Stepping gently

I don’t think I would have known where to begin. Except……The empress JHa designed this site (with the speed of a woman with super powers) and gave the first post a title. She explained it. Stepping Gently. It was the way it would be in Japan when we imagined it beneath the Elephant Rock at Currumbin. Japan has its own way. An eastern pace. No matter how busy, how preoccupied, you will only be able to step gently. And then the small g goddess GKe – the aesthetic…….everything smells, tastes, tones, feels and gently takes your arm to invite a twist in the direction of beauty…..just try to avoid it.

Could this all be true? I’m a limp teacher (now at least). The training was good. Maybe very good. But what happened to my personality. I saw something in the bin that could have been me! Creativity, Intuition out the window. And that was quite a feat coz the windows were closed. Didn’t I really come to fold paper, write tiny poetry with syllabic restraint, exploding the third line in a shock of nature’s awe? In two days, it’s been a month and all I’ve folded is my tired limbs. I’ve written lesson plans in colored texta. Not haiku. Not love. Not beauty.

I did eat sweet potato ice cream. I have given time to the trees outside our apartment. Magnolias. Red Camellias. Slowly slowly making their spring offering. I have kissed Cameron twenty-seven times, following the enchanting organ music announcing the next train’s arrival. I have sat on thirteen heated toilet seats. I have left two toilets unflushed. These toilets have so many bells and whistles it’s remarkable to me that the part that says ‘Flush’ is unlocate-able. I have given way too many ‘thumbs up’ signs to people who have understood me – apologies to the westerners who have made a good impression in Japan – I blame it on our teacher training where ‘OK’ was recommended a visual panacea for almost everything.

I have seen a child of maybe 7, lug 5 bags into the train and out again, all on her own, but for the small gesture of Cam and I to share the load. I have shaken my melons and eggplants more times than is reasonable. I have give children a reason to miss their English class!! I have shared a croissant with an older Japanese man who only spoke kindness. I have asked Cam a million questions about what this means and that means and “can I really do this”. I have wondered if I have corona virus and if it is possible I was and always have been remedial. I have been asked to explain why in Australia, when looking for a hotel to rest your head, you are sent to the pub……..and I wished I could say because we are Awesome. On that note. I have drunk alot of Kirin.

Susan x