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Small World

Moving to Japan hits you in stages. I think I'm past the initial "culture shock" stage and have moved into the “gratitude” stage. I'm fully aware that I've moved across the world and stick out like a sore thumb, but at the same time I know that this place has everything I could possibly need. I’m aiming for consistent daily growth. Japan is the ideal country to spend my 24th year.

It sort of feels like a bubble, though. The people here are disciplined and seem to have this killer instinct to protect the countries pureness. Almost like they know that the rest of the world is toxic.

What has been the most unbelievable to witness are the universal similarities between the people of our world. We all eat, sleep, and have our inner thoughts. It's terrifyingly beautiful how similar we are. Children are explorers. All kids bask in their wandering minds. Everyone has emotional struggle and success, it’s just a matter of which wave you’re currently riding. These shared characteristics are the semantics of our small world.

I’ve been talking to people for 5 hours per day, but they aren’t 5 hours of small talk. It’s one big peaceful battle against the language barrier. I’ve always taken my work seriously but the importance of what I’m doing nowadays has been elevated to it’s peak. The barrier that I’m trying to tear down is the only barrier that exists in the world. There are no physical walls that separate us, only language differences. Of course, one’s native language is more than able to assist in the individual pursuit of happiness, but to truly advance as a species, we have to understand each other. 



It has been 2 months since arriving in Japan. As each day passes, my vision clears. I see a future that does not let politics divide us. A future that puts emphasis on the world as a whole, and most importantly, a future that caters towards the generations that will follow.

J.S




Comments

  1. ScottDecember 2, 2019 at 5:11 PM

    "A future that caters toward the generations that will follow". Jake, that's exactly what we need to focus on. Thanks for putting abstract ideas into concise narrative. Take care and be well. Sounds like you already are.
    Uncle Scott

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shurjacobDecember 16, 2019 at 1:49 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. shurjacobDecember 16, 2019 at 1:52 AM

      Thanks for reading, Uncle Scott,I hope you and Jackie are keeping well.

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 2, 2020 at 10:46 AM

    A very interesting report on you experience so far living in Japan. Our family was there
    for ten happy years. We lived in Tokyo but took real advantage of the country. What a pleasure it was.
    We still miss it a great deal and have been back a number of times since. I am going to ask your Aunt
    Laura to put us together after your return. I met you at her house for that musical evening awhile ago.
    A great idea to do some teaching via the music. I did some teaching myself. The Japanese attend everything and music is very much a part of their lives.
    Keep on enjoying it. Sayonara for now. Mary Farrell

    Mary Farrell


    much a part of their lives.

    ReplyDelete

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