I love to read about your travels. Even before I was chronically I'll I was not much of a traveler; I don't understand, emotionally, how it could be enjoyable or enriching enough to be worth the stress and complicated logistics. My curious mind, though, understands that many, if not most, people enjoy adventures and that in spite of the stressors and risks the joy they get from immersing themselves willingly in different environments is well worth it. I don't enjoy reading about traveling per se, but I do enjoy reading what you right about your adventures because no matter what your subject, your interest in those more "real" subjects informs everything you write. Privilege is tricky; those of us who are committed to serve in a way that promotes equity and justice - as a group - tend to guard against finding joy in anything we think might be accessible to us because of our privilege. That makes sense, and being mindful of what our privilege offers us (and at whose expense) is part and parcel of the goals of liberation. It's admirable to be aware of all that, and it is also critical not to view it all as a zero sum prospect. Being effective in your work, in your positive contribution to the collective liberatory goal, does not require of you that you deprive yourself just because there are others who don't have access to what feeds your soul. Even if I wanted to, I would not be able to travel to Japan, and that would not change at all if you were to deprive yourself of that opportunity. Rather, by taking that opportunity because it is so important to you, you are not only enriching yourself, but also everyone else who gets to see your photos and read what you write, which is all filtered through your uniquely inquisitive, compassionate, and heartfelt lens. I am truly looking forward to reading about your travels and seeing whatever photos you feel inclined to share!
I went to Japan when I was between middle and high school. It was this indelible experience I will never forget. Everything tasted like rice and fish. Except the steak they fed us regularly (because apparently all Americans eat steak). But really, how many kids get to experience a trip like that?
I cannot wait to hear everything you want to share about your journeys. Please show me your vacation photos. And tell me a good story.
So exciting! I lived in Japan for a little over a year, teaching ESL in Tokyo. I loved my students, hiking in Hokkaido, the hot springs, the baths, the food...salmon, rice, nori and miso soup for breakfast. The conveyor belt sushi bars! The plastic food representations in the windows! The national parks, the traditional theater...I hope the trip is fantastic.
It sounds like a wonderful adventure. I went to Japan with a Japanese college classmate in 1985! I stayed for a month at her grandmother’s home in a suburb of Tokyo and we hitchhiked to Hiroshima and stayed in Youth Hostels. That was the year Ghostbusters first came out and I went to see it with my girlfriend at the time. We laughed out loud at the jokes and no one in the audience laughed because the translation didn’t get the nuance of the jokes. I would love to return.
Writing about joy is so important, especially in these sad days of fearing we may lose democracy as we slide into authoritarian rule. We need to hold onto our ability to also focus on things that bring us relief and so form of peace.
I think there's a lot of value in mixing stories that might feel like personal fluff in with articles that are more serious thoughts. It helps readers get to know different aspects of you as a person, and as your other friend said, looking at vacation/travel photos is fun. And can be really eye-opening! The world is a big place and even people who travel a lot don't get to see all of what there is out there. Coincidentally, my main business right now is giving Japanese lessons to folks of all ages & giving consultation for travel so if there's any questions that arise in the planning process for you & your partner's upcoming trip shoot me a message!
I understand about Nagoya since I did the same thing, but I would get out of it as much as possible, it’s a very boring, sterile, and poorly designed place relative to many or most Japanese cities. And not to just go to the obvious ones—-one of my fav places in Japan that’s still probably quite unvisited vs Kyoto is Kanazawa, facing on the other side. Like a little Kyoto but more laid back and less well known, and actually more walkable. Highly recommended!
My hippie friends—American expat to Canada I met here who met his Japanese wife here in Vancouver, now live in suburbs of Kyoto. They were working on an eco farm for awhile, now doing their own thing and paying almost no rent and earning a lot, enjoying the good life in Japan. Let me know if you want me to hook you up with them, they’re good people.
I love to read about your travels. Even before I was chronically I'll I was not much of a traveler; I don't understand, emotionally, how it could be enjoyable or enriching enough to be worth the stress and complicated logistics. My curious mind, though, understands that many, if not most, people enjoy adventures and that in spite of the stressors and risks the joy they get from immersing themselves willingly in different environments is well worth it. I don't enjoy reading about traveling per se, but I do enjoy reading what you right about your adventures because no matter what your subject, your interest in those more "real" subjects informs everything you write. Privilege is tricky; those of us who are committed to serve in a way that promotes equity and justice - as a group - tend to guard against finding joy in anything we think might be accessible to us because of our privilege. That makes sense, and being mindful of what our privilege offers us (and at whose expense) is part and parcel of the goals of liberation. It's admirable to be aware of all that, and it is also critical not to view it all as a zero sum prospect. Being effective in your work, in your positive contribution to the collective liberatory goal, does not require of you that you deprive yourself just because there are others who don't have access to what feeds your soul. Even if I wanted to, I would not be able to travel to Japan, and that would not change at all if you were to deprive yourself of that opportunity. Rather, by taking that opportunity because it is so important to you, you are not only enriching yourself, but also everyone else who gets to see your photos and read what you write, which is all filtered through your uniquely inquisitive, compassionate, and heartfelt lens. I am truly looking forward to reading about your travels and seeing whatever photos you feel inclined to share!
I went to Japan when I was between middle and high school. It was this indelible experience I will never forget. Everything tasted like rice and fish. Except the steak they fed us regularly (because apparently all Americans eat steak). But really, how many kids get to experience a trip like that?
I cannot wait to hear everything you want to share about your journeys. Please show me your vacation photos. And tell me a good story.
So exciting! I lived in Japan for a little over a year, teaching ESL in Tokyo. I loved my students, hiking in Hokkaido, the hot springs, the baths, the food...salmon, rice, nori and miso soup for breakfast. The conveyor belt sushi bars! The plastic food representations in the windows! The national parks, the traditional theater...I hope the trip is fantastic.
It sounds like a wonderful adventure. I went to Japan with a Japanese college classmate in 1985! I stayed for a month at her grandmother’s home in a suburb of Tokyo and we hitchhiked to Hiroshima and stayed in Youth Hostels. That was the year Ghostbusters first came out and I went to see it with my girlfriend at the time. We laughed out loud at the jokes and no one in the audience laughed because the translation didn’t get the nuance of the jokes. I would love to return.
Writing about joy is so important, especially in these sad days of fearing we may lose democracy as we slide into authoritarian rule. We need to hold onto our ability to also focus on things that bring us relief and so form of peace.
I think there's a lot of value in mixing stories that might feel like personal fluff in with articles that are more serious thoughts. It helps readers get to know different aspects of you as a person, and as your other friend said, looking at vacation/travel photos is fun. And can be really eye-opening! The world is a big place and even people who travel a lot don't get to see all of what there is out there. Coincidentally, my main business right now is giving Japanese lessons to folks of all ages & giving consultation for travel so if there's any questions that arise in the planning process for you & your partner's upcoming trip shoot me a message!
I understand about Nagoya since I did the same thing, but I would get out of it as much as possible, it’s a very boring, sterile, and poorly designed place relative to many or most Japanese cities. And not to just go to the obvious ones—-one of my fav places in Japan that’s still probably quite unvisited vs Kyoto is Kanazawa, facing on the other side. Like a little Kyoto but more laid back and less well known, and actually more walkable. Highly recommended!
My hippie friends—American expat to Canada I met here who met his Japanese wife here in Vancouver, now live in suburbs of Kyoto. They were working on an eco farm for awhile, now doing their own thing and paying almost no rent and earning a lot, enjoying the good life in Japan. Let me know if you want me to hook you up with them, they’re good people.