Five years ago I waved goodbye to Canada for the last time, my sights set firmly on the golden shores of the far eastern nation of the rising sun. It's hard to believe so much time has passed since then. I lived in Vancouver for five years to the day, and have lived in Japan for longer. In this time I've grown a great deal, learning as I go, and have come to the conclusion many times that I will be happier living in Japan than Canada. Language barriers be damned, there really is not much for me in the nation I once called my home. I still like Canada as a nation, and would gladly visit from time to time. But Canada is no longer my home. It's here, where I have had the desire to live since I was 12 years old and largely ignorant of the country, its history, its people, and its culture.
Looking back, it's interesting to look at the story that we call life. Hopefully the next five years will be calmer and more fruitful.
