I went away for about 10 days, but now I'm back in Japan. Getting out definitely helped me rest my mind from all that's been going on here. I was a little reluctant to come back so soon, but I'm glad I did because I have a lot of loose ends to tie up before I leave here for good.
Yoshi's family has been so supportive of my decision to 'escape', so to speak. But not all my relatives were understanding. One cousin said to me, "Sahe, you need to be stronger. Running away isn't the answer. Be a good wife and stay by your husband. I would rather die with everyone than to escape and be the only survivor."
This 'group first' mentality is deeply rooted in the Japanese culture. I respect their attitude but I can't say I agree with it. I've lived and worked in Japan for 8 years and I think I've adapted quite a bit to the culture here, but deep down, I guess I'm more American than Japanese.
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