Milk and Honey

While the good honey here is not necessarily cheap, the milk here is given to me each day with the school lunch and almost always tastes fresh, wholesome, and smooth. Perhaps it is because it's whole milk and the cows are happy cows.

Sometimes I wonder why I would leave such a place and such a post. I am often treated with the utmost respect in this village. At highly formal events like graduations and pre-school entrance ceremonies I am treated on par with the town mayor and school principals. It is an honor, no less. And people are always complimenting me on my thrift store bought suits.

I am given so much here. I have more than enough food and time. I have a car and it has gas whenever it needs it. I have the most pleasant and easy job, especially considering the amount of respect that is bestowed upon me. And then there are all of the special perks of living in such a special country, on such a special island of that country, in such a special prefecture of that island, in such a special district of that prefecture, and in such a special village in that district. There are Japanese spa resorts here and there (world famous Kurokawa Onsen is just minutes away), volcanoes to hike. But by far the best of all aspects of this place are some of the world's most wonderful kids for whom I get to be the special teacher.

So why must this be such a temporary stay? Why? Why? Well, to start with it is by nature temporary. I have a three year visa here and one year is already a big chunk of that time. I'd be kicked out sooner or later. Secondly, my job does not really involve my whole self, rather just portions of myself, and thus makes me feel somewhat of a wasted soul at times. And thirdly, while I do love my friends and many people I have met here, I miss many other people that I cannot see while I am here and want to be able to see them for at least one substantial visit a year.

The funny thing is that I almost have everything that a person could want out here. I am the kind of guy who could be happy living very simply in a beautiful place with family and friends. I wish, quite often, that life could still be that simple. And yet it is not even close to that in this day and age. One would almost have to start a commune or something of that nature to achieve that kind of thing these days. Old people are now starting their own retirement communities with their friends nowadays--not a bad idea. I bet they have some smashing parties with cases of beer imported from England and Ireland and Germany, and Belgium. French wine. Italian olive oil. Greek olives, Spanish chocolate. Avocados, cheese.

Those of us who are lucky enough to live the good life are truly lucky, don't forget it. Then again people usually do forget it because they get used to--or worse, bored of--what they have. But it is a question who out there has found the key to unlock the happy life. I think many people would be surprised if only we could know the answer.

In the meantime life calls for a journey to find out what kinds of lives can still be lived in the world today. I am curious. I take life seriously in that I think that it is a gift that should not be wasted or sold out, or lived numbly. We'll see what we can do. Perhaps I will have to come back to Japan, buy a Honda Ape and teach more kids about the big wide world (or perhaps that would be too numbing as well)( I do have a three year visa though). But first I should, perhaps, go and help some good people win this November.