Where will I be and what will I be doing five years from now? What kind of person will I have become? Will I have achieved my dreams? Will I have a better understanding of human relationships than I do now? I hope that in five years, I won’t have as many regrets as I do now. Myself in five years… Before coming to Japan, I used to work and actively participate in various volunteer teams. I used the money I earned from work for that purpose. I remember staying in a rural area for about a week, away from the town, and participating in various volunteer activities. During those volunteer activities, we all slept and ate together in a single hall. It was my first time doing something like that, so I was initially quite perplexed. The most important thing was not to inconvenience others, but up until that point, I had lived a carefree life, so I was a bit surprised. However, I gradually got used to being together with everyone and started to enjoy it. It made me believe that I could get along with anyone in the future. But that idea turned out to be naive. On June 16, 2017, I came to Japan to study. In the first week, everyone was nervous, so everything was fine. However, as weeks passed, inconveniences began to arise. We shared one kitchen among five people. Due to work, I was often tired, so I started leaving the dishes and pots I used unwashed and stopped cleaning. When I lived with my parents, my mother did everything, so I didn’t have to worry about these things. But life in Japan requires consideration for others. If you don’t wash the dishes you used immediately, it will cause problems for others when they want to use them. Continuously facing such issues led to complaints, which strained our relationships. So, before coming to Japan, everyone should consider these aspects as part of Japanese life. It was very tough for me at that time. But gradually, I became more patient, and I learned to get along well with my roommates. The experiences I’ve gained since coming to Japan have made me rethink my attitudes toward the environment and the future. I’ve become better at addressing my shortcomings and paying attention to details. I believe that Japanese people always value the environment and others. Japanese people also prefer a clean and tidy lifestyle, so you rarely find people who are untidy. By studying in Japan, I found a path to the future. In Myanmar, there’s a saying, “Time and the waves of the sea wait for no one.” So, I always try to be punctual and imagine the future. I’m a bit worried about whether the me in five years will be as proactive and capable as I am now or if I’ll lose motivation and become disappointed. I hope that in five years, I will have realized as many dreams as possible. Once I achieve that, I want to share my experiences with the people of Myanmar and contribute to creating a cleaner environment. Minmintown, January 16, Heisei 30