To my past self,
Thank you for all your hard work and effort. You did a great job! You were always serious and diligent in your studies and work. You worked hard for four years at university, studying accounting and obtaining good qualifications, which was impressive. You started learning Japanese somewhat casually, didn’t you? Maybe it was fate! (laughs) Regardless of why you started, continuing to study Japanese is what matters. It’s thanks to you that I am in Japan now. Remember how much you worried about coming here? After graduating, you found a job that utilized your expertise, receiving a salary that many Vietnamese people would desire, and you lived a stable life. Your boss recognized your efforts and decided to send you to Japan for a three-year training program. You were so happy then, as you had always wanted to go to Japan. Finally, the chance came.

But at the same time, you also received acceptance as a nursing scholarship student. You wondered, “What should I do? Either choice would take me to Japan. If I go with the company’s training, I might get promoted after returning to Vietnam in three years. If I choose the nursing scholarship, I will be in Japan for six years. By then, I’ll be 33, perhaps called an ‘auntie.’ (laughs) Plus, is it even possible to study a completely new field now?” You heard various things from people around you. “You’re too small to take care of others. There are many heavy elderly people. It’s tough, and you can’t do it.” Those words must have shaken your decision. You were unsure which path to choose.

However, after careful consideration, you found the answer. What is your purpose? What is your dream? Don’t you want to create a care facility in your hometown? Yes! That was the answer! And so, you chose and decided to challenge a new path.

Thanks to the decision you made, I am enjoying every day now. I am enjoying the beauty of Japan, visiting various places, and meeting people I wanted to see again. I am grateful for your hard work. I hope to continue with this spirit and build a wonderful life.

To my future self,
How old are you now? What kind of person have you become? Who do you love? Do you still love that person unchanged? I bet you’re married now. Whose side are you on? Is it the person I’m curious about now? (laughs) Are you happy now? Or are you crying in sorrow? If you are with that person, I’m sure you feel happy. I pray that you are happy.

Are you still living in Japan now, or have you returned to Vietnam? Did your dream come true, or did you give up along the way? It’s tough to work and study at the same time! There might be times when you want to give up. But you chose this path after much deliberation, abandoning other options, so I hope you persevere until you succeed. No matter what happens, keep moving forward. What’s important is not what choices you make, but how strongly you live the life you’ve chosen. That’s all. Let’s work together, past, present, and future selves, to create a wonderful life!