Dear diary,
Having been in Japan, I’ve come to realise the immense importance of diverse cultural practices and the way I can use them to enrich my own life. The Japanese are driven and focussed individuals, a quality that undoubtedly shines through in the work they produce. They are not afraid of hard work and constantly work overtime, refining and rebuilding. It’s obvious that their society places a great emphasis on excelling at work and earning one’s place, and whilst the line between working for passion and obsession is quite thin there, I can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason every single part of that country’s economy thrives? Before I began working there, fears ran rampant throughout my body, fears of not upholding the standards- of slipping up. I learnt quickly that thriving in this new environment didn’t mean performing better as a foreign worker, but rather integrating myself into the Japanese standards. I made an effort to work overtime, just as my colleagues did. I developed connections with my Japanese co-workers, learning phrases here and there, being present with them during lunch and dinner. Whilst I tried to quickly assimilate, I found myself becoming a leader and my fears of under-performing slowly vanished. I’m back home now. Sunil and Deepa are at school whilst I have a much needed day of self-care. As I ran my bath, I realised that my travels have not only provided me with some beautiful memories, but also exposed me to new ways of living and thinking; ways that I would like to incorporate into my daily life. I don’t think I’m ready to eat fish for breakfast every day, but I can definitely get behind the Japanese work ethic and the country’s dedication to physical health and longevity. I remember telling myself at the beginning of the year, that gratitude would be something I would strive to practice. However, my gratitude towards my travels comes completely naturally to me. Not only enriching my own life, but seeing how much enjoyment it brought to my children- I can only hope for more blessings like this one.
Anika.
** Dear Diary is a fictional diary entry by features writer Senushi Liyanarachchi, who is based in Australia and has a passion for writing.
