In my first year of my life in Hong Kong, I felt very homesick. Despite having lived in 5 different countries so far, starting over and over again, I felt very scared leaving Japan for this new adventure at age 26. Perhaps it was the idea of committing to a full-time job that actually mattered to me: a dream-come-true of becoming a Montessori teacher, perhaps it was the idea of the unknown... any case, I was surprised at myself how "weak" I felt to take the plunge.
香港生活の一年目は、本当にホームシックだった。今まで５カ国で住んできたのにも関わらず、２６歳で決意してこの新しい冒険だけは、すごく怖かった。初めての「ちゃんとした」仕事、そしてずっと目標だったモンテッソーリの先生としての夢が叶うからだったからかな、それとも、ただ単に未来が定かじゃなかったからかな…どちらにせよ、自分がこんなにも弱く感じたのにはびっくりしちゃった。
Perhaps because of that, I felt very homesick... and I took many of the opportunities I got to go back home to Japan. I went back for our fall break, Christmas break, spring break, and my summer! I know, a bit excessive... but looking back I feel that I must have needed it- it was an intense year and I need to fall back to an environment and people familiar to me, who I knew had my back. It provided the recharging I needed to keep going.
だから、１年目は、機会があるごとに日本に帰った。秋休み、クリスマスとお正月、春休み、そして夏も！本当、行き過ぎだよね…でも、振り返ってみるとそのときの自分には必要だったんだと思う。たくさんの事を抱えた一年を生き延びるためには、心地いい環境と自分をよく知ってくれて応援してくれている人たちに元気をもらうのが必要だった。やっていることを続けるために、リチャージするために必要だった。
In February however, for the Chinese New Year holidays, I chose to join fellow coworkers to a trip to the Philippines, to Palawan island. Here are the thoughts I jotted down in my Facebook page after coming back.
でも２月の旧正月のお休みには、同僚たちとフィリピンにいくことにした。行き先はパラワン島。下の文章が帰ってきた時Facebookに投稿したものです。
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| Island hopping the first day |
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| Starfish island |
”My first trip to the Philippines was to Palawan Island. Words are not enough to describe the peaceful, beautiful, calm place. First time snorkeling, discovering an amazing world down below with its fun creatures and colors, watching fireflies along a river, swimming between rocks to find beaches and lagoons, are only one of the many things we got to experience.
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| First time snorkeling! |
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| Monitor Lizard at the Underground river |
Above anything, I was touched by the people. People went out of their way to help us have the best experience. The Palaweños, were very humble, but conscious, amazing problem-solvers, advocates and protectors of their own environment and heritage.
They have a prison without walls, Iwahig Prison where they have prisoners are “free”. The prisoners are given responsibility to govern themselves and be part of a self-sustaining community through farming and fishing, and their families can move and live with them. A local guide mentioned, by giving the opposite of what they usually get, freedom, the prisoners treasure it and therefore do not leave.
The butterfly garden work extremely hard to conserve the native species of butterflies. People study which plant each butterfly species need for its survival. Instead of the locals cutting down these plants, they ask them to breed butterflies, keep the plants and sell the cocoons/pupas to the garden for educational purposes. A beautiful helping cycle.
The young tricycle driver on our last day, Edgar, shared to me with sparkling eyes, his dreams of one day having a tricycle painted blue, with a stereo attached so he could bring music wherever he took his passengers. He said to us, “Love is what is most important. What is the point of having money if you don’t have love?”
A truly vivid place that has taken a special place in my heart. Definitely recommend it to people!”
”初めてのフィリピンは、パラワン島を訪れました。言葉で
それでも、一番印象に残ったのはパラワン島の人々の心の
パラワン島には、塀のないイワヒグ刑務所がある。受刑者
バタフライガーデンでは、その土地の蝶々を保護する活動
最後の日にお世話になったトライシクルドライバーのエド
とても印象深い経験ばかりで、私の心をぐっとつかんだ特
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| Underground River |
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| Best meal! |
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| Hiking to a waterfall |
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