Greetings and salutations!

An actual update!

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It has certainly occurred to me that I’m working somewhat of a dead end job, but it's a job that pays me fairly well to work no more than 6 hours a day. It’s true that the material isn’t always entertaining and that the children can often test one’s patience to an unbelievable degree, but there are rewarding moments too, like when you make those small, personal connections to a child, or when it becomes clear that they are actually learning. These moments are not frequent but they tend to make the rest of the challenges seem worth it.

The more I travel the more I understand the old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” For the most part, Japan is a great deal like anywhere else in the world. The infrastructure and economy are familiar, and the people are essentially like people anywhere else. This should, of course, come as no surprise. There are differences naturally. The country has its share of unique treasures and beautiful locales, there is the issues of language and culture that make every nation stand out. Many of these distinctions are positive ones, but two things strike me as sad about Japan.

Firstly, one can never escape the fact that this country has the world’s highest population density. A population of nearly 120 million in a space smaller than Alberta creates a unique environment with its own challenges. Social problems in the country are rampant, and Japan boasts the world’s highest per-capita suicide rate. There is a tangible sense of isolation. This is reinforced by the tiered linguistic and social interactions that are such a formality here. Secondly, this is a country that fears its past, and is uncertain about its future. Torn between their ancient heritage and modern advancements, many Japanese express of sense of insecurity about where the fit in the world.

These issues aside, rarely a day goes by that I don’t find a new reason to love Japan, or to loathe it. Today, however, was a wonderfully positive experience! I was able to travel to Atami with my dear friend. We hung out at a local onsen/hot spring facility, and caught what was, without doubt, the most spectacular fireworks display I have ever seen! It was the last festival of the summer for the popular vacation city.

As for me, I have enjoyed the contemplation and self exploration I have been able to experience thus far, and continue to develop in different ways. These days I appreciate the people that draw me, the small moments of quiet smiling, the faces of humans, angels, and demons. These are the very things that remain the same no matter where I go, though I may seem them differently at times. I have also come to a better understanding of the dozens of opportunities I have each day to change the lives of people around me.

I have to cut this short I’m afraid, but I wanted to note another observation. I’ve noticed that many people here wear articles of clothing with various logos and slogans on them. While this might seem perfectly normal at first glance, a closer look reveals that the vast majority of the time, these are not branded products but simply generic shirts, jackets, etc. with generic statements such as “aint gonna fight no more” and other equally useless placards. I wonder if they even know what the phrases are half the time. I think it’s simply considered cool to have something in English on your clothes *S*

Well that’s all for now folks. Be sure to check out the FAX post from a few days back, as I’m not sending out update notification emails anymore. There should be a new story section coming along soon as well.

With Hope,
Joseph