Japan 2010

I wanted to write about Japan before too much time passes by after.

So I got back from Japan on Monday, and I want to say that it was the most cleansing and refreshing time out of all the times that I went to Japan.

When people say they're going to Japan, most people assume or picture a crazy time in the city or all night bar hopping and unlimited shopping, loads of great food in high tech areas. Or just somewhere in some city. But my experiences when I go to Japan are filled with nature, farming, and no technology.

I go to this city called Kinasa in Nagano, which is where the '98 olympics were. No internet cell phones or friends. polar opposite of my life here in the US. just constantly surrounded by nature's beauty and family. I could just enjoy spending all day standing outside and taking big breaths in and our slowly and feel so alive. Coming back to the US (or even just the city over there) was such a downgrade of air quality. I could drink out of the faucets because the water from the mountains and pipes were that clean. The houses in the area that my grandparents' place are all spread out but most of them are empty now because most of the neighbors have passed away. So I'm literally just surrounded by my grandparents, mom and green mountains and beautiful skies with moving clouds in the blue sky.

I definitely am reminded of patience and appreciate my life for what it is just by being there with no one to really talk to. (aside from my family). My life here in the US can get so cluttered and stressful but just being in nature with no distractions brings me to a clear mindstate. It's so humbling to be reminded by the simplicity of life and not get washed away by my own personal world here. I left the US a little stressed about my future and career, and confused about where I am in my life. (typical post grad state of mind haha) so this trip came at such great timing. I'm back with a refreshed, clear mind and ready to take my life one day at a time. small things seem so stupid to me now a days.

Anyway, my days in these mountains were literally filled with farming, cooking, bugs, hanging out with my grandparents, and watching TV. yes we had a TV! It had like12 channels but unlike american TV where there are 70+ channels and not a single interesting channel, 5 out of the 12 japanese channels that we had always had something interesting to watch. god I love japanese TV hahaha its so funny, and they know how to keep the viewers watching, and commerical breaks are short(er) [even though they used to be even shorter. they seem to get longer everytime i come to the US] Farming with my grandparents is always a great experience. Builds my patience (not in a bad way) and I get to spend time with my grand parents and make jokes with them, things that I would NEVER be able to do here in the states. In my spare time during the day, I seriously just catch bugs or something and throw them into spider webs or watch a frog and play with it. Old fashion japanese boy style. hahaha I miss carefree times like that.

Anyway, I am so convinced that I can't live without nature. When I'm surrounded by it, I get a body high and I'm filled with so much energy from it. Maybe one day I'll do something with nature.

Being in Japan this time around made me seriously consider living out there. Not like my Japanese is good enough to make it out there, but if I studied some and just used it more I think I could pick it up. hhaha maybe. If I really tried. its hard to keep goals like that here when I don't really have a Japanese outlet.. are there any japanese community events and stuff out here in OC? Anyway, one day I wanna do something bilingual and make some money off that too. that would be really rewarding for me too.

Aside from the majority of my time in the mountains, I DID get to go to the city (Tokyo) for like three days. met up with an old friend of mine that moved back to Japan in middle school, some friends that I met at UCI when they were exchange students and a friend that went to UCI who's now teaching english. I highly considered teaching English too,but then I found out I have to give up my Japanese citizenship, so I kind of didn't wanna do that just yet. But it was so good catching up with these people and seeing the kind of fun life they get to have over here. Actually it was my first time out in the city at night because I was always stuck to my mom whenever I went to the city or wherever, so it was really fun being able to go out to the bars and stuff. (and speaking english all of a sudden haha)

Getting to experience both the city and rural life was just the whole package that made me feel so satisfied about my stay in japan. I mean I'm satisfied everytime when I go, dont get me wrong, but this time around was just that much more refreshing especially for my post-grad mind state.

Well I guess that's it for now. I will post pictures later. I have bursts of nostalgia about Japan at times now that I'm back. Like my heart tightens thinking about how I loved the environment there and wanting to be there again. But life is here for me for now. And I'm ready and excited to take on my life and goals one day at a time. I feel more motivated to do the things that I do and want to. Not in like a gungho crazy way but in a calm way where I just wanna make sure I'm moving forward in some way or another in my life.

Thanks Japan for such a refreshing trip.

[add on]
I choreographed a piece inspired by my trip to Japan, and I was lucky enough to teach it for Boogiezone's Japan week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCOr8IvDcCM