>Philip
Hi hi Philip!
Thanks soo much for finding this blog and for this heartful message!!!!! Very kind of you... yeah also thanks again for coming to the Idol perormance!!! =)

balance between mundane work and personal enrichment...

i'm not good at doing those mundate works constantly. When I do it, I may be very good at them. But the thing is i always try to run away from them!!! haha!!!

but curious, when it comes things not for myself but for friends, i feel like do very soon... i used to be like this. and Now? getting lazier and lazier.. (sigh)

haha anyway i admire people who has strong self-decipline. as i know i'm not.

Hitomi,

Curiosity lured me to read this message you posted and I agree with your view on the exchange study experience. I understand that people back home may not support or sympathise with your decision to study abroad for a year with limited "practical" gain. Of course we cannot live in this world, at least in a modern society, without materials (eg. money, job etc). But we should be the master of materials, not the slave. One can work hard everyday, build a good career, and accrue fortunes, but these are pointless if they don't enjoy life during the process. One can't take anything away when one leaves this world anyway. On the other hand, simply squandering away without any consolidated planning for the future doesn't work in the long run either, and it's a waste of one's intellect and abilities too. In essence, there should be a balance between mundane work and personal enrichment. If the enjoyment of life doesn't interfere with or jeopidise the "mundane tangibles", then by all means go ahead. Furthermore, you can't buy non-tangibles like friendship, multicultural experience, all the fun etc. Now, I don't think the past year you've spent in Sydney would pose any harm in your career path, right? Although knowledge of Australian law is of limited use in Japan, who knows what use that will have for you in the future? The same applies to English proficiency. Even if these skills are completely useless, you haven't wasted the whole year. I'm sure that you've gained a lot personally and spiritually which will stay with you for the rest of or even beyond your life. No one can take these away.

Different people would have different opinions, viewed from different perspectives, but there's no one correct way to live life. At the end of the day, you're in the driver's seat and you decide what to do with yourself. Live life to the full, in your own way. Other people would have their own approach but that doesn't matter, and should be the way it is. The world would certainly be a boring place if there's only one way to live! Although I haven't known you for very long, I can see that you're a person with a beautiful mind and many capabilities, with many things to offer to others. I'm glad to have known such a talented and inspirational person before your departure.

Enjoy the rest of the month in Sydney, even though you still need to deal with all the "mundane" uni work. (But hey, who else isn't!) My thoughts are with you.

Philip

>Sha
Thanks for your very very very very very very very special comment. Now I feel like writing a letter for you..

Since the time i don't know when, i've been trying to stretch my limit and my "comfort zone", not for future career but for something else, maybe for myself to be improved and sophisticated. or maybe for my life to be happenning, full of love and moments. Yes I still believe it is very important to be challenged and to have passion to achieve something in your life.

On the contrary, at the same time, I know it already that I don't want a lot in my life. I wish to live a life in the same way as people have done long long time ago. I just wanna live my life because my mom gave me a birth. And just want to hand it over to next generation because it is how a life should be. That's it. I work to survive. I wish everything to be in peace. I share moments and love with family and friends. That's it...

Maybe I shouldn't think like that, as it's far from the real world, but I think like that now, thank you very much... honestly too many harsh in societies. and too many choices in life. There're too many ways and I still don't know which to go. Too rich. So complicated. I was put tight between these thoughts and couldn't move.

Then now, your words ease my tense.
Made me feel at ease. really. I didn't really say anything anywhere in words, but you knew it. :)

>monjirou-saiさん
コメントありがとうございます。そして、日本語じゃないこのブログを好んで読んでくださっていて、ありがとうございます。

大丈夫、べつに考えすぎて鬱になったりはしてないですよ～！毎日めちゃめちゃ楽しんでますのでご心配なく♪♪ただ・・・

世界はどんな賢者の想像力をも超えて遥かに広く、大きく、複雑で、美しい。自分ひとりを圧倒的に超えたものが確かに存在する。それを思えば、私の留学だ、キャリアだ、人生だ、って本当にちっぽけなものです。言葉で書くと「ふうん」で終わってしまうけど、それをこの留学生活で実感できたことは、わたしのこれまでの人生の収穫のひとつです。

いろんな人がいて、いろんな考え方がある。たった数十年の人生ですべてを理解することは不可能かもしれないけど、できるだけ多くに出会いたい。そんなことを考えているだけです。

あ、ちなみに私の英語はけっこう適当なものなので、あまり勉強のあてにしないでくださいね！！日本人でちゃんと読んでくださっている方を思うと、下手な文法で書けませんね（笑）

Sometimes we tend to chase the shadows of someone greater, someone we respect, and his shadow we will become. I have stopped chasing shadows.

Careers are part of our eveyday life but it shall not control our life. Careers put bread on your table and that is it. It does not bring anything worth mentioning to your children or grandchildren. Experiences are something you'll treasure when your body cease to function. Memories of various cultures, different foods and unique friends. What's more important than these experiences is having you as a friend, as a part of my story telling to my grandkids. The story of a singer, a pianist, and a friend.

Treasure these moments in life. Grab hold of them and never let go. Even when your career fails. We, your friends are here. I am here. :)

hitomiちゃん　こんばんわ
内容は　正確に把握できないけど　読んだ雰囲気でコメントしますね

毎日　真剣に　考えすぎないで　留学生活　楽しめばいいと思うけど。。。

キャリア積むための留学なのか。　よく　わからないけど　いろんな体験をすることは　人を大きくすると思うし。　人生は　楽しめば　いいと　思うよ。　人のために　なにか　できることをしてあげながら。。

ピント　はずれだつたら　ごめんね。　翻訳するの　面倒なので
あはははははははははは。　笑顔に勝る化粧なし。

wahhh... so touched. so kind of you.
i actually didn't know what i wanted to say in this blog,
but i feel so relieved to find your comments now. thank u.

You have affected us and those who know you in so many positive ways hitomi so you're not merely an exchange student per se. You are so much more than that. Keep smiling..

u always have a very special thinking