Up To Speed, Part 5: Lost in Space

While I thought I wanted to be in this field, something strange was happening in my brain. One day I came to the realization that I really did NOT want to be in this science field, and that it did not suit me. I guess I felt quite lost because that was what I was trained to do, but not what I wanted to do.
 
I read a book in Winnipeg called "The Ninja" by Eric Van Lustbader. In it, reference was made to the philosophies of a famous Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. I found the book in English and read it. He said that to truly understand his teachings, one should study kendo. So I found a club that taught kendo and began. This was way back somewhere in the 1980s. I forget exactly when it began.
 
Not knowing a single sound of Japanese (I was only used to all the yelling that the samurai would do in Japanese movies) I wasn't able to keep up on the stretches (ichi ni san shi ichi ni san shi) so got frustrated, and began studying Japanese at a community center once a week. We were the first generation of students (and guinea pigs) to be in that program. I also joined the first Japanese classes at the University of Winnipeg one evening a week. I was in the forefront of the Japan wave. At the community center my sensei asked me if I would like to go to Yokohama and teach at a juku for a year with a friend of hers. I had just broken up with my fiancée and thought it would be a good chance to get away from my life here for a bit so I quit my job and went to Yokohama.

 

I love you!

 

Cam

 

Stay tuned for Part 6: Turning Japanese ... Sort of

 

Up To Speed Links:

 

Part 1: Day One to University Graduation

Part 2: My Working Life in Canada
Part 3: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Part 4: My First Baby