Toshie, a high school student, married her classmate Ivan and gave birth to twins five months later. Ivan, who was 19 at the time, gave up on going to college and changed jobs several times, including as a supermarket cashier, an auto parts store clerk, and a taxi driver. However, the family's finances were tight, so he left his family behind and went to Japan to earn money.

The twins Karen and Karina are growing up and are now three years old. Toshie decides to take her children and go to Japan so that the whole family can live together. Although Toshie had never worked before, she ended up working at the same factory as her husband. To take care of the girls while they were working, Toshie decided to ask her mother, who was helping out at the restaurant run by her father, to come to Japan with her to accompany her.

Two and a half years later, Toshie gave birth to a baby boy. However, she had a hard time recovering after the birth and was not released from the hospital until later. Even after she was released from the hospital, Toshie's health did not improve, so Ivan took time off work to look after his wife, while Toshie's mother took care of the newborn baby and her grandson, who had just started elementary school, and all the housework.

Toshie's health had not improved even by winter, so we decided to take advantage of Ivan's winter break and return to Brazil as a family.

On December 24th, Toshie and her family were warmly welcomed by their relatives and had a very fun and lively Christmas party. Karen and Karina, who left Brazil at a young age, were loved by both of their grandparents, received lots of presents, and looked very happy playing with their 10-month-old brother.

On New Year's Eve, 15 relatives gathered at a beach house rented by Toshie's parents to welcome the new year. Toshie felt deeply grateful to her parents. When she was a student, she prioritized friends over family gatherings and never once praised her mother's cooking, saying it was delicious. But her mother left the family business to come to Japan with her and help her in many ways. She was filled with gratitude, but no words could come out.

Ivan returned to Japan on January 6th of the following year. My mother, whose birthday was on January 17th, was very disappointed because she wanted to stay in Brazil a little longer and spend her birthday with everyone.

As soon as Ivan returned to Japan, Karen listed several reasons why: "Brazil is better. I want to stay here forever. I can go to school with Mariana and Rafa, I can play in the pool at Chia's (Auntie) house, and I can eat Feira's Pastel ^I all the time..."

At first, Toshie thought it was just a childish whim, but then her younger sister Karina suddenly asked her, and she became very concerned. "Mom, do they bully people in Brazilian schools?"

"Karina, why are you asking that? Is your sister being bullied at school? Is that true?"

Karina didn't say anything. Toshie became more and more worried and started thinking about it. After her first son was born, her hospital stay dragged on and her husband took time off to look after her, so she hadn't really thought much about what was happening to her children, especially Karen. Now that she thought about it, Karina, who had a cheerful personality, was happy to have a new little brother, but Karen was depressed and had missed school several times. Toshie reflected on how her work at the factory was so hard that she had left the education of her children to their grandmother.

That night, I called Ivan, who was in Japan. "Karen doesn't want to go back to Japan."

"Why not let him relax in Brazil?" Ivan said as if it were obvious.

After discussing with my mother and children whether or not to return to Japan, we decided to remain in Brazil.

Toshie's mother immediately agreed! She decided to work at the restaurant her husband owns for another 3 to 4 years. She also suggested that she stay in Brazil until her grandchildren finish elementary school, and then return to Japan to study.

Since then, Toshie has devoted herself to the unfamiliar tasks of shopping and housework, while her parents enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Four years later, Toshie's life goal is to live in Japan with everyone.

Until that day, let's all do our best!

Notes:
1. Freshly made "pastel" can be found at morning markets. It's a large, square Brazilian soul food that tastes like fried dumplings.

© 2019 Laura Honda-Hasegawa