If only I had dogs to play with,
People to share my worries with,
Family to keep me grounded,
Perhaps I would not have left Japan.
“Better life” beckoned us
But I felt unsafe,
Uncomfortable,
Anxious.
From place to place–
Utah, Parker, Greeley–
We searched for identity
But never found it,
Separated from the others by
Language and money and looks.
It took seven years
For Greeley to be our home,
For us to find comfort,
Community,
Happiness.
Now, content with our present
We immerse ourselves in the past,
Museums to give us images
Of the places we left behind,
Of memories we never lived,
Of those who feel the same.
Because we know how they feel,
Because they said goodbye,
Because alienation
Is a disease we can fight.
Read the original story on the University of Northern Colorado Facing Project page
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About The Facing Project:
The Facing Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects people through stories to strengthen communities. The organization’s model to share stories and raise awareness is in cities across the United States focused on topics such as poverty, sex trafficking, mental health, immigration, and more. Facing Project stories are compiled into books and on the web for a community resource, used to inspire art, photography, monologues and—most importantly—community-wide awareness, dialogue, action, and change toward a more understanding and empathetic society.