Why You Should Stop Reading This Article and Go Outside Now Instead
I woke up grumpy. I had an appointment with my landlord to discuss some issues in the building where I am renting. I didn’t want to go.
We have been going at it for a few days over emails until they — it’s a company-owned apartment — decided to meet face to face.
The central air-conditioning of the building still isn’t on. We passed the mid-July mark already, and as you can imagine, it’s hot and humid in Japan.
This also isn’t the first issue in that building. There used to be piles and piles of used furniture stored in the garage, creating a huge fire hazard. Old bikes and bicycles were taking up 2/3 of the available parking space, and nothing was done about it. The toilets broke down a few times. Rainwater infiltrated the walls and flooded the corridor during the rainy season. And now this dispute about the air-conditioning. A dispute I had with them last year already.
Now, as it turns out, the company I rent from also rents these apartments in that building. The building itself is being managed by another company, which itself is also owned by a third party. It’s quite a mess. Anyway, I am not here to talk about housing issues in Japan.
I wanted to make a point — I was frustrated when I woke up. I didn’t want to deal with the situation. However, I had no choice, and I went out early to meet them. The discussion, although leading to nothing, went over well. And I used the opportunity of having gone out to bike around a little during this sunny summer morning.
I stopped by the supermarket, got some fresh groceries for the day. As I got to the cashier, it turned out to be the kind lady I befriended of the last two years. We got to chit-chat and catch up on recent events in the city. A very cheerful woman who’s been very kind to me. She’s always a pleasure to interact with.
While packing my bags, I noticed a man next to me putting his lunch box away in his bag before walking out. Serious look on his face, striped shirt and blue tie. He must be a salaryman, I told myself.
Riding along the moat of Osaka castle, I saw a female coypu, also called a beaver rat I believe. She was together with her young child. They were both swimming through the green water and hopped onto the grass to feed on little clovers. A few people hand gathered around to witness the rare sight. Everyone was smiling.
The rainy season coming to an end, the cicadas woke up a week ago. Their music now resonating through the trees of the city most of the day. As I biked to the park where I like to work out, they all of a sudden stopped. It went from having loud background noise to silence in an instant.
A second later a murder of crows flew right into a large tree, and a swarm of cicadas flew out to escape their predator. The insects circled over the park, chased by the blackbirds. It was like a scene from a nature documentary. Another rare sight.
As I am going about my workout in the morning heat, a young foreign man, also in training gear, approached the pull-up bars and asked to use them. We both went at them alternatively, until we finally broke our sportsman’s silence.
As it turned out, he was from France, like me. I haven’t met many frenchmen during my stay. He likes sports, photography, and Japan. Over the course of a workout, I made a new friend. It was pleasant to speak in my mothertongue for once.
On the way home, I passed a daycare center. The teachers had set up some inflatable pools outside the school. A dozen kids were jumping around the freshwater, all smiles and giggles. They were splashing themselves, and the teachers were not spared. I couldn’t help but smile.
A little further, crossing the castle park again, I saw the man from the supermarket sitting on a bench. Chopsticks between his fingers, tie over his shoulder, he was enjoying some fresh sushi in the shades. He saw me too and gave me a gentle nod as a sign of recognition.
As I got home, I checked my watch. 12pm. During the last few hours, I got to observe and witness all these little gifts of life. None of this would have happened if I would have stuck to my usual routine.
Spending the morning in my room, working out in the heat and humidity of my corridor, and keeping my curtains closed to the sight of the building next door.
The frustration disappeared, blown away by the wind pushing me and my bicycle forward.
Life is at your doorstep. Go out, observe, and be part of it.
