I'm sure many people are wondering why an American would choose to leave her country to live elsewhere; possibly permanently. I have many reasons.. but most of all it is simply because I am unhappy. I am able to create my own happiness for sure, but living in America makes such a task grueling & exhausting as there are sooooo many countless things about our society that make the task difficult for me. I am not saying that America is a bad country! FAAAAAR from that! America has many great attributes & I can see why so many people around the world wish to live here. However.. It's not really my cup of tea- Though I am grateful for all that this country has helped me to be~





So! Why Japan..? Out of all the other hundreds of countries in the world, why did I decide upon Japan as the most likely country I will create my forever home in? There are just as many countless reason for this as there are reasons for my wishing to leave the country of my birth. Some are spiritual, some are physical, & some are moral. Most of all though, I know in my heart that if it came down to it..? The only country in this world I would readily fight & die to defend.. is Japan~ America...? *heavy sigh* I would sooner walk away shaking my head, calling everyone idiots than fight for her.. Pretty pathetic for one born there, huh?





Hence why I have chosen to leave. If you cannot change the situation you are in for the better, then you are better off leaving it and allowing those who like it to savor it for what it is. That is my firm belief in life. "If you cannot help others, at least do not hurt them". I live this- Every single day-





My other reasons for choosing Japan...? Well~ I'll list them~





I love the language, which comes more naturally to me than any other language I've studied (besides English).

I love the food~ Healthy, with mostly seafood & rice in small portions so as to prevent overeating.

I love the culture! From the music, to the fashion, to the history! There is such richness in Japanese culture that resonates with my very soul that I cannot help but be drawn to it!

THE PEOPLE!! Without the people.. there is no culture, there is no history, there is nothing- & the people of Japan fill me with wonder, astonishment, awe, & even fear at times~ They have no limits! Yet they live in a highly structured & stern society with stiff etiquette & proper protocols for just about everything that allows everyone to coexist in a way that is nearly seamless & extremely efficient.

I see great potential in Japan. The people there have deep roots in history, nature, & culture.. & yet they are able to adapt, grow, & change rapidly. In my mind, I see the people of Japan as one great life tree that has been growing for thousands of years & is still young, vibrant, & evergreen with golden leaves reaching out towards the sun endlessly.

"Japan is one of the cleanest countries in the world." I have heard this said countless times & many people who have visited there add that, "Japan is like a country-wide nature park where everything is neat, clean, & gorgeously green. Even their cities seem this way". I feel that the deep Shinto roots in Japan have much to do with this. The Japanese have a deep love, respect, & admiration of nature~ Something I, too, share.

Japan is one of the countries taking the lead in trying to create a 100% green society in balance with nature. They have an extensive recycling program where nearly all of their waste is recycled. They are also investing in electric & hydrogen-fueled cars, technologies I am deeply interested in. Even though the demand for the vehicles isn't quite there yet, they are heavily investing in the tech to not only build the cars, but also the infrastructure for fueling/charging stations all across the nation in order to meet future demands before they are even fully needed.

Japan is one of the most educated countries in the world & they place high value on their education. Some of the world's most prominent scientists come from Japan.

VOLCANOES & EARTHQUAKES!!! :D Ok.. being a Geology-nut, this is something I find fascinating! Sure- I am thoroughly devastated when people are harmed or killed by these natural phenomenon.. but the power of these natural wonders also exhilarates me & helps me to remember that Earth.. is not some dead thing to be claimed or fought over. Earth is a living, breathing macro-organism & she is NOT to be taken lightly!

My whole life has been riddled, bolstered, & even saved from the brink of self-destruction by components of Japanese culture. I've dreamt of samurai since I was 15. I fell in love with anime soon after, followed by J-pop, & Japanese language. The very song that saved my heart, mind, & soul from utter devastation was a Japanese song; I'm sure my avid readers know exactly which song I speak of.

Most of all...? The true love I have been longing for, praying for, & wishing for since I was 3 years old... Is of Japan. He was born & raised there. Even if I never find him, or if I find him & he wants nothing to do with me, this fact will not change... & I would rather die than be any other place than where he is; even if I am unable to ever see him.

Japan holds everything that has moved me & helped make me into the woman I am today.

These are all the reasons I have finally decided to give in to my soul's deepest desire & follow my heart to Japan. Even if I remain forever an outsider & people ridicule or shun me for not being born Japanese, I know in my heart that I would die to protect those very same people; even if they hate me for it. For the first time in my life, I finally feel as if I know where I belong. I know my place & whom I am meant to be. & although I have my doubts & fears, even though some part of me wishes I could have come to this realization sooner.. I am grateful that I have finally come to it now & not later.





Many would be tempted to say that I have wasted many years pandering, procrastinating, & doubting myself.. but I feel different. I know that everything happens exactly when & how it happens for a reason. EVERYTHING has its place, purpose, & proper timing. I refuse to second guess myself or regret anything as each and every part of the journey was for a specific reason & purpose, many of which I may not fully understand yet. However, I am here now~ I am in this moment. & not for the first time, I feel I am finally turning over the page into a brand new chapter in my life. & that...? Is truly all that matters~





LIVE YOUR DREAMS!





-Aria D Gaia