You have to go when you want to go: My first trip to Amami Oshima

It started with a single word from my teacher

I ended up going to Amami Oshima in July. With my bamboo craft friends.

The initial spark was a message the teacher sent to our group chat: "I'm going to Amami in July, would anyone like to come with me?"

Honestly, I wasn't very interested at the time. It sounded hot, and it was far away. I didn't even reply.

However, a month later, at our annual chamomile party, I was invited again, this time in person.

"I might not be able to go next year."

The teacher is 75 years old. He is the kind of person who ventures deep into the mountains to cut bamboo, carries the heavy stalks back, and teaches us how to work with them. Watching him, the word "elderly" never even crosses my mind.

His movements are light, his eyes are serious, and he always looks happy when he talks about bamboo. That's why I never really thought about his age.

Imaizumi-san had already decided to go. She is a bit younger than me, single, has a refreshing personality, and is always the one to brighten up the room. The way she smiled and said, "I'm going to help take care of the teacher," was just like her.

I see. Even though they are close friends, traveling as a man and a woman can be a bit awkward. He probably wanted to add a few more members. Looking around, everyone else had families, so it would be hard to invite them. I have a son, but he's an adult now. I guess I was an easy person to invite.

When I asked, "Why do you want to go to Amami so much?" the teacher looked off into the distance.

「I can't forget the blue of the sea I saw when I went to Okinawa for work in my youth.But since it was for work, I couldn't really enjoy it. So, I just want to relax by that sea."

Then, after a short pause, he continued, "I might not be able to go next year."

Those words pierced my heart.

"Someday" doesn't always come

The teacher still looks healthier than anyone else. But the age of 75 is certainly there. No one has a guarantee that they will be healthy next year. And that's not just for the teacher. It's the same for me.

There are so many things I think, "I'll go someday" or "I'll do it eventually." But that someday might not actually come.

The moment I realized that, I suddenly wanted to see the sea of Amami.

I have also been to Okinawa. At that time, I truly thought, "The sea in Okinawa is the most beautiful in the world." Even though I haven't seen all the seas in the world, just looking at that color, which you can't quite call blue or green, made me feel happy.

Just how incredible must the sea be that the teacher hasn't been able to forget for decades? I found myself wanting to see it with them.

The words that gave me a push

I looked at the seat across from me and caught Mayumi's eye. Even though she has a family, she has continued to do bamboo crafts all this time. When she murmured, "I'd like to go," I realized I felt the same way. But five nights is just impossible. There's my parents to think about, and work, too. Just as we were talking about that, Takahashi-san came over.

After hearing the situation, Takahashi-san said this to us as we hesitated.

"When you have money, you don't have time. When you have time, you don't have money. When you get old, you might have both, but then you won't have the physical strength. If you don't go when you want to go, you'll never be able to. You can figure out the money later!"

Takahashi-san is always like this. He laughs and blows away our hesitation with a single sentence when we're sitting there with troubled faces. Mayumi and I looked at each other at those words. It was certainly true.

As a result, it was decided that five of us would go

After that, Nozomi-san decided to join us as well. Apparently, she had originally been invited by Imaizumi-san and was debating whether or not to go. When we started talking about "let's go," it seemed to tip the scales for her. Nozomi-san is always a bit cautious, but once she decides, she is fully committed. It's reassuring to have her coming along.

And so, before I knew it, a trip to Amami Oshima for a total of five people was decided. We can't stay for five nights like the teacher, but Mayumi and I will go for three days and two nights. That's enough.

Even though I had no interest in Amami Oshima before, the moment it was decided that we were going, I suddenly started looking forward to it. It's a strange thing. What kind of sea is it? Is the blue sea that the teacher couldn't forget for decades really that beautiful?

A trip begins the moment it is decided

The hard part starts now. We have to find flights, decide on accommodation, and book a rental car. But I think it's true that "a trip begins the moment it is decided."

Fortunately, my son is an adult now. He can manage his own meals and work. Once in a while, it's okay to spend some time on myself.

What color will the sea of Amami look like to the five of us? Will it be the same shade of blue as the sea in Okinawa that the teacher saw when they were young? I started taking action so that we could see it together.