I am not planning on going home until July, when I have to. I've just been having a very, very rough time lately. But I know that's part of being an exchange student, and trust me, I'm pulling out every weapon in my arsenal (quite a considerable force :) to make things better.
To everyone who's been writing to me or calling or whatever it may be, thank you so, so, so, so, so, so, so much. It means so much to know that I've got you all supporting me. I'm blowing you all cutesy little Japanese kisses (complete with a wink and a sparkle).
Just so you all know, I had a very good day today. I saw a Tchaikovsky concert and ate sushi ^-^ And, on a random note, since I finally bought a camera, I'm planning on taking pictures of random Japanese things that you may or may not find amusing (if I can figure out how to post them on this blog...), just for fun. Why not?
Talk to you all later, and by all means, feel free to send me a note or something :)
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hellooo, random lurker here haha, hope you don't mind D:
ReplyDeleteI've become interested in going on an exchange to Japan for '11-'12 and just came across your blog :)
anyways, 頑張ってください！
p.s. just wondering, but what program are you going with?
Yo Sis! What up, dog.
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe you're in Japan. You're awesomely crazy and all my friends here go nuts when I tell them. Here's best wishes from everyone at "the bunker" (my house) and beyond!
Now, here's a small recommendation - now that you've got a camera, show me how to make a film there. And I don't mean just film your bike ride to school, although that would be AWESOME (wink-wink). I mean show me what the life you're living is like; the people, the places, the schools, the cafeterias, whatever.
I'm not just saying this because I think it would be cool. I bet that in 10, or even 2 years, looking at that footage will likely rock your world. It's not just speculation - whenever I go back and watch old videos, it's almost like being transported back in time.
Now, I know you're having a tough time now, and I would be lying if I told you I didn't figure on that from the beginning, but where there is struggle, there is growth. You took a huge step in adventuring out on your own, especially for so long, and in a way I really envy that you were strong enough and dedicated enough to follow that through, especially because I don't know if I would have been ready for something so estranged and isolating.
You're like a renaissance woman, leaving behind everything you know for the chance at a dream and it's freakin' great! Shit, I can't even compare it to my moving out to LA because at least there I can speak the language.
But, if I can pass on a little bit of wisdom, some from myself and some from those around me, you can't stress about things the way they are, because the way they are is the only way they'll ever be. The key, especially in this foreign place, is to enjoy the little things. When you get back here, life will be the same, I promise (except for that you'll be all "cultured" now, which essentially means you're more interesting to people, which essentially means things are going to be a little more fun for you ;). You'll get back to DSA and be like, "oh how nice to be comfortably beating away the silly academics of Durham Public Schools again, seeing what old friends are up to and eating Bahns... every day... just like it was before... every day for 15 years... shoot, what am I doing? I've been here too long! This place is like a black hole, I gotta get out of here!! Maybe I should go some place, be alone for a little while... like Japan... wait a second...", or something along those lines, and then Japan will seem like this wonderful place that you didn't take advantage of and you'll do anything to get back.
Sorry, that seems a bit excessive reading back on it, but I think you'll get the point.
Teresa, big bro to little sis - LIVE WITH NO REGRETS. If there's something you don't like, find something that you do like and pay attention to that instead. Go get lost in a city, or in the country, and take your camera and your colored pencils and sit in the sun for a day. It's the most relaxing thing you can possibly do. Go exploring! I can only imagine the places you could go (literally!!), so my best advice it to take advantage of it while you can.
Forget about the people who don't matter. If someone isn't willing enough to receive you as a friend when you offer, they don't matter, or at least they shouldn't to you. That is something I should've warned you about. High school kids don't get things on the level that you and I do. I don't say that to be mean or presumptuous, but what I'm telling you is that we're different, us Tippens'/Tugurians'/whatever we are. In college, you'll meet more people like you, I promise, but for the moment, don't sweat the people who refuse to sweat you. They just don't get it, yet.
ReplyDeleteDo what you can to make your life the most fun it can possibly be. I know you've got things YOU MUST DO, blah, blah, blah... but it's all just white noise if you can figure out what it is you want and love and sometimes feel the need to do. You're an artist. If what I hear is true about you wanting to compose, start writing/recording something! You've got a camera and iMovie, so you can even mix tracks of you playing with yourself if you wanted! These are all just suggestions based on what I know, so if they aren't the things you want to do, get creative!
Oh, and one last note - take advantage of free time. It doesn't come nearly as often as it should in the future, so if you've got it now, have fun with it. It sounds like you're on the right track with this last post, so keep going and keep me (and all these other "lurkers") up to date on how it's going.
I love you (see there!) and I've always got your back, remember that. Even if I'm not "posting", it doesn't mean I don't think about you all the time. I want you to have the time of your life. All the time.
Stay classy 'lil sis.
I miss you.