January 26, 2009
Why? Why do you have to go back to Brazil? Hey, is it true? I asked Mommy, but she was busy cleaning up in the kitchen. Unusually, she didn't say, "Jessica, help out too."
I really don't want to go back! Mommy told me, "You'll be a junior high school student next year, so you should study English more." Mommy taught English at the Brazilian school I went to. But she suddenly decided to go back to Brazil, and I was shocked! I have no idea what Mommy is thinking.
By this time tomorrow we'll be on the plane. Oh no, there's nothing I can do about it.
Good night, my dear Diaglio1 .
April 1, 2009
Dear Diario, it's been a while. I couldn't write to you because of various things. I'm sorry.
When I arrived in Brazil, I didn't go to Maringa 2 with Mommy. Mommy's mother lives in Maringa and I really wanted to meet her, but I couldn't go because of school.
Now I'm staying in Sao Paulo and going to school from my dad's house. My dad and mommy went to Japan right after they got married. I was born a year later, but my dad couldn't keep the job, so he quit the factory and went back to Brazil. He never came to Japan after that, so it's been eight years since I last saw him.
And I met my dad's mom and dad and siblings for the first time. When I told them, "My name is Jessica Carla," they were all surprised!
Then Uncle Afonso said, "JAPA 3 's face and name don't match!" I was shocked. It was something I didn't want to hear. I had been told the same thing at a Brazilian school in Japan. The half-Japanese students were divided into a group with "JAPA faces" and a group with "non-JAPA faces." It was a joke between students, but some parents of students said the same thing.
I really wanted to stay in Japan forever. I wanted to study at a school with Japanese students. I wanted to be friends with Japanese children. I wanted to be Japanese!
July 14, 2009
I'm at Bachan's house and relaxing! It's like a dream.
We call her "Bachan" just between us. Mommy always says, "Jessica is Brazilian, so there's no need to speak Japanese." But you can't call her "Vovó 4 ", Bachan is much better. Don't you think it's cute?
Every morning, I eat the delicious bread and buns made by my mother, and I play with my cousins Rina-chan and Akemi-chan, and play games with them.
I want to stay here! I want to go to school from Bachan's house and make lots of friends! But Mommy has already bought an apartment in São Paulo and found a job, so there's nothing I can do.
But Bachan is on my side, and I think every day, "I hope I can have a good discussion with Mommy and convince her."
My dear Diario, please support me.
January 25, 2010
My dear Dialio, I am so happy!
Living at my dad's house is so much fun! I love school! And now it's my favorite summer vacation! I go to the pool with my friends every day! I'm also addicted to Azuki ice cream!
I hope this year will be the best one yet! I'm now in the second year of middle school. The new semester will start soon! I'm looking forward to it!
I've also started studying Japanese, something I wasn't able to do in Japan! I'm also attending Sunday school at church.
My dear Diario, I wish you a happy new year!
Ciao!
Note
1. Diary
2. The third largest city in the state of Paraná
3. Modern terms for "Japanese" or "Japanese" newspapers, radio stations, clubs, Japanese cuisine, etc.
4. Grandma in Portuguese
© 2015 Laura Honda-Hasegawa
