Exploring the Town on Bike

Today I rode a bike to explore my hometown. In the south part of the town, they are constructing many new houses. In fact, one neighborhood located between the elementary and junior-high schools has changed almost beyond recognition since my old days. There used to be a lot of rice fields, but it’s now full of houses and apartments. The material-mnemonic environment has been re-organized to the extent that I was spatially disoriented and had to ask myself “Is this really the same place where I used to play with my friends?”

As I was riding my bike, however, I did find some houses, streets, and landmarks (e.g., temples) that have not much changed. Although I am not as fond of childhood memories as Proust, I indulged myself for a few moments in memories of my childhood when time seemed to me to flow so slowly—almost stand still—and I couldn’t imagine that I would ever get old.

I shall continue my exploration. Indeed, I should have started this as soon as I got here, to grasp a spatio-temporal matrix in which daily lives of children unfold in this town.