Between London and Tokyo

The two years have passed like a whirlwind, and in the end I have finished my masters course at LSE. As the name stands, the program itself served the definition of intensity, if not brutality, and I am forever indebted for the people who supported me throughout this journey of knowledge. Putting aside the ordeal, as for one, not many could truly understand, and also it would be boring, I have also experienced a great deal in London and gained some insight, and it is what I would like to shed spotlight on here in this article.

London, known for its terrible weather, to me was amazing. Amazing in a sense that it was so comfortable that I had no trouble climatising myself. Amazing in that it was so multinational/cultural no one had to feel minority. It was not too long after I had arrived in the UK when I asked myself why I could associate myself with this lovely city. First thought that came to mind was the fact I was a city person after all. However, this idea was turned down as it did not apply to all the big cities I had visited. London was different.

It was heard that good 60% of its population was immigrants. But there was something that did not let me call it a melting pot, which can be a synonym of other metropolitan cities without much thought. That something, I reckon, does not come from the stats, but from how people live. It is a place where each nationality does not have to meld together but keep their own cultural roots and coexist as they are. It does not force the populace to be alike, but has got the capacity to embrace all. Such an environment promotes mutual understanding and consideration, keeping itself ever stimulating.

Then I, as a natural occurrence, compared London with other cities, especially Tokyo. Though I have seen some gradual change over time, it is still a very homogeneous society. On top of its geographical causes of being islands detached from the continent, how the society operates, in my humble opinion, is another thing. People start every phase of schooling practically at the same pace, do not move around, start job-searching at the same time every year, and tend to work in the same firm till retirement. Such societal consonance leads to similar life experiences among the nationals. On the other hand, in London, everyone comes from different countries, speaks different languages, believes in various religions, and has done assorted things before and after reaching the UK. As each has a different philosophy, one, whether to like it or not, feels the multitudes of values on their skin and has to live in them. This, as I think, is closely associated with my experience of not often hearing the word ‘common sense’ in London. ‘Social norm’ is the word more often used. If you try to find the common ground among all, it is the hardest thing. Nothing can be considered for granted. On the other hand, their homogeneity makes it possible to expect more or less the same quality among Tokyoites. ‘Common sense’ is often used as an undestructible fortress whenever something abnormal, good or bad, is seen. It is a very comfortable place to be as well as an easy idea to manage situations; however, it can be a dangerous conformity that kills originality and innovations.

(Having written till this point, I realised that ‘common sense’ might be a word that can be most distrusted by APLP fellows.. my apologies if my writing is giving you all repugnance.)

Nonetheless, as one who loves his own country, I am not to criticise Japan. Despite the harshness that I might have impressed above, I am sure that the social uniformity contributed to the conservation of traditions throughout history. The Japanese are much cultured to my eyes, though we might not be aware of it ourselves, and that is why the country remains fascinating to the rest of the world. I am just one who wishes for the population to reach out to the world and develop more multifaceted values let alone know who they really are and become proud of it.

Februrary 2014 with Habib

It is already the end of January..
Although I wish I could update more on this blog, we are excited to welcome our next story teller. (and how amazing to start a month with a new year and end with another new year (Lunar/Chinese).
Please give the warmest welcome to Md. Monjurul Habib for February 2014.
Here is a brief bio.

Habib is an Occupational Therapist, working as a lecturer in a nonprofit organisation in Bangladesh called Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) for over seven years. He has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Occupational Therapy in November 2006 from Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), affiliated to the University of Dhaka and accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). His future aspirations are to seek higher academic qualifications and acquire working experience in Health Management, Planning, and Policy.

Now I have passed the baton from UK to Bangladesh :)

Habib, go ahead and rock'n roll.

Cheers,

Taku

The third place

In the last entry, I pondered upon the place that ‘earthes’ you. However, the place of course depends on the individual. One place does not serve everyone. Here is some more ramble of my mind.

During the Christmas break, I had a chance to visit Paris. Before leaving London, one of my classmates told me I would like Monmartre described as an artsy district, so there I was.

Knowing nothing about Paris as always when I travel,,, after shaking off shady street kids (who literally grabbed my arm) and climbing up the hill, what I found was something different than only the artistic streets.

It was Sacré-Cœur Basilica, towering and looking over the town, radiant even under a cloudy sky. In reminiscence of St. Paul’s, I walked in. I found a place to sit for a while – a while as long as I wanted. With eyes closed, I reflected upon the last term, friends always in my heart, and felt the very moment.

