John

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OK, time for an update. I'm a 28 year old Irish man living in Saitama, a prefecture just outside Tokyo, in Japan. I like it here. The city I live in - Iruma City - is peaceful, and my local neighbourhood borders on rural. I've met many nice people here in a short time. Actually, this is my second time to live in Japan. The first time I lived in Tokyo for a year, the second time, Sapporo, which in up North. I then travelled Asia for 9 months - Tibet, Thailand, Combodia, Burma, China, Nepal - and went back home to Ireland for three months.My initial intention when I was returning to Japan was to reunite with my girlfriend who was living in Sapporo, but that went pear-shaped and we broke up. Since then I've been living here and reconcidering my options. It's been an emotional time. When true love breaks down it takes a long time to pick yourself back up.Anyway, my options are many. At the moment I'm teacher English to Junior Highschool Students and, when I'm teaching, I enjoy it. But, sometimes it'S very boring in the office, and sometimes I'm little more than a parrot in the classroom. So, I'm going to begin applying for University positions. I think after three years experience (on and off) I have a chance. Also, I'm wondering about going to Bristol to do a MA in Buddhism. I love studying.So, right now, I'm just thinking about what to do. WHo knows what will happen. For now, I just want to meet new people, especially people living in the Saitama-Iruma area. So, if you're around here, send me an email!
Why am I travelling? The usual reasons. Ofcouse, for fun and adventure, and also, to challenge my mind by exposing it to diverse values and customs, and ultimately, to assist me in finding happiness by immersing myself in the spiritual flux of life without form, mind without fixed identity, or something like that. Basically, to use a cliché, I'm seeking enlightenment....
So, I travelled Asia. Didn't go to Vietnam. Went to Burma, Cambodia, Tibet, Thailand, China, Nepal. Found that travelling places wasn't as enlightening as the people I met, meeting a handful of beautiful people amidst the masses of lost, confused millions. In that, I learned humility, understanding, and love. I cannot describe to you how much I have been touched by such people.
So, take a look at my blog from Decemeber 2005 to August 2006 if you want to see some of my experiences during this revolutionary time in my life.
Please, take a look at the links below. Some things need to be seen:
LINKS:
ANIMAL RIGHTS:
www.peta.org
www.meatrix.com/
For people in the US: www.eatwellguide.org/
INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
www.newint.org
www.democracynow.org
CONSUMER AWARENESS AND GLOBALISATION:
www.adbusters.org
www.memefest.org/2006/en/index.php?meme=projects
HUMAN RIGHTS:
www.hrw.org
TIBET:
www.dalailama.com/page.70.htm
www.newint.org/issue381/essay.htm
www.newint.org/issue274/himself.htm
www.newint.org/issue327/thought.htm
www.newint.org/issue274/tintin.htm
DARFUR:
http://www.standnow.org/
http://www.genocideintervention.net/
INFO ON THE ISRAEL/LEBANON CRISIS:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2 006071500957_pf.html
www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/14/146258&mode =thread&tid=25
? Feel free to suggest other links to do with these or oter causes that you think may be useful... you can send them to my mailbox. Thanks.
OTHER LINKS:
A place to brain storm:
http://groups.myspace.com/totalfreedom2006
Click here to learn what's happening in Darfur, Sudan