One summer day when I was 10, my dad, sister and I packed boxes and suitcases, and headed to the airport. All my family and friends came to see us off – especially my mom. She and I hugged for a long time before the three of us boarded a 14-hour flight with 1-way tickets from Japan to America. I never fully understood why my mom stayed behind while the rest of us left. Recently, I got up the courage to ask.
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Mom Half a World Away [Podcast]
I never understood why – when I was 10, and my dad, sister, and I moved to America – my mom stayed behind in Japan. In this podcast, I finally asked.
October 9, 2025
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