2008年4月6日

今週の漢字: 慣れる

Adapt (2):
Many people have been asking me lately if I have gotten used to Japan. There are things that I feel I’ve gotten accustomed to, but I’m sure that I still don’t totally fit into Japanese society, especially in relation to language barriers. Small differences don’t really surprise me anymore like they did in the first few months here. Now that I know I will be here for at least another year, I am not thinking of my time in Japan as a long vacation or extended break, but I feel it is more like a temporary settlement. I suppose what is different about my time here compared to my college years just passed is that I am in Japan for more than 90% of the year. During my time at NYU and University of Miami, I was home for at least a third of each year. College felt even more temporary compared to living all on my own. I think bills also contribute to the reality that I no longer have the binds of a student tying me down. Then again, I guess bills have taken the place of school. Oh, the power of papers with numbers!

Aside from talking to people from the states, there are a few instances when I am reminded of New Jersey and Florida. When I first went to Miami, I registered a distinct smell along with my feelings toward all my experiences there. Of course, I also logged all the architecture and scenery into my memories. When I talk about the smell of Miami, I hope you know what I am talking about. It is by no means an odor, but more neutral. It is said that one of the most powerful associations with a place is the smell. I can’t really describe what the smell of Miami is like, but there are times when I smell something similar in Japan. For New York, it’s not so hard. Occasionally when I just so happen to be near some exhaust, I am reminded of New York, and a lot of good feelings come rushing into me despite having inhaled fumes. I know it might seem like a joke, but I'm completely serious. I really am reminded of New York from fumes and dirt, but it depends on certain conditions. Exhaust from one car is not the same as another. If you are thinking that I run around my town trying to take in bad gas in order to enter a state of euphoria, you are mistaken… I run around all of Japan. No, of course not! Don’t worry.

Stay tuned next week for another update!

En français:
Je continue d’écouter la musique quelle est populaire en États-Unis via la radio d’Internet. Je ne veux pas revenir et ne pas savoir la culture. Il est très important que je continue à savoir la culture américaine. Je crois qu’il change rapidement. Quand je pense ces trois années dernières, j’en réalise. Je sais des amis qui veulent revenir au temps d’université. Je ne veux jamais revenir à ce temps parce que je préfère la vie après l’université.

今週の聖書の詩: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

今週の写真: Here are some pictures of the area around the hotel with hot spring baths that I went to last week.






3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It looks so serene and peaceful. You don't see that in NYC (maybe Central Park, but it's not the same).

~ Cuz,
Jay

ジャスティン said...

Of course it's not the same. I don't want it to be the same. I guess the closest to it that I've experienced near home in NJ was in the Catskills. Yuya-onsen was definitely very peaceful. To be honest, I didn't really like some of the facades, but the nature part of the town was lovely.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry are the hot baths inside the hotel...b/c all i see are cold-looking bodies of water in those photos. (the water just isn't hot spring-y enough for me)

Are you a fumiologist now? LOL..."This particular species is of exhaustus noxious and is a rare find here in Japan."

And the French translation...not so great this time, though.

"I continue to listen to popular music in America via Internet radio. I don't want to come back and not know any pop culture. It is very important that I continue to be updated on American culture. I think it is changing rapidly. When I think about these last three years, I realized. I know friends who want to return to university time. I do not want to ever go back to that time because I prefer life after college."

-curtiss