| Subject: |
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Japan is my Home by Kevin Burns |
| Name: |
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Kevin Burns |
| Date Posted: |
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Sep 23, 05 - 5:45 PM |
| Website |
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http://www.travel-central-japan.com |
| Message: |
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Writer Neal Stephenson referred to living in Asia as like stepping
into one of the classic comic books, and perhaps that was why so
many Westerners ended up settling here. I can relate. Still much of
Japan and Asia in general is very exotic. To me my wife is still
exotic after 15 years of marriage. My children look exotic. My
dinner looks exotic, especially if it moves! Low level forms of sea
life, quivering on my plate are always exciting,
and fun for the whole family!
I think we can all be comfortable and successful anywhere we want.
Japan may seem unfathomable to you, but to me it is just home. I
have two homes now--Japan and Canada, but really the world is my
home.
To the drunk, redneck who accosted a friend of mine in front of a
local station saying, "America go home." I would say, "the world is
my home. **** off!"
I could see myself living anywhere. Of course there would be an
adjustment involved, but that is half the fun. I have three small
children, whom I love very much, but if fate had been different, and
we were a childless couple, I could forsee us travelling the world
and living and teaching in different places. For now I will
dream about it, and do it one day when my children are older.
Wherever you live, I`m sure there are places or circumstances that
are special to you. For me, one of them is my tennis class. I have
known some of the members for many years now.
Satoru has just had a baby girl! When I expressed surprise as he
showed me Takako`s photo with
his cell phone, he joked, "what, didn`t think I could do it?"
"No but viagra is miraculous," I should have replied. He is 48 so we
bug him about his age.
I`m so happy for him.
It wasn`t long ago that we were all wearing black and going to his
wife`s funeral. She died of leukemia at 40, the age I am now.
Masami`s sister was asked to donate bone marrow in a last ditch
effort to save her,
but being a Jehovah Witness she refused to help her sister. That has
always been one part of their religion I really don`t agree with.
She was a good friend of my wife. My wife cried many tears for her,
as did Satoru.
For a few years he was not himself. I can`t imagine what it is like
to lose someone so close to you.
Yet today he has had a baby! He remarried a few years ago and now he
is a pappa. It is funny how life
works out, or fate I would suggest. I think everything is meant to
be. It may seem terrible at the time,
but in the end there is a reason. There I have revealed my buddhist
bias to you. Satoru is such a great
guy that he promised to take care of his former wife`s parents, so
he and his new wife and baby, live with
his previous wife`s mother. I`m sure it all works out well. Japanese
are even surprised when I tell them this story.
I can`t even imagine living with my current wife`s mother, the
wildebeast! I hope she doesn`t read this!
She`s probably grazing as we speak.
Takahashisan is a funny man! If he hadn`t gone into sales he could
have been a comedian. There are a lot of
people like that. Often the funniest people you know, live right
next door. Takahashi is one of them.
He and I like to joke around with each other. Although he is almost
50 and I am grudgingly 40, we act like
elementary school boys. The other day, while waiting for our turn to
play tennis, he put his head on my
leg and pretended to sleep. I called for the tennis coach to
complain that Takahashi was bugging me again.
This seems to be our pattern. He will throw balls at me and hit me
in the leg. I do the same. Seeing this it
is hard to believe that I own a business and manage people. How old
are they? I`m sure people are thinking..
He and I are still such kids, I think that is why our wives married
us. I think when I am 80 I will still be a child in many ways. Don`t
mean to brag! My wife`s friends tell her it must be hard raising
four children (I am the third boy).
Hiroaki is an example of what a man should be to me. He is gentle
yet strong. He is humorous and willing
to laugh at himself. He is the worst player in our class but he
comes, has fun, and doesn`t seem to worry
about it. He always has something funny or good natured to say.
About ten years ago he was worried he
was going to die. A doctor said he had cancer. After many more tests
it was found that he was in good health.
He quit smoking though, and still doesn`t smoke till this day. My
father, a former doctor says the tests
are so good now, they catch everything--from unimportant to life
threatening. Often what they
catch can`t be explained but it won`t kill you. "What`s this on my
arm?"
"We don`t know, but don`t worry about it!" Doctors don`t usually say
this, they will say "Nothing."
And that`s what you pay them for.
Mr. Yamaki talks to me about bushido and the samurai spirit. He is
60 and old enough to be my father.
He has a teenaged daughter and his wife is 40. He lived in
California for 6 months picking (and m |
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