Kim Hotzon - When the Cherry Blossoms Fall: My Life as an English Teacher in Japan

Copyright 2012 Kim M Hotzon

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 147500852X

ISBN-13: 9781475008524

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62345-255-1

This book is dedicated to my beautiful daughters, Breanne and McKenna and to my husband, Bill, who shared this incredible journey with me.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

One early evening, when I was two years old, my mother discovered that I was missing from my crib. She searched the house for me, having no clue as to my whereabouts. Somehow, I had managed to climb out of my crib and wander outside. I was found across the street, standing quietly under the glow of a streetlight. Six months later, I was hauling my little push car up and down a nearby road, screeching with pure joy as my little ducky propelled me down the center line. You could say that my desire to travel began then, but it definitely kicked into high gear when I turned five. I remember watching Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang for the first time. I was enthralled by the adventures of the children as they flew over the land in their little car, exploring picturesque valleys and beaches before finally arriving at a majestic palace in the mountains. Oh, how I fantasized about visiting that sweet factory so I could twirl a whistling striped candy in my mouth! How wonderful it would be to live in a rambling old house and have my breakfast tumble onto my plate off of a conveyor belt! I soon began to dream about travelling the world, and I felt an indescribable need to discover what else may be out there. The world was a fascinating place and my childs mind soaked up every little detail. I would spend hours playing outside, building cities out of leaves and branches, or clearing paths through the bush, stopping to watch snakes or frogs as they scrambled for safety behind trees or under rocks. There were endless summer days at the beach where I collected driftwood and seaweed, or built sandcastles before the tide came in and washed it all away. I was curious about the world around me and I knew that someday I would see it beyond the street I lived on. Growing up in Vancouver, B.C., I had a safe and comfortable way of life but my mind expanded like a jellyfish out of water when I visited Mexico as an adolescent and saw a different part of the world for the first time. I was amazed by the palm trees and vibrant music, and by the pelicans following us into restaurants. I would gather seashells and swim alongside the fish, while crabs and turtles scuttled and slithered on the sand. My skin would turn golden brown as I munched on salsa and freshly caught prawns, feeling the warmth of the salty wind on my body. As a result of those trips, I continued to crave travelling and by the age of 22 that desire would bring me halfway across the world to Japan; a journey which would have a profound effect on me and which would alter the course of my life.

Japan was and continues to be a land of contradictions, merging ancient and dynastic customs with the fast-paced, technological modern world. When my fianc Bill and I first arrived in Japan, we visited Kyotos Kinkaku-ji temple, otherwise known as the Golden Temple. In the gardens, we stood gazing at the temple, marvelling at the brilliance of the light dancing off of the gold foil encasing the temple. The setting was idyllic, the temple perched regally on a tiny island in the middle of a small lake. Throngs of people passed around us and stopped to look briefly at the fish swimming in the water. Bill and I remained where we stood, for quite some time, mesmerized by such a breathtaking view. The fish were swimming wildly, bumping into each other, frantically looking for food as it was tossed into the water by the tourists. The setting was so peaceful and yet the pond, like the gardens, was crowded. I suddenly felt like the fish, penned in and swimming in every direction looking for an escape route. It would take me 2 years and many life changing experiences before I could stand here again at this pond and truly enjoy the moment.

Japan was to be an adventure for us and like all adventures there were ups and downs, scary moments and wonderful memories to cherish. When we chose to leave Canada, we sold everything we owned and quit our jobs, mine as a receptionist at a Vancouver real estate company and Bills as a supervisor for Save-On Foods. We set out to teach English in a foreign country with only our passports and our eagerness. We had zero knowledge of the Japanese language, we lacked sponsorship and we had, literally, only a few dollars in our pockets. We anticipated that we would earn good money teaching English while being able to travel around Asia and make friends along the way. What we didnt anticipate were weeks of living in segregated youth hostels, serious health problems and extreme culture shock. There were times when we struggled to afford meals or winter clothing.

During the 2 years that we lived there, we became quite acclimatized to Japanese culture and we developed meaningful friendships. In writing my story, I hope to share the magic of this country and its people but also the challenges of trying to fit into a society that may not always feel welcome to outsiders. Though my story is at times dramatic, and I am sure not everyone travelling to Japan to live there will experience all that I did, I do hope readers will gain some sense of the Japanese culture through this book for Japan is a very unique country in Asia.

Our life in this country, with its rich symbolism rooted in history, happened during the early nineties. While many aspects of the Japanese culture will have changed since then, many others will have remained exactly as they were when we were living there. Living in Japan changed my life forever and it was also the beginning of a lifelong career in the field of education. I am grateful for the experience and even for the challenges I faced as it strengthened my character and helped to shape who I am today. Like the cherry blossoms, my life in Japan was momentous; an incomparable and beautiful moment in my life. It was also short lived, abruptly ending, leaving just a trace of my existence behind. I will always feel emotionally connected to Japan. It remains a country full of paradoxes yet it will always be a culture to be admired.

Kim Hotzon

Vancouver, March 2012

I was sitting on the balcony of my apartment when the lightning hit. The deafening rumble of the thunder came first and before I could react and run inside to safety, the fork of light came down, splitting the sky open with its crooked, menacing fingers. I watched transfixed as it hit the satellite dish on the building across from me. Then I heard the wind as it picked up and slammed against the side of the building. With my hair whirling around my head and blocking my vision, I stumbled over the lawn chair, hearing it fly against the railing of concrete. This was a fierce storm. The kind of storm that rarely happens in the city of Vancouver. Still holding onto my wineglass, I flew inside and slammed the sliding door shut. I changed into dry clothes and poured another glass of wine. I looked out at the wind and rain pelting the window and wondered where my boyfriend was. He was usually home before me as I worked in the city at a real estate office and my drive home each day was longer than his. I typically came home to find dinner cooked and waiting for me. As I reached for the phone, I heard the front door slam shut and Bill came striding in.

Bill walked over to the sliding door and opened it up. Unbelievable storm eh? he asked.

No! Leave it shut, the rain is coming inside, I said. I was more frightened of the lightning but it was also cold and wet outside.

How was your day? Lots of traffic? he asked as he peeled off his shoes and sat down beside me.