corona year? What do you expect from 2021? We asked the "Lage" readers that yesterday - here are their answers.


Finally time

How are you?

Are you optimistic, are you already planning a

corona-free year 2021

?

Or do you not believe in a quick recovery?

Are you preparing

for a lengthy lockdown

?

And what will you take with you from 2020, both

positive and negative experiences

?

I asked these questions in my “Situation” yesterday, and many,

very many readers answered that there were several hundred

.

Thank you very much for your experiences, your openness and, in some cases, very personal descriptions.

Some of you have also drawn our attention to grievances, to strange occurrences.

We'll be looking at your advice in the next few days.

The majority of you are looking ahead to the new year with cautious optimism.

Most of you are convinced that we will have to live with restrictions for many months to come.

But many hope that with the higher temperatures in spring and summer, something more normal will return.

Almost without exception all of them rely on the vaccination

, but only fear that

the process will take a very long time

- also because Germany probably cannot procure enough vaccine quickly enough.

Icon: enlarge

Walkers in November in Munich

Photo: 

Sven Hoppe / dpa

Many of you rave about the blue sky in spring, where not a single plane could be seen, some remember the chirping of birds, quiet, clean cities.

Many deepened their

friendships and broke away from superficial acquaintances

.

And many enjoyed the intense family life when the children were forced to be at home.

"I am surprised and grateful how well I am," wrote one reader. 

I also remember the many lunches with my children, hours of foot, peoples and baseball games in the park.

Anyway, the sport, many have rediscovered it for themselves because suddenly there was time for it or because it is a good prevention.

"Especially with regard to new virus variants that are to be feared, I will continue to make every effort to maintain an intact immune system," writes one reader.

  • Time researcher on life in shutdown: "We should get a new daily rhythm"

Some used the shutdown

time

to spend

time with themselves

.

“The forced deceleration in public life also meant that one could think about what is really important in life,” writes one reader, and one reader: “Identity - isolation, but also researching my identity.

Finally time to investigate.

Who am I, what do I want, where does it take me?

Where do I come from (Jewish grandmother, French grandfather), which life stories do I not even know from my family? "

Icon: enlarge

Bavaria: A mother looks after her children at home

Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

However, many of you also expressed

fear of not being able to hold out a longer shutdown in the new year

, be it because of the

lack of care for the disabled child

, or because of the

incompatibility of home office and homeschooling

in the small apartment.

Almost everyone

misses meeting friends, relatives and acquaintances

, almost everyone longs to

travel across German borders

.

"The digital replacement is nice, but not really stimulating," writes one reader.

Many are

angry with those who behave in a disagreeable manner

, reckless and selfish.

Some of you got sick in the past year, not only from Covid-19, but also from depression.

Others have lost their jobs and have no prospects.

"This year is the toughest for me so far," writes one reader.

“I've been unemployed since May, for the first time in my life. I'm 52 years old and a manager, that means from 100 to 0, from enough money to very little money, from little time to a lot of time.

... And then that: a heart attack out of nowhere. "

  • Psychotherapist on ways out of »Corona exhaustion«: »The magic formula is: It is«

One reader, on the other hand, surprisingly lost his depression during the Corona period.

"Probably because a major 'enemy' appeared," he writes.

In the end, most of you feel optimistic, albeit a very cautious one.

“Yes, I'm optimistic, but I'm not a fanatic either.

I hope for a second half of 2021 with limited restrictions and travel options in Europe, «one of you wrote.

  • Backpacking, cruises, beach holidays after the Corona year: How do we travel in 2021?

»The pure horror«

Here are some descriptions in full.

Unfortunately it is only a selection, anything else would go beyond the scope of this morning situation:

»We know what a pandemic means for a globalized world.

Up until a few months ago, anyone who thought what my business is a virus in Wuhan has learned a lot this year.

Everything is related to everything, the world is interwoven, through the flow of goods and money, but also people, love and friendships. "

»Positive: The realization that 90 percent of all business trips are superfluous.

Negative: Slowly growing anthropophobia. "

Icon: enlarge

Cologne / Bonn airport deserted

Photo: Henning Kaiser / dpa

»What in spring 2020 still felt like slowing down, has turned into boredom and senselessness.

I've gone inside enough and think too much. "

“My biggest concern with an extended shutdown is my 3.5 year old son.

He has an expressive speech development disorder and, besides speech therapy, the most important thing for him is contact and speaking with other children. "

  • Consequences of the pandemic: "Corona does not affect all children equally"

»I mainly perceive social isolation as a negative experience.

Not even when I was diagnosed with cancer in the past did I feel that I had so little control over my life. "

“I feel like crying right now.

I'm a lawyer and I'm very busy this week.

Our childminder called in sick punctually at the beginning of the current lockdown.

My daughter is two years old.

My mother-in-law, who usually helps me a lot, is 76. It will probably take a while before she is vaccinated.

Of course I don't want to endanger them. " 

»Doctors and specialists who publicly deny Corona are a danger to life and limb.

One should use measures such as the withdrawal of the license to practice medicine. "

“The smiling faces of the happy politicians.

90 to 100 year olds who took their time to be vaccinated.

Pallets full of vaccine at the airfield.

All of this belies the fact that the epidemic is far from gone, that for months we will have to rely on masks, distance from our neighbors and caution in dealing with our loved ones.

The politicians should look a little less happy and warn more caution. "

»Corona has me under control.

I can't do my job because the shop I work in is closed.

My son is at home because the schools are closed.

He is not allowed to see grandma because, besides her age, she is a high-risk patient.

