Q
How did you study Japanese・struggles since you came to Japan・how did you spend your school life
A
I came to Japan when I was in first grade when I didn't know any Japanese and I gradually learned it. I moved to America again when I was in third grade and started to go to a local school so I forgot most Japanese. I came back to Japan when I was in sixth grade but I was able to keep up on classes by the time I went to junior high school thanks to my parents and teachers. I struggled to fit into Japanese school. There are not all good things being a half and I got upset because I got left out or got treated as a foreigner. I went to a normal Japanese high school and I didn't do anything special and spent a normal school life. Because I struggled a lot when I was in preschool, I helped my teachers in English class when I was in middle school and high school, could reply to my friend's questions, and could help people with English so I was very happy.
Maya
I know how hard it is to fit in. I studied abroad too and I could have confidence to talk in a language that is not my mother language and it was mortifying and gloomy when I couldn't tell everything I thought.
Q
Do you feel a difference in correspondence between your mother country and Japan?
A
In Japan many people have an aspiration against caucasian or half caucasian people so there were many times when they assumed that “She can do it because she is half” or “I'm jealous that you're half”. People said those things with bad meanings so I was said to go back to your country or I got stared at many times.
Maya
I understand. I think you don't understand unless you're half, but when I'm in Japan people stare at me when I'm just walking in town and I had many times when people said you can do it because you're half or I'm jealous that you're half. It's easy for me to live overseas because I don't have to worry about being told those things.
Q
How do you think the Japanese society should change for international children?
A
People should treat me differently just because I'm a different race. I'm half caucasian and nobody did terrible things to me but my friend who is half African American was bullied and changed school many times just because her skin color was different. So, I think Japanese society should respect foreign people more as a country that is aiming for globalization.
Maya
Racism is something that is forbidden but it is still present. My friends were called names related to their skin color or were called Blond! Just because their color wasn't black.
Q
How do you think about the name・bundle “International children”?
A
I won't feel upset even if I was called by that name but I have something I realized when I came to America. When I meet somebody new in Japan I can say that most people ask me “Are you half? Half with which country?” first, but in America nobody asked me that question. They don't mind my race and are interested in who I am. To be asked those questions was normal to me and it was kind of like a pattern. But when I think about it now I wonder why everyone wants to know if I am half or not? Why does everyone ask me those questions? So in Japan, even if I'm half I want people to see me without obstruction.
Maya
When I meet or talk on SNS with someone for the first time, they will surely ask me where are you half with? I get baffled because when I tell them where I'm half with they always ask me to speak in that country's language.
