10年ひと昔 | エッセー | 英語のニュース | The Japan Times ST オンライン

Essay

Going on ten ...

One of the benefits of living in a foreign country is meeting new people all the time, but one of my pet hates is the ubiquitous question: "How long have you lived here?" It makes a difference when you have spent a whole decade — a quarter of my life — in one place. Ten years is a long time.

I originally signed up for just two years, thinking anyone can do two years anywhere. I expected that it would take the first year to "get my feet wet" and by then it would be time to plan my next move. Just enough time to convince my husband, who has been resident here for 25 years, to finally move on.

So I studied Japanese, traveled frequently, had a child and the years passed quickly. Then came the "churn": Most of my expat friends left as their international assignments came to an end while I became increasingly restless and began to question why I was still here.

It has taken a very long time for me to accept that I may be not going anywhere in the foreseeable future (I hope my husband is not reading this!). It's difficult not to be unsettled when friends come and go, not to mention when they return to Japan for the second time while I have stayed put. But over the years, I have made a conscious shift toward enjoying my time in Japan instead of planning when to leave.

Having a career has helped. Starting a business has meant adding new skills that will be an advantage irrespective of where I choose to live or work. But all work without play is not the answer.

As a Canadian I grew up spoiled with some of the best ski slopes in the world. But to my surprise, I discovered that skiing in Japan is not only enjoyable but relatively cheap and easily accessible. And I also enjoy the warmer weather. Despite being ghostly pale I like sunny days, especially when I am also near the sea. There are many places near Tokyo that my family and I escape to on weekends to surf, swim or just relax.

Activities and work keep me extremely busy but a mix of local and expat friends is essential for my happiness. It is a great comfort to know that my friends will always be important in my life even after I leave.

I am proud of my time in Japan. I plan to continue to accept and enjoy my time here however long that may be. The next time I am asked, "How long have you been here?" I just might not remember.

Shukan ST: Oct. 10, 2008

●英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、英語教材、TOEIC、リスニング、英語の発音、ことわざ、などのコンテンツを無料で提供。
	脚注を印刷吹き出し表示フレーム表示
Essay Going on ten ... By Anita Lee One of the benefits of living in a foreign country is meeting new people all the time, but one of my pet hates is the ubiquitous question: "How long have you lived here?" It makes a difference when you have spent a whole decade — a quarter of my life — in one place. Ten years is a long time. I originally signed up for just two years, thinking anyone can do two years anywhere. I expected that it would take the first year to "get my feet wet" and by then it would be time to plan my next move. Just enough time to convince my husband, who has been resident here for 25 years, to finally move on. So I studied Japanese, traveled frequently, had a child and the years passed quickly. Then came the "churn": Most of my expat friends left as their international assignments came to an end while I became increasingly restless and began to question why I was still here. It has taken a very long time for me to accept that I may be not going anywhere in the foreseeable future (I hope my husband is not reading this!). It's difficult not to be unsettled when friends come and go, not to mention when they return to Japan for the second time while I have stayed put. But over the years, I have made a conscious shift toward enjoying my time in Japan instead of planning when to leave. Having a career has helped. Starting a business has meant adding new skills that will be an advantage irrespective of where I choose to live or work. But all work without play is not the answer. As a Canadian I grew up spoiled with some of the best ski slopes in the world. But to my surprise, I discovered that skiing in Japan is not only enjoyable but relatively cheap and easily accessible. And I also enjoy the warmer weather. Despite being ghostly pale I like sunny days, especially when I am also near the sea. There are many places near Tokyo that my family and I escape to on weekends to surf, swim or just relax. Activities and work keep me extremely busy but a mix of local and expat friends is essential for my happiness. It is a great comfort to know that my friends will always be important in my life even after I leave. I am proud of my time in Japan. I plan to continue to accept and enjoy my time here however long that may be. The next time I am asked, "How long have you been here?" I just might not remember. Shukan ST: Oct. 10, 2008 (C) All rights reserved