It's been a couple weeks since my last blog post slash illustration. The reason being I recently moved to Tokyo!! Moving was a very exciting experience for me and it taught me a lot (and still is!). My life in Ibaraki was a time I will treasure forever. Now I'm starting a new season of my life.
I spent a while debating whether or not I should talk about the move because most of what moving entailed was busy work and having to go to multiple offices -- ADULT THINGS. Which sound completely boring on paper. However, there were specific things about the process which meant a lot to me and I wanted to take time to share.
One thing which meant a lot to me and something I am proud of, is my language skill level up. Despite being extremely nervous about completing important paperwork by myself without any help from a native Japanese speaker, I was able to successfully talk to government office workers and get everything squared away for my move without any problems. This means a lot to me because I remember thinking I could never get my Japanese level up enough to do this sort of thing. This process proved myself otherwise!!! One of my goals for living in Japan is to become FLUENT in the language. When you live the everyday, talking to people, you don't notice how much you actually LEARN. While the boring adult things were mundane, I can look back at these moments and be PROUD.
Unfortunately a small portion of the move was indeed stressful. When things become too big to think about, or even something I know will force me out of the present moment, I have a bad habit of shutting down completely.
I take up weird hobbies or activities to distract me from the situation I probably need to focus on. For example, I started reading the Harry Potter series and also picking up Pokemon White again. I also slept a lot. In addition, I realized I was starting to look at the calendar much too often and resenting my job. I wanted to just LEAVE already because the process of uprooting again was too much for me. I didn't like this feeling. So I did something about it.
Instead of counting the days of when I would finally be in Tokyo
I took a LONG LOVING LOOK at my surroundings.
My school, my classrooms, my apartment, my friends, my neighborhood, all of these places. I looked around me and thought about how much I really loved where I was. I this everyday until I left, and what once was a place I labeled as "the place I will be until I move to Tokyo," became a place I will treasure forever. A lot can change when you stop and take a long loving look around you.
Now I'm in Tokyo, trying to adjust to my new environment and new job. I'm hustling a lot, and it's not as slow as it was in Ibaraki. Still, I'm learning to love where I am now, just how I learned to love Ibaraki. On my commute I get the privilege to look at Tokyo Tower just a few minutes away from me. When I'm having a busy day and too tired to think, I try and remember to look at the tower and remind myself where I am -- because it's easy to forget. I'm nervous and excited for what's ahead of me, and I'm going to work hard to make Tokyo my new home.
Have you taken sometime to take a long loving look around you?
❤ With love, Mana ❤
I arrived in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, late August of 2015 as a new ALT (assistant language teacher). While I was happy and grateful to receive the chance to move somewhere in Japan, my heart was in Tokyo, and I knew I would be looking for jobs to move there the following year. So from the very beginning, I knew I couldn't get too comfortable and fill my new apartment with more than what was necessary.
Now, with only 3 weeks until the end of my contract and the start of my new teaching job in Tokyo (YES!!!!!), I've started to reflect on what I've learned from living here in a new prefecture on my own. I stared at my apartment and thought back to when my company greeted me on my arrival to Ibaraki.
I don't blame them for asking me if what I brought with me was all I had. They thought I must have sent the rest of my things in packages from the states just like the other ALT's. I got to my apartment, got some necessary items, and the number of things hasn't increased since then. If my friends and family saw my apartment now they would also be confused. "You sleep on the floor?" "No pantry?" "No desk? Chairs? Lamps? Side tables? Sofas?" "Is that all you have?"
Majority of my life was spent in a big house with lots of things, big kitchens, multiple rooms and all that jazz. One would think I would be bothered by the lack of things I was used to having. Or be upset with the fact that I would have to live this way due to my current job being temporary. Instead I learned an amazing thing about myself while living in this apartment -- while living in a place society may believe has "nothing."
I live with what brings me JOY.
For those who don't know, there are cultural differences between Japan's lifestyle and other countries'. (i.e sleeping with a futon on the floor, no drying machines, no dishwashers, no pantries full of food, no central heating systems, taking off shoes inside etc.) However the point I want to make is not the cultural difference, but that wherever I live, I could still feel the need or make the choice to fill my apartment with a four poster bed, a desk, a sofa, a standing lamp, a shelf full of stuff, etc. The list could literally go on. The question I would ask myself is,
"will these things I could have, bring me JOY?"
Here are some things I have which already bring me joy and pleasure:
(These are just some of the physical things. There is also the very real support of my friends and loved ones who bring me joy every day.)
Some of these items seem very simple and obvious. I used to think I didn't have many things back when I was in the states and would always want MORE. I'm happy to say I don't feel that anymore. I go over to my friend's places and instead of being jealous of how much they have, I enjoy their space and company AND I go back home knowing I live in a place I ALSO enjoy.
I am not judging those who do live with many things! I don't think everyone should live the same way I do. That would be a very boring world, wouldn't it? What brings me joy might not bring you the same joy.
And don't get me wrong, would it be nice to have a desk right now? Hell yeah. I would also LOVE to see my books and items neatly organized in a birch wood shelf. I also know I have lived for 7 months (and will continue to) without these things, and that's the awesome part. Knowing what I already have is really all I need to bring me joy, gives me so much relief and freedom. I don't question or judge my lifestyle, it just is.
I would like to rephrase my answer towards my boss, and to anyone who asked "Is this all you have?" to:
"This is all I need."
What brings YOU joy?
❤ With love, Mana ❤
