Like many expats teaching overseas, I found myself in a difficult situation in the beginning of the pandemic. Each day became more uncertain in many areas of my life. At the time, I was unable to work and my mind was flooded with questions:
- Should I go to my parent's home?
- Should I stay abroad and see if my work will open again?
- Should I defer graduate school?
- Should I start graduate school remotely?
The next morning, I woke up early and unable to go back to sleep. The sun was about to rise and so I decided to play a random radio playlist on my music app.
As the sun shined into my room, "Nekojarashi" by the Radwimps began to play. I did not understand the words, but my heart understood the feeling of the song.
There were small things to be grateful for like the sun shining through my window. I replayed the song for over an hour and I found myself cleaning my apartment, cooking a healthy breakfast and leaving to walk along the river to enjoy the blue sky.
I still replay this song often and it reminds me to breathe, stay present and let life take its course.
Language Insights:
Vocabulary:
expats: person living in a country different from their own.
replayed: to play a song again prefix: re- (again)
Phrases:
I found myself in a: used to describe a situation or condition someone is experiencing in their life
stay present: the action of not thinking to hard about the past or the future; appreciating the moment
Modal:
Should I (infinitive): used to suggest or consider a plan of action
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