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| This is the essay series by women living with HIV. The authors in Japan,
Cambodia, Portugal and the Philippines, write about episodes and the
feelings of their daily lives. |
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| Getting Away From It All / Aya |
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 I relax with Takarazuka (a Japanese musical featuring a women-only cast), which is a dream world separated from everyday life. I enter a different world and thoroughly enjoy myself. I feel rejuvenated by the smiling, radiant faces of the elegant performers. I’ve always loved musicals, and my favorite movie is The Sound of Music-probably for the same reason I feel happy when I watch a Disneyland parade. If only everyone would have a conversation while dancing and singing, the world would be more fun and society would be more peaceful. That’s what touches the girl in me.
If I had to name a more adult way to relax, it’d be alcohol, I guess. Chatting away at a party is loads of fun, and it’s also really nice to have a drink while enjoying great food when traveling. A drink at home in the evening as a way to unwind after a long day is relaxing, too. Having said that, rather than the time spent relaxing, the simple act of babbling on without listening to what others say, thereby getting things off my mind, is what I find refreshing.
Speaking of relaxing, spending time on an island is soothing. We love the ocean, so we often go to the Izu island chain. Time passes differently there. In the morning, we walk to the beach and we snorkel or fish all day. We nap and drink beer while listening to the sound of the waves. In the evening, we enjoy the tasty seafood and homemade dishes at the inn, and feeling pleasantly tipsy, we go to bed.
We spend most of our time in a fast-paced society, moving around by car and getting uptight about catching the next train, with eyes only for the place we’re trying to get to. But on the island, we get around either on foot or by bicycle. We are able to enjoy our time without getting flustered. When it’s time to get on the boat and return to Tokyo, it’s as if I’m being pulled back to reality, and I feel so sad. |
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