Busy thinking of winter

The last few weeks have been really busy for me. We have had one sports day after another... First high school and junior high, then preschool, and then Ojika town sports day. Our staff softball team has begun playing in the softball league, but for some reason they decide to cram the season in to a span of 2 1/2 weeks. That means we have 3 games a week. I don't understand it at all.

Ojika also had some visitors from other pacific island nations who were here to exchange ideas on building economies and maintaining populations on the islands. There was one visitor from Fiji, one from Samoa, and one from Tonga. I had tea with the Fijian and a Japanese woman from my English conversation class. It was interesting to hear his ideas for helping bring tourism to these Japanese islands. The next night I went to hear the three of them give their final presentation to the Ojika community. They presented both on ideas that they had for Ojika, as well as things that they had learned from being here that they wanted to bring back to their islands.

Two common threads were community involvement in government and initiatives, and ecological sustainability. They also were very impressed with the incredible kindness of the residents on these islands.

It is true that the people of Ojika seem to be the key to their own prosperity in the future. Their initiative and ability to work together will determine whether they will be able to adapt to the changes they have recently seen. The fishing and agriculture based economy here is no longer able to sustain its population level, hence the decline from 10,000 to just 3,000 in 10 short years.

Tourism seems to be the direction the island needs to go if it wants to create more jobs and retain its population. They have begun to transition that way, but they still have a long way to go.

I hope to be able to help with some projects to encourage tourism while I am here. I have offered to make them a basic english language website, and update their visitor brochure. I'd also like to help them add English to places where tourists might like to visit... restaurants, shops, parks, beaches, etc.
The important thing, I think, is for the local community to spearhead the revitalization of their town. They should start with focusing on the rich history that exists here, as well as the natural beauty. Encouraging tourism in a place like this is not about creating artificial attrations for mass-amounts of your stereotypical tourists, it is about allowing people to experience traditional Japanese life, building on the history and beauty that is already here. There is a great deal of opportunity for that, it will just take some restoration work on the part of the island's residents.

Anyways, as you can see, I haven't had a great deal of free time lately. It has been enjoyable and tiring at the same time.

The weather is finally starting to change, fall seems to be making its way to the island. The temperature has been lower, and it is getting less humid as well. I am so glad to feel the cool breezes blowing out of the north, they make the days and nights so much more comfortable.
The main downside to this is that I find myself wanting to go for a walk through the woods, see the leaves changing color, and smell winter approaching on the air.

It is becoming clear to me that it will not be easy for me to not have winter. I love winter. I love the snow. There may be nothing better in the world than standing outside in the woods as huge white flakes fall silently all around. It ignites a spark in my soul, and always makes me happy.
It will be hard for me, but I will make it through. I'll need to visit northern Japan at least once, of course. Nagano, or Hokkaido when the snow is nice and deep.
This is one reason I've come to Japan, to discover and learn about myself. And one thing that I am realizing already is how important the seasons are to me, and how lucky I am to have lived in the places I have.