Yes, I used to not have a life and that is why I am here, in the North end of the world to see a “real life”. In search of it, Lundagård’s columnist, Satomi Miyata will explain how she is stuck with the Big Cause.
I went to an international school in England when I was a high school student and my best friend there was a Swede. After a year, each of us struck out on our own and I went back to my homeland, Japan. When I got back, the craziest year of my lifetime was awaiting. I mean by “my lifetime” the years that I have lived so far.
Anyways, the year was indeed tough. I went to school from 7 to 4 and then to cram school (it is an extra school to learn the strategies to pass college entrance exams) from 5 to 10 with both a lunch box and a dinner box almost every day. Although I was obviously busy, I barely kept in touch with my Swedish best friend until she said one phrase when I told her my lifestyle at the time, which was “YOU DON’T HAVE A LIFE.”
BOOM.
That was the end of my relationship with her until I finally came to senses when all my exams were over. I realized how narrow-minded I was and sent a message telling her exactly how I felt when she said “it” so that our relationship could get back on the right track.
However, getting on good terms with her again didn’t keep me from wondering what a “real life” she meant. Then I started to study about Sweden. At first, Sweden seemed like heaven. Children don’t get grades until they finish their elementary school where they are all valued equally. Although the grading system starts after, the idea of equality, such as everyone’s access to good education and second chance in case they drop out, is the core part all thorough Swedish education system. Coming from the society where I got judged by every single chance, it seemed like Swedes were having a “real life”.
I definitely think that the education system in Japan is very inefficient and in many ways unfair. And I definitely admit that I didn’t have a life back then. But I don’t regret not having a “real life”. It’s because that was when I learned there is so much unfairness that you can’t help. You only get one shot for one college entrance exam. If you are sick on the day of the exam, you are out. It is luck after all. But people still believe that they will be lucky somehow.
This made me wonder to what extent people should be guaranteed with safety net in the face of uncertainty to avoid becoming completely hopeless and dare to do something. Or to what extent can we rely on the assumption that we are driven to take a risk when we are on the edge because we somehow see hope anyway? And to what extent are we ready to accept inequality and unfairness? And at last, what is a “real life”? I still don’t know.
