Dream Comes True（大学院進学編⑦）８９：国際キャリア学科４期生のE.Uさんのメルボルン便り②

Hi, there. It’s Ellie. 皆さん、こんにちは。えりです。How are you doing?

 

前回の投稿から少し間が空いてしまいましたが、メルボルン便りVol.２ をお届けします。楽しんでいただけたら嬉しいです。

 

９月になり、草と土の香りがし始めた南半球のメルボルン。まだまだ肌寒いですが、青く広がる空が春の訪れを感じさせる今日この頃です。気が付けばオーストラリアに来てもう２ヶ月が経ち、学校はWeek 7に入りました。あと２週間を乗り切れば、Mid Semester Break、一週間ほどの休み期間に入ります。待ちきれない！

 

ここ最近は、怒涛のように課題に追われていいました。１０００から２０００ワードのエッセイを次から次に３日もしくは４日で仕上げないといけません。休む暇もなく、課題に追われ、自分の限界にいつも立ち向かっているようで、エネルギーを完全に吸い取られていました。毎日がいっぱいいっぱいなのに授業は進んでいきますし、予習・復習もこなさないといけなくて、いくら時間があっても足りません。勉強とプライベートのバランスをとることの大切さを学びました。当たり前のことのようですが、意外とこれって難しいです。やらないといけないことにのめり込んでしまって、一息つくことを忘れがちになります。気づいたら、一日、誰とも話さず、ご飯も食べずにパソコンと睨めっこして、夜を迎えていたこともよくありました。

 

そんな経験を経て、今では２時間、もしくは３時間おきに息抜きすることを心がけるようになりました。行き詰まったらキャンパスを歩き回ったり、カフェに行ってコーヒーや食べ物をゲットしたりして、落ち着く。そして、また勉強に戻る。ご飯はしっかり食べる。友達と一緒に勉強することも助けになっています。お互いに励まし、支え合って、毎日、勉学に励んでいます。海外での大学院生活が大変になることは覚悟していたものの、予想の１０倍、いやそれ以上に大変で、楽しいことよりも辛いことの方が多いかもしれません。楽しい留学生活をどこかで望んでいた自分がいて、現実に押しつぶされそうになることも正直、多々あります。それでも、自分の意志でここにいるので、どれだけ辛くても、大変でも、苦しくても、どうにかこうにか、泣いて笑って、喚きながら、耐え、踏んばりたいです。そして、何年後かにこの日々を振り返った時に自分の成長が見えるいいなと思いながら、頑張ろうと思います。

 

皆さんも大学生活、留学、就職活動等で大変なことも多いと思いますが、自分だけが辛い思いをしているわけじゃないと言うことを忘れないでいて欲しいです。きっと、あなたの隣にいる人も何かと戦っていて、どこかの誰かもあなたと同じようなことに頭を悩ませていて、赤道を越えた南半球にいる私も頑張っています。向かう先は違っても、そこに辿り着くまでの歩みはきっと誰とでも支え合えるはずです。だから、今日も一日頑張りましょう！素敵な1日を〜！

It’s September, I can smell the green fresh glass and the earth in Melbourne. It gets a bit chilly sometimes, yet the bright blue sky tells me that spring is now here.

 

It’s been two months since I arrived in Australia, and school is already in Week 7!! Mid-Semester Break is in two weeks, and I just can’t wait for that. Having said that, I only have four weeks left of this semester, which means the quarter of my graduate school life is coming to end.

 

Recently, university life has been hectic, and numbers of assignments have been chasing me. I had only 3-4 days to produce 1000 – 2000 words essays, one after the other. I didn't have time to take a break, so I just kept doing what I had to do.

 

There were many assignments on my plate, but I also had to catch up on classes at the same time. Assignments ultimately overloaded and stressed me out. This experience, however, has reminded me of the necessity of keeping a balance between university life and personal life.

 

This sounds so basic, but it could be challenging at times, especially when you are busy and have a bunch of things to deal with. You occasionally forget to take a break.

 

There were times when I didn't have any food and didn't talk to anyone. I was just studying obsessively because I was worried about failing. Focusing on what you need to do is a good thing, but if it causes you to go bananas, you need to change something about your lifestyle.

 

Now, I am attempting to take a break every 2 or 3 hours. When I can't think of anything, I close my laptop and go for a walk, or I get a cup of coffee or food and relax for a few minutes. And I make an effort to eat healthily as well. Otherwise, I would be anxious and stressed. Studying with friends also helps me. We may support and assist each other, which motivates me to study every day.

 

I assumed the graduate school would become tough, but it was far more challenging than I had imagined. There are probably more hardships than fun. To be honest, a part of me wishes for a fun study abroad experience and cannot accept the reality, while the other part of me hopes to endure struggles because I am here with my decision.

 

There will be times when I feel I cannot or do not want to do anything because it is stressful or too difficult. I might cry sometimes. Nonetheless, I hope to survive and be proud of myself when I look back on those times and see my growth in the future. Hopefully, I'll be able to say, "yeah... there were those times when it was rough, but it was definitely worth it."

 

So, I just want you to know that you're not the only one in your struggles, even if you have to study more or seek a job and stress with them. However, the person sitting next to you is probably also working on what they have to accomplish, and someone else in the world is struggling with the same problems that you are now facing. Furthermore, I, who crossed the equator, am doing my best for the time being.

 

Even if our destination is different from each other, we can all work together to achieve our own goals.

 

Well, have a lovely day and wish you all the best!!

 

Ellie