Brian D. Buckley

1. Vatnajökull

See that white splotch in the lower right? That’s Vatnajökull, the biggest glacier in Iceland. The national park dedicated to this beast covers more than 10% of the country. And get this: there are active volcanoes under the ice. If you’re not excited about seeing a volcano glacier then I don’t know what to tell you.

2. Hallgrímskirkja

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Largest church in the country. Named after a poet. Took 38 years to build. Designed to look like a lava flow. What’s not to like?

3. Aurora Borealis

I’ve seen the Northern Lights once before, on a cruise to Alaska, but they were faint and blurry. I’d like to give them another shot, and Iceland is the place to do it.

4. Geysir

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This is it: Geysir, the original geyser, the one that all the others are named after. I don’t know anything else about it, and I don’t need to. It’s like nature and etymology had a baby, and it shoots boiling hot water into the sky.

5. Íslenska

Speaking of which, the Icelandic language – Íslenska – is legendary. Literally. It’s changed so little from Old Norse that Icelandic speakers today can still read the old legends in their original language from a thousand years ago. The alphabet has thirty-two letters, including thorn (þ), ash (æ), and eth (ð). All three of those letters once belonged to English, too, back before the Norman Invasion, but were later kicked out for being entirely too badass.

I’m looking for plane tickets. Who’s with me?!

So there’s this documentary called The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief. And it is fascinating.

The city of Osaka, Japan has something called “host clubs.” Their clients are rich women who drop hundreds or thousands of dollars a night. In return, they get drinks, music, and the attention of a “host,” a club employee who will flirt with them and make them feel special for an hour or two. Yes, there’s sex, but not as often as you might think. For these women, it seems to be about the emotional connection.

(“Hostess clubs” also exist, and are presumably more popular, but the film doesn’t talk about them.)

The film centers on Issei, the most sought-after host in Osaka. He takes home thirty to fifty thousand dollars a month. What’s his secret?

Among other things, he’s a very good liar.

Although his persona is utterly fake, his clients are infatuated with him. They say they love him. Some even want to marry him. And surprisingly, they believe they have a shot.

That’s because Issei tells them exactly what they want to hear, stringing them along, pretending to each woman that he has special feelings for her alone. As these ersatz bonds develop, the women come back, buying more drinks and more time, wooing their favorite host with regular infusions of cash.

Many of the patrons are prostitutes themselves. They see host clubs as a safe place to go, where the men won’t look down on them for the work they do. Thus the cycle completes, and you have human beings whose entire lives consists of fake intimacy: selling sex on the job, and buying a facade of affection in their off hours.

Of course, these relationships are deeply unhealthy for all involved. But they show us the strength of the human need to connect, the need to feel accepted and understood.

The movie’s on Netflix. Watch it if you get a chance.

https://TheDayWeFightBack.org

Hello world.

As I’ve mentioned, the illness has kept me from writing recently. Well, I haven’t recovered yet, but I’ve decided to try and keep blogging anyway. Creation is therapeutic, right?

The last few weeks have been difficult and strange. I’ve been off work on sick leave, so I’m at home during the day, which is surreal. I feel guilty for not working, but I honestly don’t think I could right now. So I suppose it’s an irrational guilt.

Even basic things are difficult. Taking a shower is hard. Going to the store feels like climbing a mountain (or at least a really steep hill). But I am still showering – which Betsy appreciates – and still going to the store. Still taking medication every day.

Still obsessed with Avatar: The Last Airbender. Last night Betsy and I finished watching it together – first time for her, second time for me. Really a beautiful show. Has its own wiki, not that I’ve been reading it like a crazy person or anything.

Betsy, my family, and my friends are worried about me. They want to help. I’m very lucky to have so many people in my life who care so much. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how much they can do right now.

I would like to feel normal again. Well, not “normal” – that’s too boring – but as close to normal as I ever was. I am still hopeful this will happen.

Thanks for sticking with me. I’ll do my best to return tomorrow!