Once i use to think it is Okay to be labeled as an Otaku. Personally I’m not that sort of person that minds people calling me otaku or nerd because i know i am one , rather than being afraid why not embrace it ?
So that’s what i thought.
Little did i know something called “Aging” change my personal view of things and also how things happen around you will eventually shift your perspective on such “touchy issues”.
I ended my compulsory national service(Army) that sucked away 2 years of my life. I think entering army for a period is good training for anyone but frankly it can be shorter and it can get tougher(training wise), But not going to talk about that.
Right so after my service ended 2 months back , i started to travel. First I went Vietnam , really great place and thank god my country (SGD) currency is rather strong in the region so most things seemed “Cheap”. Secondly , Japan , my wallet and bank account died there. Thirdly, regular trips to Malaysia, again currency ftw! . Lastly, my regular spot , Batam and i’m paid to go there!
I got this really really great part time job. I am an outdoor adventure/youth leader facilitator/instructor. What i do ? I bring students to camp sites and teach them values such as “Team work” , “Cohesion”, “learn to suck it up mindset” and other life building values. I’m not paid much , it comes out to like $50/day and if you break down further , your work for the day starts before the students wakes up and your work only ends when they sleep. So you’re looking around 12 or more working hours. Sounds like a lot but rest assured, once you done it , you don’t even feel like you’re working at all.
So now heres the thing, the one thing that otaku really dislike is actually Interacting with REAL people. Another thing that otaku really dislike is Staying disconnected from the net and lastly they dislike the Outdoor life. I’m doing all this stuff and realise more and more the “inner otaku” is slowly leaving me. I even didn’t bother to go for the AFA 2009 !!
I can’t deny it , i’m losing more and more interest in this otaku stuff.
Right now , i feel like a normal person. That is occasional anime for entertainment alongside with other type of shows like live drama, documentaries, movies with friends, dinner with friends, buying stuff without the fear of having to eat grass the next month….. It feels great.
It.. I actually don’t really know what to say now.. But there’s still part of me that doesn’t want to leave this fantasy world. I made quite a number of friends here as well. I spent A LOT of time here as well , i spent A LOT of effort too. I still love my Gundam , Space battle ship Yamato , Haruhi , Kamen Riders, Ultramen and many others i call Hero and idols.
I guess i’m now in a transition state , from Full time otaku back to being a nice little hobby while having a balanced normal life. I know many still love this fantasy otaku world but if you are doing the same , please don’t delete your blog , leave it around till it expires or pass the domain to some other “budding otaku”.
I’m not deleting my blog or any entries. I’m going to continue blogging but on a different pace and perspective. I think being an otaku is over rated, we should not stay in this fantasy too long.
