Constructing The Beehive
July 2023
It was an early Sunday morning, the cloudy sky was grey but our spirits were high. We were out with others from our village, taking our turn to clean a local shrine and do some recyclable rubbish collection. We had reached the bottom of the pine-covered hill which housed the shrine and some curious kids had gone close to the rice paddy. They were deciding whether the electric fence was live or not when suddenly there were squeals, “HEBI! (SNAKE!)” Other kids quickly came running and looked in the direction of the pointing fingers. Being Australian, my heart skipped a few beats and the first thing I was thinking was, “Get back!” and here these kids were doing the opposite and trying to get close! There are very few poisonous snakes in Japan, but my reaction to snakes has been deeply engraved in me, it’s hard to shake.
The excitement fast died down as the snake littered below the water, out of sight under the rice plants. Attention turned back, once again, to the pine-covered hill before us and the task before us. At the edge of the pine grove a very steep and winding path led up to the shrine at the top. Further along, there were stairs, also very steep. I followed the group, up the winding path, concerned that I might slip as the cement was barely visible between all the dead pine needles and small branches. It was dark amongst the trees, and stayed so as we ascended. Despite the noise our group brought, there was a kind of peace and serenity. As we reached the top I was greeted by the small wooden shrine. Nestled in under the towering trees, it felt like it was a protected treasure.
Before long, brooms and rakes were being handed out and kids and adults alike were raking and sweeping the paths, the steps and the ground around the shrine. Yes, the Japanese sweep their dirt. A father had brought along a grass cutter (a whipper snipper with a metal blade) and soon its motor cut into the peaceful morning air, followed by the occasional chinking when it got too close to a rock or the like.
The grounds soon we transformed; the path nice and clean, the steps cleared, the dirt outside the shrine bare once more. No child complained, everyone happily took their part, and I felt a kind of refreshing. How wonderful to have such willing cooperation!
Once our community service was complete and we waved goodbye, it was all stations go on our own house! Ken’s 2 boys and their mother were coming for the summer holidays and my husband, Shujin, had grand plans for how we were going to fit 3 extra people into our house-built-for-two that currently houses six!
Our house-built-for-two has two front doors... the current front door, and the original front door (the house got extended at some point). The old front door and entryway have just been a storage area for some books and crap. It was already full of things when we arrived and I just didn’t have the motivation to sort through everything, especially when there’s no where else to put the stuff, except the bin! So it’s just been sitting there, waiting for a rainy day.
So Shujin assessed the space and thought he could build triple bunks to fit in it as the floor space is about the size of a single bed! I thought throwing Bob and the 2 cousins in a tent outside would be a good option...! Shujin didn’t like the thought of the kids coming in and out when mosquitos would be rampant. So bunks it was! Yes, our house-built-for-two was being turned into a Beehive!
We first had to clear out all the crap that was stored there. It ended up in a big pile outside the door. No one knew what to do with it so it just sat there. Our concentration went to preparing the space. Clean down walls. Remove the inbuilt shoe cupboard. Paint. Start making bed frames. It was exciting to see the space transformed, especially when the white paint got put on the walls. Suddenly, the dark and dingy entryway was transformed into a well lit, enviable space!
As the day wore on, the grey clouds started to get heavy and eventually, rain started spitting down from the sky. Now what do we do with the pile of crap??!! I rescued the boxes of books and took them inside, cluttering several rooms, feeling slightly disappointed, but knowing there wasn’t much I could do about it! Meanwhile, Shujin started filling the boot of Okasan’s car with the rest of the crap. If only he had of put it in his own car boot, then maybe after he drove it around for several days it would get dealt with sooner!!
Ken ended up staying two nights and spent a day with Shujin at work. Ken, ever the optimist who could sell ice to eskimo’s, and Shujin, the pessimist who sees that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence! Shujin has not enjoyed his job, ever since he started it at the end of lsat year. The aged-care facility was in financial ruin before he took on the manger position and it’s been a constant stress. It’s only remained opened by miracles from God. Shujin was previously working in the education sector, with children, and now he’s working with elderly. They say the elderly revert back to being child-like, but he would much prefer the energy and vigor of children! There’s many elements to his job that are a struggle and he really has stayed on begrudgingly.
Then Ken stepped into the space. He started pointing out all the great things and benefits that Shujin has for working where he is. For one thing, he’s the manager. He calls the shots. He isn’t stuck working under some young upstart bossing him around. As manger, he can dream, vision and plan, and carry those ideas out. His position has also given him some flexibility. Since I still don’t speak Japanese, I’m unable to take his mum, Okasan, to doctor appointments and the like. It all falls onto Shujin. It would be very difficult to get regular time off in most jobs, in order to take your mum to her appointments. But Shujin is able to work things around his schedule and take her. That has been a huge blessing. He has sometime been able to make it to school events too, which means a lot for the children.
Ken came to visit to help with the building of the bunk beds but ended up giving more than just physical assistance; encouraging Shujin in his job and helping him see things from a positive perspective was not just a blessing to Shujin, but our whole family.