Why I moved to America by Yumi Nakata

[yuiyoshida]

Yumi Nakata

I grew up in a small town in Japan. If you have read my old articles, you may already know this but I am so called Hafu, meaning that I am ethnically mixed. Unlike typical Hafu, my mother is South East Asian so definitely I do look like a typical Japanese woman with a light skin complexion.

Growing up Hafu was definitely very challenging especially in a small conservative town. On top of that, the junior high school that I attended was the worst public school in my town so my sisters and I were constantly afraid of these gangs. Although we look Japanese, everyone in my neighborhood knew that we were Hafu. So that was something we had to always worry about.

I don’t remember exactly when I decided to move to America but it was a gradual process in my early childhood. I was started to become more and more aware of the fact that I was different from other Japanese kids. My mother speaks funny Japanese with accents.

In fifth grade, this boy called me name because of my Hafu heritage and he wanted to make fun of me. You don’t need to be mixed to get bullied in school but Hafu is just another significant reason for bullies to target us.

http://www.yumitolesson.com/why-i-moved-to-america/
(You can follow Yumi on twitter: https://twitter.com/yumitolesson)
About Yumi Nakata: http://www.yumitolesson.com/about-yumi-nakata/

[Aristus]

1. That's why love living here, in spite of all our problems.

The multicultural diversity.

I'm just about as white as a person can be. But I love all of the differences I can be exposed to in the course of a single day. Differences in skin color, language, religion, song, dance, literature, accents, outlook, theater, etc.

Our differences make us strong. And unique.

[awoke_in_2003]

4. You forgot food

That is the thing I miss most about Cleveland. The wide ethnic diversity leads to a lot of great food.

[Aristus]

5. Thanks. Huge oversight.

I love so many different kinds of world cuisines, it's a wonder I forgot to list food.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Food is one of the great joys in life

I hope, one day, to return to Cleveland- I left for Texas in 92. My sisters live here.

[kristopher]

2. As I told my daughters...

hafu janai, ryouhou desu.

[yuiyoshida]

3. of course

Mochiron!