Hobby - Shumi

Last year I created a Meet Up group (www.meetup.com) called the Central Jersey Japanese/English Speakers and Learners group (I think that's the title of it). Anyway, I started it up and it attracted a few people and we met a couple of times, but people weren't really into talking in Japanese and it was more social than speaking/learning and I sorta dropped it.

Then this year, MeetUp was sending me emails saying that my group was going to expire - it costs a bit of money to set up a group - and I let it go and then a second notice and then the final notice: "WE'RE CANCELLING YOUR MEETUP GROUP TOMORROW!" And, I thought: "Eh, why not give it another go?"

So, I renewed.

And I set up a meeting and about seven people showed up and we all spoke in Japanese half the time and I set it up that we were going to talk about our various jobs. So, we did and after the 1.5 hours were up, we decided to do it weekly and I'd find another spot (we were at a restaurant - which was too noisy and disruptive)...which I did. And we met the next week and the next week and the group is getting bigger and we're talking more and more Japanese and all of the sudden...it hit me:

I have a hobby!

I have a bona-fide activity that is completely unrelated to my work in any way (well, it's not entirely true, I do eventually want to tour Japan...) but in the short-run at least, there is no relationship to my work. It's a place where I can go, kick up my heels and just jammer on in Japanese and make mistakes and it doesn't matter. There's nothing at stake. And I love it! It's the highlight of my week! It's so great.

And the people are so dedicated to learning, it's inspiring. And everyone's Caucasian, which totally wilds me out -- I mean, here we all are -- well, there was another half-half there -- all with an interest, most with a love -- for Japanese and we have no idea what else we have in common, but it doesn't matter. We're coming together for this activity.

It's uplifting.
Engaging.
Life-affirming.

Wow, when "they" say "You need a hobby!" they really know what they're talking about! It's amazing!

I love it!

Gambaru!

Matane!