Then something came through my mind. Among others who are also deep in their prayers, my thoughts perched on this idea: ‘the purpose of the place.’ Come to think of it, most of the places seem to have their own purposes, and religious sights are a clear epitome. They have been there (often for a long while in the history), serving as a space for people to pray or to congregate with the community of the same values. When my thread of thoughts reached this point, I realised a familiar feeling. It was not long before I remembered the notion of ‘the third place,’ which I came to know about through Gretchen before. As opposed to the first place being home, the second workplace, the third place is an informal environment where you can find a place in the community.

We choose the third place according to the purpose, and it provides the space where we meet people in a context different from other places, probably in a more comfortable way. Why do we find it cozy in the third place then?

Though it sounds that the trick lies in the place itself, it begins in our own psyche. We first have our mindsets ready for the place, and as you already know that everyone shares the same values (although they might be temporary ones), it becomes much easier to mingle at the venue. ‘The purpose’ does not belong to the place but ourselves.

I also remembered that in a discussion during the GIST travel, Gretchen (sorry not to put you on the spot…) mentioned about the moments/places where people become more open than they normally are. I think it applies to traveling itself.

On a travel, I feel my senses are more open trying to feel the unknown, and if that occurs to all, sharing the same psychological moments, why not call travels our cathedral?

Cathedral

Happy New Year.

I am honoured to host this special month to start the year 2014.

As you are aware, I am in London pursuing a master's degree since last October. Life has literally been a whirlwind here, inundated by lots of coursework.

While every week passes by at such a high velocity, it at times becomes a challenge to pace myself. Under circumstances like these, you need something that anchors you to what is important in life. What is it for you? Sports, hobbies, axioms by philosophers?

For me, it has always been tennis, running, reading, photo shooting, and training at the gym (including my pathetic attempt to swim in the pool). However, what if I could not find time (or more precisely, cognitive space) for them? It was a quest that I had in mind at the beginning of the term, which was partly philosophical, partly pragmatic (not to say being philosophical is not pragmatic..).

Walking in the path to school, I found an answer: a cathedral.

Although it indeed is rhetoric, where it could be anything else such as temple, shrine, mosque, home, etc., I was fortunate enough to live close enough to see the magnificent architecture with a roof of the beautiful blue, St. Paul’s.

Though not being so pious myself, I would go to church as a kid at times, and ever since, I have always had fondness to the Christian community, which might be why I was particularly drawn to the consecrated atmosphere here. As I pass by it on a daily basis, its colossal and monolithic presence provides me with a certain sense of reassurance.

The grand existence of it is strongly associated with the ideal exterior of me, which withstands storms, the cold, and anything that challenges. The magnificent inside relates to my interior, or what is of essential value at heart. Among all are friendship, sincerity, and dignity.

This view of what entails life’s significance seems to have been with me since a long time ago, but it was rather floating without forming a particular shape. Or put in a more poetic APLP way, I was holding the holy grail in hands, seeking where to place it.

Once I passed the entrance one day, I was immediately mesmerised by the tranquility that absorbed footsteps, the clatter of people and even the priest. Any noise that otherwise would be heard with annoyance became tamed inside the holy walls of Anglican. I was in a parallel world, shielded from the external terrene that had now transformed minuscule. I felt that the place anchored me, letting myself assimilated with the serenity in the midst of a metropolitan city.

I walked about inside for a while, perceiving what the ambience had to offer, and listening to myself like a person introspective, which I am. Gradually, I veered my attention outward, to the people around. People from different nationalities and cultures. Not many were talking too much or loud. There seemed to be one thing in common. Feeling of sanctity? To me, it was more like respect to this place special to many.

Looking back, I have visited places that possess significance to the local. An instance would be temples and shrines in Japan; another would be the ruins from the past dynasties in Cambodia, and the Tibetan Buddhist temple on top of the hill in Shangri-La old town, Yunnan Province, China, just to name a few. They are all open to the general public (that is why I could visit), and have the power that is stupefying in a way to engross their visitors regardless of where they come from, literally and figuratively. In such places, we tend to look back on ourselves and be more mindful of our own behaviours, quite naturally.

(However, on the other hand, we do hear about contaminations of touristic places by their visitors. It seems to be true that there unfortunately are those who are obtuse enough to be careless. This contamination is also an occurrence in the minds of people in general as in the potency of the place is being diluted.)

When I was in Cambodia, I found a little cool quiet place in a ruin surrounded by mossed stone walls with a ray of the afternoon light for a self-reflection and contemplation upon the course of journey in Asia so far and ahead. Having secluded myself from other tourists in a personal space, my cognisance started to swim more freely, perfect for delving into the inner universe and examine each slate of experiences.

It is amazing how difficult it is to find a quiet place in our daily lives. Even in your room, you would hear some noise, maybe even in the middle of the night. Or the noise might be a silent one that sneaks into your mind and clouds your thoughts.

Putting yourself in a new, special place might help.

- Will try to develop a bit more on this thought in the next entry.