How do you fight loneliness and isolation?

"Having moved to Tokyo in 2006 with his girlfriend, he (Jacob Aue Sobol) turned to photography to quell the overwhelming sense of isolation and loneliness in a foreign culture that seemed impenetrable." (quote from exhibition of Sobol's works by Magnum Photos)

"I wanted to meet the people, to get involved in the city, to make Tokyo mine." - Jacob Aue Sobol

Tokyo was just a sea of faces passing Sobol by everyday. No one stopped to say "hi". No one smiled. No one made any acknowledgement of his existence in the city. Sobol was so lonely that he decided to explore every nook and cranny of Tokyo with his camera. All his photos gritty, showing the dark side of every city that no one wants to acknowledge exists in his backyard.

As I viewed the various photographs on display, I felt as though Sobol actually identified with the people he was capturing on film. They too were living in Tokyo, but no one seems to know their names, or even acknowledge their existence. Yet, nameless, faceless people were given an acknowledgement through photography. These are real people with feelings and opinions. We can't ignore them or hope they go away.

Going cross-cultural is not easy. Some places are "seemingly impenetrable". Does reading up about the culture before moving there help? Yes. But nothing really prepares you for the reality. Does learning the language help? Most definitely. Speak some words of my language, and my heart immediately opens up to you.

Well, what are you waiting for? It's a new year! Get started on a language today!

Happy learning!

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