Hope springs eternal

I feel especially blessed today. My heart is filled with simple warmth, not unlike the balmy weather we have been bestowed upon these few days. Perhaps its the potent combination of meeting some lovely new people, being given the various opportunities to admire the devastatingly beautiful sakura during this season, observing the Japanese society get themselves together after the Tohoku earthquake to enjoy their annual ohanami parties, meeting my students again and hearing their relief and gratitude towards my return to Tokyo. I'm just so glad to be back. It's times like this when I feel like I've finally done something right with my life. Not that everything had been a disaster until now, but I suppose I'm thankful to be able to sit back, reflect upon the last few months and appreciate everything that have happened in my life. There were the post-quake panic, there were the big aftershocks reminding me that I'm back in earthquake capital of the world. But still!

This is my first spring experience. I guess it's a bit out of the ordinary because of the post-earthquake situation and we're still not out of some nuclear danger. Nevertheless, time and tide waits for no man and springtime has sprung upon us like clockwork. It's utterly breathtaking. One can only truly appreciate the beauty of spring only after experiencing a harsh winter. Only when one is resigned to the eternal chill and barrenness of the land, Spring blooms from under our nose without us noticing. Then all of a sudden, when you realise that it's a little too warm to wear your winter coat, you also begin to notice all the different colours around you. I've never imagined rose bushes to look as vivacious as they are. I've never imagined cherry blossoms to look so delicately elegant. I've never imagined wild flowers to look so pretty and dignified.

Spring in Japan is definitely a good time. It's a pity that my family has decided to give it a miss due to the extraordinary circumstances. Especially with the hanami season, all of the country have poured out of their homes to view the cherry blossoms. It really feels like the whole country is having a giant music festival of some sorts. People picnicking and drinking merrily in the park, you hear laughter all around; people playing music on their guitars or just playing them from their stereos; people painting the scenery; people getting enthusiastic about something as silly as rowing the boat on the lake. The happiness is well infectious. In a country like this, you can only believe that they will make it good. I still believe in Japan and you should too! :)