[Journal 3]

To Flee from Oppression

　At present, it is not too much to say that my family and I have the similar feelings to Lester's who was rigging the surfboard under cover of darkness.
　My husband had been ordered to transfer from the head office in Japan to a branch in California, so we moved to the United States two years ago. Although he was supposed to return to the head office five years later, everything changed on September 11, 2001. That attack spurred the Japanese economy to fall down, and the head office called back my husband without warrant for his job. Meanwhile, he was offered by American company which is related to his Japanese company just two months ago.
　Since then, we talked over several times which way will be the best for our children and us, returning to Japan without job or staying in the United States to keep job. Therefor, we have decided to stay in the United States. In fact, the decision was really painful and anxious for me because I had dreamed about returning to Japan and my job since ever I came here.
　In other words, staying in the United States means escape from our country having a serious problem of economy. I said to my husband, "Our family is like a raft in the mighty ocean", and he asked me, "Are we about to leave our country?" I couldn't respond anything.
　Obviously, I am worrying and feeling guilty about my elderly mother living alone in Japan; however, I believe that children's well being is happiness for parents.
　I could have gotten encouragement from Lester.