Because of my penpals’ associates, I have my panel exhibition now here in Japan. This exhibition is held in the building of the railway station in Gifu, Japan. For this project, I made 11 panels with pictures and writings from my overseas penpals. I appreciate it. They provided me with their pictures and letters a lot. Now, many visitors are coming to the venue, so they are very interested in my friends’ countries. Thank you, my overseas penpals. This is evidence from our friendships.
Rekah
By Dwianto
Wrapped tightly in shackles.
Crawling on the ground, full of limitations.
The world feels dark, colorless.
The soul is confined, full of doubts.
Yet within, lies potential.
A hidden power, waiting to be unleashed.
Like a flower bud, ready to blossom.
The butterfly awaits, the time to change.
The process of transformation, full of struggle.
Breaking free from the shackles.
Breaking through obstacles, full of pain.
Towards the light, reaching for hidden dreams.
Until the time comes, beautiful wings unfold.
Learn from the butterfly.
that we are capable of transformation.
Discard doubts, face fears.
Step forward, achieve your dreams.
Like a caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly.
Let go of the shackles of the past, welcome the future.
Fly high, reach your dreams with confidence.
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My Indonesian friend sent me this poetry this week. Yes, I understand his feelings that he discribed in this sentences. Everybody is struggling with something when they are younger like this way. However everybody has possibility to be a butterfly like this in the future. So you should not give up becoming your own butterfly. Because life can be beautiful for everyone.
There is a woman who has decided to work in Japan. She came to Japan on her trip, so my wife and I met her in Osaka and had dinner with her.
It was a short meeting of just two hours. We ate okonomiyaki, took a walk, and then went to a coffee shop. The discussion lasted only two hours, but it was plenty of time for us.
There is a place called Sonezaki in the center of Osaka, and there is a famous shrine here. This place is so famous because it was the setting for a Bunraku play called “Sonezaki Shinju''. This bunraku play is based on a tragic true story that happened during the Edo period. It is a sad story about a young man and woman who fall in love and end up committing suicide. It can be said that it is the Japanese version of “Romeo and Juliet.''
The three of us took a walk around this shrine that evening.
She is still halfway through learning Japanese. However, her determination is strong and she will definitely achieve her goal. And she said she plans to come back to this place in two years.
My wife and I don't have any children. That's why interacting with foreigners like this is a purpose in life for us. I want to help people learning Japanese like her.
I only have about 20 years left, and I wonder how much I can accomplish in those 20 years. After meeting her and her decision to work in Japan, I too became strongly determined to reach my own goal.
