2021 is almost over. Years ago, I used to write year-end reflections on my blog with a great sense of ceremony, as if I really had everything neatly summed up. Looking back now, life has changed a lot. It has been more than eleven years since I came to Shanghai, and somewhere along the way I moved from being young and clueless into my thirties.
This year began with a few challenges. At first, it felt like there might be room to really accomplish something. Then, in the middle of the year, things suddenly took a sharp turn and nearly fell apart into a mess. Fortunately, things started looking up again toward the end of the year. I can only hope that the difficult stretch gives way to better days in 2022.
Work took up most of 2021. There was plenty of overtime, and the pressure was real.
When the week finally slowed down, cooking became my way of letting off steam. I’d make my own meals on weekends. They weren’t necessarily restaurant-level dishes—though honestly, they tasted pretty good. There is something deeply satisfying about watching raw ingredients turn into a finished plate.
What matters most to me in home cooking is cleanliness and simplicity. The ingredients keep their original flavor. No chicken powder, no MSG, less salt. Just food that tastes like itself.
Sometimes the best part comes after the meal is done. Once the dishes are washed and the kitchen is back in order, the clean, organized space brings a kind of clarity. Problems that had been bothering me can suddenly seem less tangled, and occasionally the answer even appears on its own.
For 2022, my hope is simple: good health for everyone in the family, smooth work, and for the little one at home to grow up strong and well.
The New Year gathering is about to begin, so I picked twelve dishes from the meals I usually cooked this year—one for each month—as a small way to welcome the year ahead. Happy New Year to all my friends. May your wishes come true, your work bring even more rewards, and your life feel fuller and happier.
I also hope the pandemic disappears as soon as the new year arrives and never comes back, so everyone can go wherever they want without worry.
And I hope the country continues to grow stronger and more prosperous, that science and technology keep advancing day by day, and that people’s lives continue to improve—without having to fear trade wars, technology blockades, or battles over public opinion.
All the dishes I made in 2021 were Chinese. In 2022, I’ve decided to start trying Western food too. Yes, really.
