春夏秋冬 Seasons

Japan is said to be a country of four distinct seasons. While there are places that have snow year-round and those that remain warm year-round, the tourist industry loves making a big deal out of something that tourists will never notice. A week-long vacation can't see the effects of changing weather, and the only big seasonal tourist attraction is cherry blossum viewing. Of course every region has its major seasonal festivals, but there is really only one seasonal change that seems to affect my city -- the food.

Best seen at the local LAWSON convenience store, many of the offered selections remain in stock for a mere month. We get such seasonal drinks as winter apple Fanta, such seasonal stacks as winter BBQ Pringles, and such seasonal candies as winter Pocky. Around the turn of the year there was even a なんちゃって cola that lasted just over a week. Aside from the seasonal commercial madness in the convenience stores, there are seasonal changes in the fruits, nuts, and おでん selection, but these are hardly what comes to mind when Japan is described as a country of four distinct seasons.

For me, this is a season of goodbyes. When I moved into international housing at my university in America, one of my good friends at the time who had lived there before told me that she didn't like living there because it only meant having to say goodbye to everybody you met there within a year. Regardless, I chose to live there 2 years and am now in a similar situation in Japan. However, to me, if you truly grow close to anybody in your time with them, there is no need for goodbyes in this day and age. Mail reaches most of the globe, so the only goodbyes are for those without the patience for meaningful relationships. If you're too afraid to meet somebody you'll have to say goodbye to, you might as well never leave home. But anyway, I'll miss spending time with all you guys who are leaving and hope we can meet up again someday. Here's to all of you!