A New Wind Blows

September 1st, 2017


I'm not sure how to feel. There is this complex feeling... a feeling that lingers in heart and mind as I stand in the back of the school gymnasium overlooking the backs of all my students. Just 2 years ago, I stood nervous on the side, anxious to give my first introduction to the school. Now, I stand as just another teacher, poised in the back, attempting to comprehend the opening speech of the second semester.


Everything is calm. A cool breeze blows, rustling the leaves in the trees. Its a relaxing sound really. Outside the trees are starting to change color as clouds float gently along, as if they had not a care in the world. The students are still, listening to the pearls of wisdom the principal gives in her opening speech. Autumn's aura is definitely in the air. It's definitely the start of a new semester.


Yet, as this is the start of a new semester, its also the start of the end for me. The thought that everything from now will be the last time I will experience it is... haunting. This place that I have learned to call home for the past 2 years has become a part of me. Knowing that I won't be here a year from now is killing me.


I have gone from a new ALT to a Sempai ALT to just another Japanese guy. I can definitely say "been there, done that," yet I feel like I have so much more to do here. The push and pull of emotions tug at my heart strings. My life in Japan has become a countdown...and there is nothing I can do about it.


Yet, on this Autumn day, a new wind blows. It's a wind that will carry my path on to new futures and new heights. While I am still conflicted about my thoughts on today, I know that the future is bright.

But for now, I want to take time to look back and thank those that have made my time here in Matsuyama, Ehime special. This page will be dedicated to those special people as a thank you.

So until next time...

Hey guys! What’s good?

My name is Andrew and I’m a 2^nd year ALT in Ehime, Japan.

Ehime isn't really known to many people. It's located on the island of Shikoku (one of the 4 major islands), so you more than likely have to fly there if you are from outside Japan. If you are from Hawaii, you might have heard of it, as a few years back, a US navy submarine collided with and sunk a Japanese fishing boat called the EHIME MARU. Other thank that, Ehime is not really known outside of japan.

I work for the Matsuyama BOE.  Matsuyama is the capital city of Ehime and is also the biggest city in Shikoku. So I consider myself blessed to work in Matsuyama… kinda.

Actually, I live and work in a small town called Hojo. Hojo is a seaside town that has lots of farming fields… lots and lots of farming fields.  Its about 30 minutes by train north of Matsuyama city and about 40 minutes south-west from the next big city, Imabari. Its safe to say that Hojo is very inaka.

Hojo definitely gives off that stereotypical Japanese countryside feel.  Grandmothers are omnipresent, and every night you can here enka (traditional Japanese music) being sung by a drunk elderly from one of many small bars, scattered around the area.  The other half of the population here is young children. If I am not careful, I swear I could probably run over some small kid on my bike at any given moment.  There are almost no people my age living around my area (other than the other 2 ALTS in hojo).

 

Despite it getting a little lonely at times, life is pretty good. Food here is cheap, I am a regular at 2 restaurants (which I frequent way too often), and people are kind. I’m 10 minutes by bike from the ocean and the countryside offers beautiful sights close to home (cherry blossoms by the river and fireflies in the night were breathtaking last year).

I definitely think that time flies slower in the countryside, but I’m okay with that.  I love my little slice of the Inaka and love to take things slow, day by day.

Till next time…