Recently, as I ponder why I like it here so much, mind has been mulling over all sorts of considerations. I do admit this post has hit early as the culture shock is said to take about one to two months to set in, but I can not help to comment on the fact how much I like life in Japan and why. Reason for my confusion is that I am working here full time just like I easily could in the US and there are plenty of places to see in America as there are in Japan. Why should I like it here so much when I have the same opportunity in the US where everyone understands and can talk to me?
As I ponder further, I realize that 2 main things explain why I have such high satisfaction (bordering on infatuation) with my current situation. The more minor of the two is that, though my opportunities were the same between the US and Japan, I took and still take the sites to see in America for granted. I admit there are cool things to see and do in the US, but a good portion of it never really appealed to me. This coupled with the fact that the US is spread way far out and expensive to travel makes my motivation fall to practically nothing.
On the other hand, I want to see everything here if I am provided with the opportunity. From certain types of stores to historical landmarks, if I am offered to go somewhere with someone, I will go and even also plan to do exploring of my own. I don’t know how else to explain the fact that I just am innately more interested with what Japan has to offer in terms of experiences than my home country. It is more than likely due to a vast combo of factors ranging from the fact that my cultural/familial disconnection from Japan makes it exotic and more alluring, to sentiments of disappointment I harbor towards certain personally perceived shortcomings in my home nation (yeah that aint fair, but neither was the dismissing the spread of AIDS as the “gay plague” in its early stages or telling a Rwanda refugee that “America doesn’t have friends, it has interests”). Yeah, Japan may not be perfect, but until my home nation shapes up, I have no right to criticize another nation.
The other reason I like it here so much is that I have a lot more faith in and respect for my present job as well as a far deeper sense of satisfaction. All the hurdles I may face in working for AEON were made clear to me or AT LEAST hinted at. My prior experience with National Guard B.S. has trained me how to interpret these subtle hintings and how extensive a headache they could be. I have yet to have an unpleasant surprise. It also helps that Aeon primarily wants me to be a good teacher and takes good care of me for the purpose of providing a good service and that all those above me have treated me with (at least) an acceptable amount of respect.
Moreover, the role I am performing and trying to perfect really suites me. I am working everyday to help individuals master a task that will help them understand others of a different culture. At the moment, I believe this is how I can best make the world a better place. How much better would this world be if everyone could understand one another better? My ripple in the ocean of life may be miniscule but it is better than the absolute stillness that I felt I only managed to cause up to this point in terms of my work. I finally believe my job makes a positive difference and that is mostly why I freakin love working here.
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