Dreams do change don't they.
 16 years ago, 16 years old, sitting in my
dreary classroom staring out at the green
fields, muddy sheep and grey drizzly sky
I remember vividly how much I hated that
view. I didn't want to be living in this
damp, dull place. A tropical island was my
dream: palm trees, white sandy beaches and
a sparkling turquoise sea. Views I knew I
could never find in England, but I never
dared to imagine that my idle dreams would
or could come true…
 Jump forward to 4 years ago, exciting news,
me, my Japanese husband and newborn daughter
were going to live in Okinawa! At last I'm
going to live my dream - life on a tropical
island! Though, as I soon discovered, dreams
and reality are never quite the same.
Of course my tropical island paradise had
the necessary palm trees, pearl white sandy
beaches and a heart-stoppingly beautiful
blue sea. But on the other hand -to my dismay-
there were a surprisingly high number of
rainy overcast days, the whole island was
covered in ugly, flat roofed concrete buildings
and to top this off we were also under seemingly
constant threat of typhoons for the better
part of the year. Most surprisingly for me
was to discover that the native Okinawans
hardly ever went to the beach and non-swimmers
were common. It all just didn't quite fit
in with my dream image. Despite this gap
between dream and reality, my family and
I spent 2 very happy years living on Okinawa.
The warmth and hospitality of the Okinawan
people and the sea that never failed to lift
my spirits will always be with me.
Living on a tropical island was always my
dream but coming to Japan never was. I'm
ashamed now to say, but my main reason for
coming was money. I planned to work here
for a year then use my savings to travel
around Asia or South America- places I really
wanted to see. To be honest before I came
here I was blissfully ignorant about Japan,
for example I thought Japan was only one
island, peopled by rich, kimono wearing,
sushi eating sumo fans who all worked like
robots. Well maybe the latter is true! During
my first year I found lots of things I liked
about Japan and though by now I'm on my 7th
year here I'm still discovering new things
about the country and it's people. For me
some of the positive aspects of life here
are the beautiful scenery, the fine weather,
onsens, wonderful restaurants and food, kind
and gentle people and a safe and very child
friendly environment- and the beer's delicious
too!
Living here has renewed my faith in human
nature, coming from a highly individualistic
society like Britain I grew up not being
able to trust others easily and always feeling
a need to be on my guard about other people's
intentions. But living in the group orientated
Japanese society has taught me to trust others
and look for the best in people not the worst
, so I think I can feel a sense of at ease
here than I can't in my own country.
7 years on from my arrival in Japan I now
often feel I am more Japanese than English.
Now when I go back to Britain I feel culture
shock. For example the first week or so everyone
looks so strange , so many different shapes
and sizes and colours. Even now when I look
in the mirror I always get a shock - 'I am
an alien!'. Another problem is I'm used to
things being automatic so I often find myself
standing helplessly in front of doors wondering
why they're taking so long to open while
onlookers stare!
 After having been away from Britain for so
long I can at last discern some of the positives
about my own country, amazingly (for me)
the rural scenery of Yorkshire that I once
hated is now very dear to my heart. My dream
these days is to take my family to Yorkshire
and show my husband and children those green
rolling fields, muddy sheep and heavy grey
skies- they are completely beautiful. Dreams
do change don't they. |