愛国

I live in Japan. I've been living here for 8 years and, for those of you who can't read Japanese kanji (characters), I love this country. 8 years here, and I've never felt "settled" here. As a "nomad", one thing that fulfills me is a consistent sense of being compelled, a constant sense of challenge. I don't want to be bludgeoned into routine, I want to be spurred into chaos. I want to live in a constant state of fluctation. I want to be awed by the mystery of life, not dulled by the supposed scientific summation of natural law. 8 years here and this country never ceases to fill me with awe. No matter how much I think I know about this place, no matter how complacement and familiar I think I have become, this country never ceases to stir me up again, to shake me from my world-weary boots and say "Wake up! You're still missing out!"
I think, when we finally find some place to settle or call home, we very often, seek desperately for a routine, for some semblance of order or comprehension, in the midst of our hectically pace life and all its flashes and sparks that are set off around us constantly. There's so much information, so many ideas, so much noise. And in our pursuit of routine, we forget why we pursued it in the first place. We miss the beauty around us and we forget why we were so attracted to this beauty to begin with. We find a comfortable road, we lock on the horseblinds and trod ahead, neglecting the gorgeous surroundings that convinced us to choose our particular inhabitance in the first place. I think that's a shame.
But that's why I love this country. Any time I feel a semblance of security, a little bit of comfort, something snaps me back into reality again, and I fall in love with this place all over again.
This time it was an image. An image that I felt very eloquently captured the original sense of seduction both foreigners - whether they have actually been here or not - and locals feel towards Japan. It's why many people hold this place in such high regard. And it stands to witness that there is such a thing as natural beauty. There is truly something splendid in allowing nature to be what it is, and simply asking to share that unaffected visage with others. I love this image for many reasons, most of which I don't care to bother explaining right here. But I want anyone perusing this page to see, not read, why I love this country, and what it means to me. So have a look, and please comment.
Also, if you liked the picture, please take the time to visit the photographer's webpage. He was kind enough to send me this photo, no strings attached. The least we could do is let him know we appreciate his work. Or at least remind him that I appreciate his work.
Thanks.

Title: Sunset Gion

Photographer: Cristian Townsend

Website: http://web.mac.com/oswaldfitch1/iWeb/cristiantownsendsurrealphotomedia/home.html