Hello! Thank you for your kind words... it is interesting that while I never write with the intention of being insightful, when we take the time to reflect on ourselves in relation to a place, we tend to reveal more than we ever realized we meant to! Thank you for taking the time to read and share in our thoughts!
Ditto for Japan..........identity crisis for non identity Oh how very interesting to hear your comments and to understand precisely what you are saying. Although now I have had the opportunity to travel to China twice; I do not speak the language nor have I had the opportunity to delve further into the culture than just the idle passing of a tourist on the outer edges of the scenery. I must also say that despite a life long passion for all things Chipanese.....(my own invented vocabulary) I do tend to lean toward the Japan as the more beautiful Country and prefer all art, food, scenery, clothing etc. over Chinese. Having said that you can imagine that when the opportunity arose some years ago for me to actually go to Japan......I could not wait to experience all that I had hoped and expected from my imaginings....Yes of course the scenery was breathtaking. The food was easy to order and incredibly delicious. The mannerisms of the crowds of Japanese people that I encountered on the streets, buses, trains was so polite and aloof.........the streets were immaculate and the temples divine.........the tea houses were the stuff my dreams had been filled with.........but ...but .... but...where were all those Kimono clad Geisha of old Kyota.....they were young woman racing the streets in the sleek black Mercedes or BMW,s ...they were walking the shops with their bags of every expensive designer known to Rodeo drive.............with spines made of pure stainless steel.....where oh where were these soft, pliable oh so feminine men- pleasing creatures we western woman have aspired to be??? Over the course of a week...not much time I admit....I came to realize that my life long dream of Tea Houses, Geishas' Kimono's on the street was just that ....A Dream...the Japan of old and of the movies such as Sayonara.....that had colored my passion for the trip....had somehow disappeared...The young generation of Japanese..lusted after the materialism of the West...all things that are wrong with Western civilization are now mirrored totally in Tokyo and in fact everywhere I traveled in the Country. It was a very personal disillusionment and very painful. Japan is still a breathtakingly beautiful Country and Kimono clad ladies can still be seen from time to time in the shops and on the street...but the heart of the Traditions I so wanted to feel and experience were gone...and along with the distruction of many of the old homes and buildings / streets and neighbourhoods.....the Identity of Japan was in flux ...not Eastern really and not Western...but a no man's land of something in between.................
Angie,
Such reflective words that I obviously understand well! And I know from my times at your house how much you aspire to the romantic ideas of the Japanese culture. It is so interesting that like you, when I cam here, I had so many romantic ideas of what I would find here... so many assumptions of the exotic and mysteries of the Eastern world. I like to believe they are still out there beyond the fringes of the big cities, though so far - like you - what I am finding is variations on our Western ideas... the same "stuff", the same attitudes, the same fading values, just in a different place and a different people. I suppose that is the sacrifice of globalization! Imagine this world one hundred years ago... I bet we would find those visions that still rest in our dreams! Nonetheless, I am still searching for it...
Hi David... thanks so much for your kind words. This blog started as a way to keep in touch with family and friends as we traveled, but very quickly became something we have loved contributing to! It is a wonderful way to share thoughts, feelings, ideas and insights. We are very appreciative that you took the time to drop us a note! All the best on your journeys!
-Sean and Erin
And this is why they need more people like you actually teaching them! Higher education in China is a joke... and I'm being polite. I don't know whether i should laugh or cry...Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Jeremy... thanks for the comment! As a former teacher at Canadian universities, the standards are far from what we expected,. While we try to remain optimistic and appreciate the culture for what it is, it has given us much insight into the culture and its people! All the best on your travels!
Empty stomach I a, so glad I read this upon first coming downstairs this morning prior to eating or drinking. My stomach started to churn as I realized as you both did that not only had Sophy not read any of these wonderful writers but that she thought that what they had written was chock full of grammatical errors! Where I work I am considered the grammar police and this would just drive me around the bend! Erin, you were much more diplomatic than I ever could have been- congratulations!
Empty Stomach Thank you for noticing Cheri! It certainly wasn't easy being diplomatic in this case...for whatever reason, this particular event got under my skin...
I sometimes have to repeat to myself that we are only visitors here and can't change the world...but it is tough when something is blatantly wrong and people won't listen! Oh well, they do say ignorance is bliss:) Happy Holidays to you and your family!
