During the farm tour, a special note is made to the Japanese phrase, ”Ichigo (一期) Ichie (一会),” the literal translation of which is, “One time, one meeting.” The deeper meaning imbued in the text is that each passing moment is a once in a lifetime experience; that each present moment is unique and to be presently appreciated as an unreplicatable instance that will soon pass. I have thought a lot about this saying during my time in Japan, and tried to take the lesson to heart each day. Even if I find myself on the other end of a tea harvesting machine somewhere in the future, and even if it is in Wazuka town, it won’t be the same experience; we should treasure each moment we have with gratitude and presence.
Before coming to Obubu, I was working as a freelance insurance adjuster in North Carolina. I’ve worked in a variety of different fields: sales and marketing for industrial safety and public safety/emergency management consulting, a lacrosse coach, a certified wedding officiant, resort conference management, a notary public. I got the urge two years ago to go for a walk and hiked the entirety of the Appalachian trail. Nothing, however, will ever quite prepare you for Japan; it’s just something you have to experience firsthand. Arriving in Japan late at night and missing the last bus from the airport was not quite the way I had anticipated beginning my trip to Japan. But, through a somewhat contemplative discussion with an airport taxi driver, in two completely different languages, I was able to make it to my hotel. I spent a significant portion of the following day mastering Japanese public transportation (after doing a bit of hiking, of course), though I still learn something new each time I set foot on a bus or train. As I told a good friend the other day, “Simply stepping out the door can turn into a small adventure.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at Obubu for my orientation, but I was sure I was in for an adventure. The fast-paced schedule of a working tea farm provided that and more, while Japan supplied the rest. Working on the farm has provided an abundance of wisdom which I’m quite sure is unavailable in any classroom. It’s expanded my knowledge of tea, and given me a newfound passion for sharing it with friends and strangers, alike. I’m looking forward to using what I’ve learned in my time here into whatever life has in store next, certainly with a bit of tea on hand for those moments when you just need to slow down and take it all in.
I’ve spent a lot of my free time walking, hiking, and running Wazuka, the surrounding vallies, and whatever city I could get to as quickly and cheaply as possible on a day off. While I’ve sometimes had to stop and ask directions from a bewildered stranger who gives me a funny look when I explain how far I’ve traveled on foot that day, it has been a great way to meet new friends and learn about the local area, all the while circling back to tea. I’ve met so many wonderful people both on the farm, in the restaurants and shops I’ve visited, on the train, and even by simple happenstance; it’s truly been an adventure I’ll cherish for a lifetime. I’ll honestly miss the passing moments the most, because it’s truly special to see how tea can bring people together. While our time is always fleeting, it’s important to stop and take note of the details, share a bit of humanity with a stranger, stay humble and resilient when facing the unknown, and, most assuredly, maybe take a moment to share a cup of tea.
