MyVoiceOurStory

It has been about three months since requested self-isolation. I mostly spent this period at home. Speaking of changes, I thought about what I could do and started studying nutrition.

In the future, when I thought about the worst case of losing my job I thought making a change without having a job on hand would be difficult, and I worried about my health during self-isolation.

I did my absolute best to avoid spending money, but since I had some work leave compensation, I got the materials for the You Can “Eating Habits Advisor” and am studying every day. However, given that coronavirus will affect the exam next year, I am in no hurry to study.

In addition to that, I found an organization called Masterpiece (https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/masterpiecejp2017) that established a Youth Emergency Fund and I applied to it. The Youth Emergency Fund is a support for youth in facilities and fostered youth who have been financially affected by coronavirus. I was well aware that there were people who were seriously struggling more than me, but I had to go through the process of worrying about myself first and I said to myself, “I will be myself tomorrow”. I was relieved that people responded kindly to this process. There is a certain extent that we can be helped by knowing where we are and what to do. I am glad to know the peace of mind of being supported at any age. Oftentimes we are afraid to speak out.

I had the opportunity to be introduced by an active IFCA SA (supportive adult) as part of a university class and share my experiences at my facility.

It was an online class and I worried whether the students would listen as I spoke, but everyone sent a lot of thoughts in the comments later.

“I was surprised by the differences between our normal and Ikumi’s normal. One person’s daily life can be extraordinary to someone else.”

Everyone’s comments exceeded 10,000 characters in total, I was filled with anxiety reading each and every one of them, but there were days when I thought my way of life wasn’t so bad.

Thank you.

Also, work will resume after July. But I do not think things will go back to what they were (before coronavirus). (Coronavirus’ influence has been very great, and the world is a bit slower now). I expect that after the summer it will suddenly be greater than it was before.

I cannot relax and laugh yet but since I think it is useless to stop, I will do everything that I can.

That was June.