He paddles all day unless I talk him into a walk. "

Icon: enlarge

A mouthguard hangs on a student's table

Photo: imageBROKER / Michael Weber / imago images / imagebroker

»I am still enthusiastic about one of the smartest women in the world, our Chancellor!

If the jumping jacks around them had listened to them right away, Germany would be much, much further in coping with the pandemic. "

"My hope for 2021 is that the schools will finally come up with a decent educational concept for homeschooling and that the lockdown will not be carried out on the shoulders of the youngest."

»I am a teacher at a Berlin elementary school.

In the last few months I was standing in classrooms that were getting colder and colder.

According to the hygiene concept, we ventilated every 20 minutes.

The children sat in the classroom in jackets and woolen hats, I was often in a draft and got tension in my back. "

"The parents sent each other the badly photographed worksheets back and forth via WhatsApp, which I then brightened up on the computer using Photoshop, just drawn, et cetera."

»Working at home with three children is pure horror, because you don't do justice to anything or anyone, the work piles up, you fall into bed late at night without any break and frustrated, the man is constantly annoyed, the children sad because they need, but have no physical contact with their friends, the apartment is dirty and everything stays where it is. "

  • Children in the corona crisis: "Sometimes it's all so annoying"

“I hope my son won't be forced to attend classroom classes.

He loves studying online. "

»Unfortunately, the first reaction to the urgently required state restrictions on personal freedom always comes first with the question: What is still possible for me?

What is more solidarity and urgently needed is the question: What else can I do? "

Icon: enlarge

Vaccination center in Freiburg

Photo: Winfried Rothermel / imago images / Winfried Rothermel

»I am very worried about the intensification of social debates, be it on the subject of vaccination or on all subjects.

It annoys me more and more that people from my circle of acquaintances usually give me their opinion on everything without being asked, whether on social media or when you meet briefly at the bakery. "

»2020 has taught us to value a largely functional state.

It's just a shame that federalism revealed its weaknesses in a crucial phase of fighting the pandemic. "

“I am curious to see when I will be called for the vaccination.

Until then, I'll pass the time with renovations in the house. "

»The comprehensive hygiene guidelines have made my everyday life more difficult, especially wearing a mask for hours due to the pain in my ears.

I'll probably end the pandemic with a cocker spaniel's ears. "

“I'm stunned that there should be no compulsory vaccination.

How else are we supposed to overcome this situation?

In what kind of false security do anti-vaccination users weigh themselves?

We live in an artificial state, the government is running into debts to encourage short-time working, to keep jobs, et cetera.

One aid package follows another. "

  • Immunization facts: what exactly happens during vaccination?

»Positive 2020: The extended family has moved closer together, the life of our children in the small families was very harmonious.

Negative: Fears vary in severity in children and grandchildren.

Son even went to psychiatry. "

"I even expect that everyday life may never be exactly what it was before the pandemic."

Icon: enlarge

Closed restaurant in Rhineland-Palatinate

Photo: 

via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Manngold

»Covid-19 will be defeated in 2021 - but the consequences in social and economic life will continue to have an impact for a long time.

After the pandemic is before the pandemic: the next one is sure to come. "

"We don't have time for discussions if we don't want to damage the economies of our countries to such an extent that we are ashamed of our grandchildren."

»In between we like to think outside the box or to look beyond the borders of our neighbors and other parts of the world and be happy with how well we are here.

Stick to the rules and spread confidence that things will get better soon. "

“We have already planned.

And even booked: Paris and Denmark. "

  • Travel tips for 2021: dream vacation despite Corona?

    This is how it works with planning

What else is important ...

  • Yesterday the diplomats of the

    27 EU member states

    approved

    the

    trade and cooperation agreement

    with Great Britain

    , on Wednesday both chambers of the British Parliament will vote on it.

    On the EU side, the member states, the Council and the European Parliament must agree.

  • In the

    USA, isolated cases of Covid-19 sufferers have become

    known who have developed severe

    psychotic disorders

    .

  • In

    Mannheim

    the

    first night mayor of the republic is

    preparing

    to hand over

    his office to his

    successor

    after two and a half years

    .

  • Several Prime Ministers and the Head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun, assume that the

    shutdown will be extended beyond January 10th

    .

  • The

    Dreikönigssingen campaign

    starts in Aachen Cathedral

    .

    This year, Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior will mostly make the blessings of the apartments contactless, for example

    by video

    .

    The donations for the poor children are probably also managed digitally.

    However, I ask myself: How do the sweets get to the carol singers?

    As far as I can remember, they were one of the most important motivations for me back then.

The latest news from the night

  • House of Representatives breaks Trump's veto on defense budget:

    Donald Trump's objection to the defense budget was rejected by members of the House of Representatives - many Republicans also voted against him.

    Now the approval of the Senate is still missing.

  • Stock market

    boom at the end of the year:

    the US stock exchanges

    hit

    historic marks, the Dax also climbed a record high - the corona crisis seems to have been forgotten on the stock markets.

    Analysts have an explanation for the hype: Donald Trump

  • Ghislaine Maxwell fails with bail application:

    She allegedly seduced minors into sexual acts and committed perjury.

    With sums of millions, Ghislaine Maxwell tried to get released - a judge refused again: "Risk of escape"

The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today

  • Time researcher on life in shutdown: "We should get a new daily rhythm"

  • "We want a fair chance": Four women are suing Israel's army - they want to join the elite troops

  • Turkish series successes: the advance of the sultan

  • Tax, solos, levies: you can expect so much more money in 2021

I wish you a pleasant Tuesday!

Your Martin Knobbe

Source: spiegel

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