【My English Journal⑩】Nostalgia, Family, and the Passage of Time
During the Bon vacation in Japan, one of my coworkers, who originally comes from China but became a Japanese citizen over 10 years ago, took advantage of the long break to visit China. It had been a decade since she last saw her hometown, and I’m certain she was taken aback by the rapid and constant changes in the place where she was born and raised. Her journey made me feel deeply nostalgic, prompting me to search for plane tickets during idle moments, even while at work.
The last time I visited my family was in February of this year, when I stayed for a month and a half. This trip was especially meaningful, as it was my first time returning to China since giving birth to my daughter. My parents were eager to meet their little granddaughter and reunite with their beloved grandson. The time spent with my family was incredibly precious and nourishing, providing me with a sense of connection that I had sorely missed.
I’m reminded of a metaphor shared by one of my favorite podcast hosts: the time you have with your loved ones is like an ice cube. You might neglect the time you can spend with them, but once you start paying attention, you realize the ice cube has already melted significantly. The remaining portion is so limited that you can hardly recall its original shape. The melting ice poignantly represents the time that has slipped away.
My parents are in their 60s now, and since I moved to Japan and settled here, meeting in person has become a rare occurrence, despite our weekly video calls. However, no amount of virtual communication can replace the warmth and fulfillment of being physically present with loved ones. To my great surprise, during my stay in China, I noticed that my son made remarkable progress in speaking Chinese. In Japan, despite my efforts to converse with him in Chinese, he typically responds in Japanese, making it feel like a one-sided endeavor. However, being fully immersed in the Chinese environment had a profound impact. He began willingly conversing in Chinese, even using complex phrases that impressed me. It became clear that the environment plays a critical role in language acquisition. Being surrounded by people who didn’t speak Japanese motivated him to improve his Chinese.
As I reflect on these experiences, I’ve decided to plan another trip back to my hometown. I intend to use my paid leave to extend an official three-day holiday and a weekend, maximizing my vacation to a full week. This time, I’m determined to make the most of every moment with my family, cherishing the time we have together without the distractions of work.
It’s easy to get caught up in daily routines and responsibilities, but moments with loved ones are irreplaceable. I’m committed to making family time a priority, understanding that these moments are finite and precious. I look forward to the upcoming trip, hoping to create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds that distance often tests.