ROFL Oh Sean- I am laughing so hard the coffee is running from my nose! You paint such a clear picture with your words that I feel as if I am in your class with you. You should write a script for a sit-com based on your classes (not like the show Community- it would be much funnier).
You could have Erin speak only in Chinese to you and the reward for getting things right would be kisses. Keep working on it and let me know how it's going.
Anything is possible! As we go about our daily lives, as Sean references in this blog, ultimately it is our choice to be happy or sad, content or restless. We all feel these emotions from time to time for one reason or another but it’s how we deal with these ups and downs and what we learn from them is what makes us who we are. As Arthur Henry Hallam wrote, “Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all”. Over time the inner child who once accepted unconditional love, trust and forgiveness develops a whole range of different emotions that unfortunately include limitations imposed upon us from societal conventions and piece by piece we lose ourselves and our dreams and begin to self doubt our true inner self. Instead of the cup being half full, it is easy to look at our circumstances and regard the cup as being half empty. As Sean says, we only have ourselves to blame for that. As Sean’s parents, we couldn't be prouder of our son who has always made us so proud and still amazes to impress us. Now that he has Erin in his life and ours, anyone who has been fortunate to see the two of them together and has spent time with them know that together how perfect they are for one another; they are unstoppable in the best possible way. To be sharing such a journey together and by taking us along reawakens the inner child within me and your father. We look forward to what lies ahead. Love you both!
Hi Mom and Dad... Erin and I thank you for your thoughts; they are always very important to us! You forget, however, that there are those moments when as children we are proud of our parents too! I love seeing the two of your traveling and still doing new things on your own! And I still keep talking about how wonderful it is that you just celebrated your 40th anniversary! Feeling proud is something I feel when I see how close we have come over the years... there was a time when my glass did seem half empty, so it is nice to break those societal conventions and do what is right, not what is necessarily expected :) What fun is there in doing the things that everyone knows is coming!! :)
Journey from Afar I have to say, again, (as I know I have said this before) that I love to read your blogs. You are definitely soul mates. So much in common, even your writing. You both manage to make your perceptions and feelings inclusive, so that we, the reader, feel we are actually part of the conversations you have with one another. It is like being in China, "at your table" with you. I personally feel that I have an opportunity to visualize things through your eyes, from Canada. We do miss you, but are excited to be tagging along on your journey through the written word. Thank you for letting us join you! xoxo
Happiness Sean, you are a true romantic! This entry was so beautiful and I am so happy that you and Erin found each other and are living your dreams. Two special people who deserve all that life has to offer. Keep enjoying your adventure and each other. Who drew the pictures? They are too cute.
Thanks for your thoughts :) I made those pictures for Erin before we got married... the forest and picnic were from things we had done and the desert picture was made when we thought we were going to Saudi Arabia for the year... plans changed :) I will have to work on a China one!
xoxoxoxo....this is what you were so secretly writing today and I kept disturbing you! I feel just as lucky to be cruising around causing trouble with you. Love you!!!!
ohhh myyyyyy attack of the starbucks I am shocked, that Starbucks pic looks like a pic from a resort. Great pic of the burger! lol Looks like Sean is very happy to see it hahaha
Simplicity Sean, Your blog is food for thought. We often need a reality check, not only to remind us of how lucky we are to be able to obtain the comforts we have, but that these same comforts can cause us stress and unhappiness. Life is about balance and to find that balance we do need to keep it simple. "Keep it simple" would be a great daily mantra!
Sounds like both of you are enjoying this experience and doing what you both love the most....to learn through the journey of life.
Hi Carol, you are so right! Thanks for your thoughts! With regards to "simplicity", we definitely miss those relaxed nights with you and Brian, sitting around enjoying wine, music, food and whatever conversation came across the table! We look forward to the next chance we have to be with you both!!!
In our efforts to search for a greater quality of life, we decided to track our adventures using the theme "Where Did the 'Real' Go?"
But before we begin, we want to take a moment to give you a quick idea of who we are...
Erin, a free-spirited homeopathic practitioner, spent much of her life growing up in the ranch lands of Alberta, Canada where she earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alberta. It was not long after, however, that she knew that she was not interested in the conventional life that she saw so many others conform to and soon after found herself alone in China w... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Profoundly insightful commentary...
I look forward to further exploration of the Chinese culture.