Jacob's Journeying
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THE SPICE OF LIFE
A great majority of the people I know have never been overseas.
A bunch will tell me about their dream of going one day for a fancy vacation but never will due to constraints such as work, money, distance, kids, family. All legitimate reasons. It's not for everyone.
I went because of my job.
Given the option to stay in America or go to Japan I chose overseas. I knew I was really stepping out there. I was going to be away from my family and familiar culture for two years. Why not? This was my chance so I put in my request to go and got it.
Since my childhood I've always been fascinated with Asian culture.
The beautiful scenery, cutting edge technology, little cars, zany game shows, and food. All of it.
Like my little town, it has it's own culture. I wanted to experience something new to open my eyes and it certainly did that.
When I got there I now had people who didn't speak English very well such as chefs, store clerks, barbers cutting my hair or driving a taxi. I picked up some of their language too. But I was living on base 95% of the time so its more on the Americanized side.
Off base, not much to say. I would see countless runners through out the day as well as art pictures decorating the landscape. For vacation, I went to Tokyo to see what mainland was like. For the most part I had a good experience. The people are friendlier than the ones back home I would think. Store clerks were pleasant, they would smile and seemed happy. I've heard Japan has a strong work ethic. I concur.
"Little word of advice, always know where the 7-11 stores are. They are the only places that you can use an international card to withdraw yen."
Also, download Google Translate for your phone. It will be your friend. All in all, compared to my little country town there seemed to be more life. More energy. More appreciation for the small details in life. I liked it. But I was just a tourist after all. And who knows, had I been there longer and the novelty worn off maybe my opinion would change.
Life in my small town is obviously different, not foreign to me however. Things are more spread out. No bumping into your neighbors on the train. No skyscrapers. The air seems stagnant. People shopping in corporatized stores like Wal-Mart talk very little to each other. The cars and trucks are bigger. Less recreational things to do. But it's quiet... and even though this is my personal bias I think that's a good thing.
"We need quiet places away from the madness. We need it to think more clearly and recalibrate our minds."
Like on a cold winters night when everyone's sleeping. You're outside all by yourself and can hear the sound of semi trucks on the distant highway or of the snow falling. You ever done that? My recommendation is if you ever get a chance go visit a totally different country. Experience a new culture. Search all over for activities, see new wildlife. See how it changes your mind about the world. You might look at that "boring, old town" with new found appreciation.
A bunch will tell me about their dream of going one day for a fancy vacation but never will due to constraints such as work, money, distance, kids, family. All legitimate reasons. It's not for everyone.
I went because of my job.
Given the option to stay in America or go to Japan I chose overseas. I knew I was really stepping out there. I was going to be away from my family and familiar culture for two years. Why not? This was my chance so I put in my request to go and got it.
Since my childhood I've always been fascinated with Asian culture.
The beautiful scenery, cutting edge technology, little cars, zany game shows, and food. All of it.
Like my little town, it has it's own culture. I wanted to experience something new to open my eyes and it certainly did that.
When I got there I now had people who didn't speak English very well such as chefs, store clerks, barbers cutting my hair or driving a taxi. I picked up some of their language too. But I was living on base 95% of the time so its more on the Americanized side.
Off base, not much to say. I would see countless runners through out the day as well as art pictures decorating the landscape. For vacation, I went to Tokyo to see what mainland was like. For the most part I had a good experience. The people are friendlier than the ones back home I would think. Store clerks were pleasant, they would smile and seemed happy. I've heard Japan has a strong work ethic. I concur.
"Little word of advice, always know where the 7-11 stores are. They are the only places that you can use an international card to withdraw yen."
Also, download Google Translate for your phone. It will be your friend. All in all, compared to my little country town there seemed to be more life. More energy. More appreciation for the small details in life. I liked it. But I was just a tourist after all. And who knows, had I been there longer and the novelty worn off maybe my opinion would change.
Life in my small town is obviously different, not foreign to me however. Things are more spread out. No bumping into your neighbors on the train. No skyscrapers. The air seems stagnant. People shopping in corporatized stores like Wal-Mart talk very little to each other. The cars and trucks are bigger. Less recreational things to do. But it's quiet... and even though this is my personal bias I think that's a good thing.
"We need quiet places away from the madness. We need it to think more clearly and recalibrate our minds."
Like on a cold winters night when everyone's sleeping. You're outside all by yourself and can hear the sound of semi trucks on the distant highway or of the snow falling. You ever done that? My recommendation is if you ever get a chance go visit a totally different country. Experience a new culture. Search all over for activities, see new wildlife. See how it changes your mind about the world. You might look at that "boring, old town" with new found appreciation.
- PRIMITUS
- BLOG 1 : PATHWAYS
- BEGINNER WORKOUT PROGRAM
- BLOG 2 : LEAVING FOOTPRINTS
- BLOG 3 : THE SPICE OF LIFE
- BLOG 4 : 4 REASONS TO RETHINK FACEBOOK USAGE
- BLOG 5 : MOTIVATION
- BLOG 6 : THE CASE FOR CAFFEINE
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 1
- BLOG 7 : FIGHT CLUB
- BLOG 8 : FREE FALLING
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 2
- BLOG 9 : BRANCHING OUT
- BLOG 10 : BLAST FROM THE PAST
- BLOG 12 : PATHWAYS PART 2
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 3
- BLOG 13 : PATHWAYS PART 3
- BLOG 14 : ARMAMENT
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 4
- PERSPECTIVE REDEFINED
- BLOG 15 : BREAK DOWN
- THE COLONEL SANDERS STORY
- BLOG 16 : WRECK
- BLOG 17 : NIGHT VISIONS
- BLOG 18 : CHANGES AHEAD
- BLOG 19 : PATHWAYS PART 4
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 5
- BLOG 20 : PATHWAYS PART 5
- 3 MILITARY SKILLS TO LEARN
- BLOG 21 : ROAD TRIP PART 1
- QUOTATION COMPILATION
- BLOG 22 : THOUGHTS