Sayonara. Ganbatte kudasai.

Why do we do this? Why do we settle down, make friends, learn the local customs, language, make a home, only to uproot ourselves months later? It's horribly painful, and yet we go into these things knowing exactly what is (eventually) to come. Madness.

Tomorrow (well, today) marks the end of Tyrone's adventures in Tokyo. Weather permitting, I will see the Sumidagawa 花火 (fireworks) with some friends, before boarding a night bus bound for 京都 (Kyoto), arriving sometime in the early morning. Last Friday was my last day as a junior high school ALT, and this week has been spent madly packing during the day, and saying sayonara to my Japanese friends at night. Tonight was spent by the Edogawa （江戸川） in Myoden（妙典 - my home for the last year), having quiet drinks with my fellow gaijin and setting off slightly less quiet fireworks, with minimal casualties (one or two singed thumbs is all!).

Sunday will be spent trying to stay cool in Kyoto - I believe Aaron has a takoyaki party in planning. On Monday I will be going to Takamatsu, in Shikoku, the only one of the 4 main islands of Japan I've still to visit. I'll return to Kyoto on Tuesday night, spending one final day on Wednesday in Kyoto, before boarding my Brisbane-bound flight on Wednesday night from Kansai International Airport.

Leaving this country is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. There's so so much I'm going to miss about Japan - the wonderful people I've met (the Japanese can sometimes appear to be cold/distant at first, but once you get to know them are the warmest, most generous, considerate people), the food (sushi, sukiyaki, katsudon, mochi!!!), the train system (!). I'm going to miss speaking Japanese - people back home,I'm warning you now: expect to hear a lot of "nani", "ne", "a-re", "honto", "hai" "he, sugoi", "daijoubu". I see these and other mannerisms as being like temporary tattoos Japan has left on me, and I am going to hold onto them as long as possible! (Since I know these won't stay with me forever, I'm planning on getting a more permanent reminder in the form of a real tattoo - any Japanese design ideas are welcome.) I'm going to miss writing Japanese, and seeing Japanese writing everywhere. I'm going to miss riding through the streets of Myoden, cycling along the Edogawa to my local swimming pool, even in the middle of winter, with 4 layers and a neck-warmer and gloves on, singing along to Arcade Fire on my iPod, not caring who hears me. Watching as my friends who visit me fall in love with the country too - sometimes for the same reasons as I, or their own.

It's hard to believe it's been 18 months. I've managed to accomplish a tremendous amount in that time, and although not everything went according to plan, I don't regret a single part of my time here. Without things occurring the way they did, I would not have met the wonderful people I've met, or experienced the things I've experienced. I've been quite busy these last few months, and so maybe haven't blogged as often as I should. I've so many adventures that I've never posted about - perhaps once I get back to Australia I'll have more time to write about them. I'll be keeping this blog running - with perhaps a name change in the works.

And so now I must once again step into the unknown. It's scary, I'm really quite terrified about taking this next step, but at the same time I know that it's what I must do. My time in Japan was ultimately intended to give me travel experience, increase my confidence, and in this aspect it has well and truly succeeded. I feel capable of landing at any airport in the world and finding my way around now.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy my last few days in this very special country. One more day in Tokyo, a few more days of sightseeing, then it's on to my next adventure.

行きましょう！

A night at the movies

I went to see a movie at the Tokyo International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival tonight. The movie I saw, A Jihad for Love, is a documentary about gay and lesbian Muslims living in countries like Egypt, Iran, India, South Africa and Turkey. Many of those interviewed have fled their home countries for places like Canada, France etc, because of persecution they have suffered or fear they will suffer at home. It was, at times, distressing to watch, not only due to the physical suffering they've been through, but also the mental anguish they go through, trying to reconcile their faith with their sexuality. Very sad and frustrating to see so much pain caused by so much ridiculousness.

After the film I got to speak to the director, and asked him how the film has been received in Muslim countries. He said that it's been shown in two Muslim countries so far, Turkey and another (I can't remember), and so far the reception have been very positive - so that's very encouraging. I doubt however it would ever be shown in countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia, where it most needs to be seen.

Also, in the Q&A after the film, a Japanese guy said that most Japanese people have a hard time understanding why (in this case) gay/lesbian Muslims have this problem with their faith, because "you are a human first and a Muslim second". Why does this faith take precedence over how you are born? The director (himself a gay muslim) said that Islam is a very difficult religion to escape from, as it is a very social religion - your family life is built around the religion, everything you do involves the religion, so if you take it away what's left?

Check out his blog for more, including emails he's had from gay and lesbian Muslims around the world.

All in all a very interesting night. Also it was my first movie I've seen at the cinemas in Japan. The festival continues next weekend, so hopefully I'll see a couple more movies next week.