Final Narrative by Jing Ling Li
In my heart, my aunt is a very brave and strong woman. When she was about 20 years old, she left China to go to Japan by herself. Since it was very difficult to get a visa to go to Japan, my aunt had to go illegally. At that time, my family was very poor and we did not have much money to support my aunt to go to Japan. Therefore, my grandmother borrowed a lot of money from an unscrupulous lender. It was very dangerous because if we could not return the money on time, they would come to my house and destroy everything. In addition, my grandfather argued with my grandmother about letting my aunt go to another country. He angrily told my grandmother, “If people come to our house, I will not tell them that you are my wife.” So, I can feel that my aunt felt a lot of pressure and went to Japan. She chose to go to Japan because it was a very popular place to go, many of her neighbors went there. Maybe someone could help her while she lived there.
My aunt and I had a very close relationship before she left China. She was a seamstress at that time. She made a lot of beautiful clothes for me. I really liked her. When she first arrived to Japan, language was the biggest problem for her. She could not speak or understand Japanese therefore she could only work in a factory. Every penny that she earned was sent back home to pay the unscrupulous lender. It was very hard for her because she needed to carry heavy things. She missed home but she could not go back; she missed her family but she was scared to call back. One time, when she called back home, my grandmother asked her about the money. My aunt did not want to hear that poor voice because she felt so bad. She worked so hard by taking three jobs at the same time. After three years, she paid off the debt; her life improved and she began to save a little money.
In 2001, she had a son in Japan.
In my heart, my aunt is a very brave and strong woman. When she was about 20 years old, she left China to go to Japan by herself. Since it was very difficult to get a visa to go to Japan, my aunt had to go illegally. At that time, my family was very poor and we did not have much money to support my aunt to go to Japan. Therefore, my grandmother borrowed a lot of money from an unscrupulous lender. It was very dangerous because if we could not return the money on time, they would come to my house and destroy everything. In addition, my grandfather argued with my grandmother about letting my aunt go to another country. He angrily told my grandmother, “If people come to our house, I will not tell them that you are my wife.” So, I can feel that my aunt felt a lot of pressure and went to Japan. She chose to go to Japan because it was a very popular place to go, many of her neighbors went there. Maybe someone could help her while she lived there.
My aunt and I had a very close relationship before she left China. She was a seamstress at that time. She made a lot of beautiful clothes for me. I really liked her. When she first arrived to Japan, language was the biggest problem for her. She could not speak or understand Japanese therefore she could only work in a factory. Every penny that she earned was sent back home to pay the unscrupulous lender. It was very hard for her because she needed to carry heavy things. She missed home but she could not go back; she missed her family but she was scared to call back. One time, when she called back home, my grandmother asked her about the money. My aunt did not want to hear that poor voice because she felt so bad. She worked so hard by taking three jobs at the same time. After three years, she paid off the debt; her life improved and she began to save a little money.
In 2001, she had a son in Japan.
In Chinese tradition, after the women had a baby, they should stay in bed for one month and not do anything, in order to make their bodies better. But she could not stay in bed because she didn’t have anyone with her. She needed to do everything by herself which made her back hurt. She stayed at home for about half a year and did not have a job. Because she spent a lot of money, as a result, her savings reduced fast. After six months, she sent her son to China and then she continued to work hard.
In 2005, there was a chance that she could go to the United States. So, she gave up her life in Japan and went to the United States. It was like a new life for her; she learned a new language and came into a new environment. The fortunate thing was that my mother was in the United States at that time. Therefore, they could help each other.
Although she still does not have a lot of money, she is living well. She likes the United States because the daily cost of living is lower than Japan. She does not need to work that hard. Now she is living with us; she can feel the warmth of the family. The most pitiful thing for her was when her father died and she could not stay with him. But, this is life, everything cannot be perfect. She hopes she can become a United States resident soon, and then she can go back to China to see her mother.
In 2005, there was a chance that she could go to the United States. So, she gave up her life in Japan and went to the United States. It was like a new life for her; she learned a new language and came into a new environment. The fortunate thing was that my mother was in the United States at that time. Therefore, they could help each other.
Although she still does not have a lot of money, she is living well. She likes the United States because the daily cost of living is lower than Japan. She does not need to work that hard. Now she is living with us; she can feel the warmth of the family. The most pitiful thing for her was when her father died and she could not stay with him. But, this is life, everything cannot be perfect. She hopes she can become a United States resident soon, and then she can go back to China to see her mother.
Jing Ling is a student from Emma Lazarus High School and she is taking an internship in CPA.