Rural Life 田舎(Inaka)
Growing up in the city for most of your life can really disconnect yourself from nature. I remembered when I was back in elementary school at around 5th or 6th grade, we had a special ceremony for planting two trees in front of the 3rd and 4th grade wing. The trees are still there, but at the time, I, like the rest of the students standing around, were uninterested and just flat out bored. This way of thinking continued for a few years afterward until I attended UCLA. Though located in an urban area, the UCLA campus is very beautiful with a mixture of historical buildings and luscious landscaping. The areas where I lounged around at most of the time were the grassy hills near Royce Steps and the Student Activities Center and the Sculpture Garden in North Campus. These areas were a sanctuary to me from the noisy cars and skyrise buildings. Don't misunderstand me, I really do enjoy the liveliness of people and the excitement of bustling places, probably more so than the grassy hills and colors of the seasons. It's just a different feeling that I don't usually experience. A calm. A period of time where you don't think about anything and just exist. Your mind becomes clear and truly free.
I've been having these feelings more and more often now since my area is surrounded by beautiful views of rivers, mountains, and trees. Going out for a jog is one of my favorite things to do here. The air and the views gives me the energy to do so.
A typical view of my jogging route.
I've heard many people and townfolk say that this area is considered to be "Super 田舎(inaka)", or "Super Country". To me, I really can't feel the difference. Maybe since a lot of people grow their own rice and vegetables, it's considered as "country living", but to me, I view it as convenient. At least you know where the food comes from and the food just tastes that much better. Also, the closest city is only about 30 minutes away by car so I can go anytime I want practically (that is when I get my car).
So, to become fully immersed in rural living, one of the elementary schools had a rice harvest, or 稲刈り(inekari). The whole school participated, even though the total count was about twenty people including the students, staff and teachers, and myself.
Here's what harvesting rice looks like...
It's quite a bit of work; cutting, tying, trudging through mud. But it's also fun, especially working in a group that has elementary kids.
My students falling and getting stuck in the mud. Good times.
After all that hard work, here's the end result of the harvest
So, as for my experiences with rural life and nature, I won't think too much about it. There's nothing to really think about. Just exist.
I've been having these feelings more and more often now since my area is surrounded by beautiful views of rivers, mountains, and trees. Going out for a jog is one of my favorite things to do here. The air and the views gives me the energy to do so.
A typical view of my jogging route.
I've heard many people and townfolk say that this area is considered to be "Super 田舎(inaka)", or "Super Country". To me, I really can't feel the difference. Maybe since a lot of people grow their own rice and vegetables, it's considered as "country living", but to me, I view it as convenient. At least you know where the food comes from and the food just tastes that much better. Also, the closest city is only about 30 minutes away by car so I can go anytime I want practically (that is when I get my car).
So, to become fully immersed in rural living, one of the elementary schools had a rice harvest, or 稲刈り(inekari). The whole school participated, even though the total count was about twenty people including the students, staff and teachers, and myself.
Here's what harvesting rice looks like...
It's quite a bit of work; cutting, tying, trudging through mud. But it's also fun, especially working in a group that has elementary kids.
My students falling and getting stuck in the mud. Good times.
After all that hard work, here's the end result of the harvest
So, as for my experiences with rural life and nature, I won't think too much about it. There's nothing to really think about. Just exist.