My time is fairly limited so when I focus on Japanese, I usually use a textbook or Japanese Pod 101. However, I really wanted to read the above book. So I challenged myself!
It’s a comic written by Sandra Häfelin, a woman who is half Japanese and half German. There is only a Japanese version of the book, so I can’t read it in English. It is all about the problems “half” people face in Japan. I wanted to read it to get insight on my son’s experience as half American/half Japanese.
It was excellent, and surprisingly easy for me to read. (It has furigana.)
Does my son have any problems due to being mixed? I don’t really know. He doesn’t talk about it. But, as a parent, it’s important to keep on top of these things. I’m on a FB group for Hafu people and their relatives so I can learn about the issues.
I definitely don’t think it is easy being “half” in Japan. The funny thing is though, I doubt my son’s school chums would even know that he is “Half” if it weren’t for me. I stick out like a sore thumb! I always worry that I am embarrassing my son (I usually am) as he enters the difficult teen years.
Now a blogging question for readers. Would you prefer if I use the “Read More” feature for posts, or should keep it as it is? Personally, I don’t like the “Read More” feature when I read blogs. However, I am aware that some people do. Would it make it easier on you if I changed over? I know my blog is photo heavy, so it may be difficult for some of you. Thank you for your thoughts!
Good morning! : )
I agree with you, I don’t like the “read more” feature either. I read 2 blogs that do that and I find I rarely click the “read more” part of the post. I usually will just read the few sentences, like a little snippet of what their post is/was about, but eh….I don’t know why. But, I find I won’t click the “read me” part. I sorta feel like they’re fishing or trying to reel me in that way. Like click here if you want more of their amazing story. I could be totally wrong. But, yeah, I seldom ever will click the “read more” or if you’d like to read more of their fantastic tale click here. Hahaha. : )
I like simple…straight forward blogs. Give me the story, tell me what’s what. With pics preferably. I like visuals. Pictures say a thousand words, as they say. : ) Hahaha. And don’t have me click here or there to read more of their story. I like funny blogs. Or blogs I can relate to. Blogs where I don’t have to click this or that are best. : ) Imo. : )
I know, I tell you all the time. But, I love your blog just like it is. Your funny, your sense of humor. And the fact we both have hafu (Japanese and American) boys and 1 year apart. Your blog is the first one I read, every single morning for good reason. My vote would be, just keep your blog like it is. You can not improve on perfection my friend! : ) It’s perfect, as is! : )
I think in the olden days blogs with lots of pics took a while to download. So it might have been a problem. but now days, especially for us in Japan, we all have lightning speed connections. Whether they have fiber optics, high speed cable, 4G LTE, etc. And America has just as good connections now days too. : )
Ugh, I have to reply to myself. Correction. You’re funny. See, this happens, when I write a comment at lightning speeds and don’t read through it first!
Thank you so much! I love your blog, too! Your blog is probably the very first I started reading in Japan…and I was like, cool, this woman is married to a Japanese man, too. You write about such interesting stuff and have such an interesting life. That’s why your blog is the first one down on the list on the right–it was the first one I added!
I don’t like “Read more” either because I am often disappointed for whatever reason. And I always have to decide whether to click or not and usually just end up leaving the blog because it is too much trouble.
Thanks for your input!
It doesn’t actually matter to me! But come to think of it I don’t regularly read any blogs that have the “read more” button…so maybe no read more!
I have a couple I read…jlpt boot camp is one that I really like. But I don’t easily get hooked on the read More blogs because they are so much trouble to figure out whether I like it enough to continue with it or not.
Thank you for your input!
I love your blog just the way it is! Funny, informative and many interesting things about your life. I will I could find the book with English. My 16month old grandson is Japanese-American. My son and daughter in law tell me people will stop and tell them how pretty he is, but will that change as he ages? I did find the “umbrella Book” on Amazon. Keep blog.
Thank you! When my son was little, people often said, “Me bacchiri!” (What big eyes!”) Your son will always be good looking but I hate to say as he gets older, people will probably stop saying so. Complete strangers are much less likely to tell an older child he or she is good looking than a baby. So enjoy it while it lasts!