Reflections from the land of the rising sun

I've made it; I'm here and I don't want to leave.

The month mark has come and gone and I'm all the better for it. Reflecting on last week's attitudes, it seems that a sea change has occurred on how I view Japan.

I think the change, honestly, coincides with a rather simple, yet peculiar event. On Friday, a whole slew of people went to the cultural parade in downtown Yamaguchi for National Culture Day, an annual holiday in Japan. The whole town seemed to step out of their quiet houses and routine lives to come and gaze at all the culture that this small town holds. To my understanding, this was the first time, this huge cultural festival has been held in Yamaguchi, and I'm glad I'm here while it's going on.

For the first time, I really stood back and took all in the pleasing aesthetics that Japan has to offer and I want to see more. The history, the culture, the people are all beautiful and I feel honored to be experiencing it. I sometimes feel like an outcast, yet I feel at home at the same time; a paradox but I care not. Hell, I feel more at home than in America. Maybe this will change with time. Regardless, I'm cherishing every moment.

I've already decided a few things, however. I am coming back here as soon as I can. Maybe after college I'll come back for grad school or maybe for the JET programme. I'm going to e-mail OU, and see if there is a way that I can possibly finish my degree here or stay for another year. I wish you all could experience what I'm experiencing. I know now that I did make the right choice.

I took heaps of pictures at the parade, 200-300 photos, so expect a lot of those on my flickr account within the next few days.

Until then,

Matane.