Diary - Last year, I thought the pandemic would have finished by this summer.

[Maybo]

This is an entry from my diary. Please check it and correct any mistakes.

Last year, I thought the pandemic would have finished by this summer. But now, apparently, the miracle hasn't happened yet. I hope next summer I will be traveling to different countries without any limits. I'm planning to go to Japan, Taiwan, and France. I like their food. I've once been to Taiwan. Unluckily, I was sick so I went back to Hong Kong earlier than my planned schedule.

 

[emsr2d2]

This is an entry from my diary. Please check it and correct any mistakes.

Last year, I thought the pandemic would have finished by this summer. But now, apparently, The/This/That miracle hasn't happened yet. I hope that next summer I will be traveling able to travel to different countries abroad without any limits restrictions. I'm planning to go to Japan, Taiwan, and France. I like their food. I've once been to Taiwan once before. Unluckily Unfortunately, I was became sick so I went back to Hong Kong earlier than my planned. schedule.

 

[emsr2d2]

I missed a correction. I wouldn't say "I like their food". I'd say either "I like the food" or "I like the food in those countries".

 

[teechar]

Last year, I thought the pandemic would have finished be over by this the summer. But now, apparently, I realize the miracle hasn't happened yet. I hope next summer I will be traveling to different countries without any limitations. I'm planning to go to Japan, Taiwan, and France. I like their food. I've once been to Taiwan. Unluckily, I was sick so, I went back to Hong Kong earlier than my (I had) planned. schedule.

Note especially the correction to the first sentence. What you wrote is wrong.

 

[Maybo]

Note especially the correction to the first sentence. What you wrote is wrong.

"this summer" is referring to 2022' summer, which is now. If I said "the summer", would readers think that I'm talking about the summer of 2021?

 

[5jj]

Yes.

 

[teechar]

And when (during last year) were you thinking that?

 

[Maybo]

And when (during last year) were you thinking that?

I forgot when, but I thought the pandemic would be over by the summer of 2022.

 

[teechar]

Then say that.

 

[emsr2d2]

If it's clear that you're writing the piece in the late spring of 2022, "this summer" is perfectly clear. As you suspected, "the summer" would lead most readers to think you were talking about summer 2021.
It would have been helpful, however, if you'd been more specific than just "Last year", which covers the full twelve months of 2021.

For example, if you'd said "In March last year, when most of the world went into lockdown, ..." or "Last Christmas, ...".