Here I am with my Mom at a beer garden in Kobe way back in 1984!
May 7 - "Where are you from?" People would often ask my mother that as she took me with her for shopping or errands. "I am from Switzerland," she would reply. As a small child, I thought it odd that strangers seemed to know immediately that Mom came from another country.
One day when I was about 5 years old, I asked my elder sister Frances why so many people asked Mom that question. Frances explained that Mom spoke English with a foreign accent. Not wanting to admit my ignorance, I did not ask my sister to explain what an accent was. However, for the next several days I listened intently to my mother to try and figure this out. Listen as hard as I might, my mother's voice sounded to me perfectly natural.
It was only as I got older that I came so see some of the differences between our family and those of my friends. We sometimes ate different foods; we flew the Swiss flag on the Aug. 1 Swiss independence day; and at Christmastime, my relatives sent us special treats such as European chocolate. As we grew older, Mom began to explain to my sisters and me about some differences between Swiss and American ways. Sometimes I was interested in her explanations; other times not. But despite my occasional indifference, Mom never gave up trying to teach me about our heritage and the wide world outside American borders.
It was only after I lived abroad myself that I began to understand how difficult it must have been for Mom to reside in a foreign land where her children did not even speak her native tongue. After living in Japan, I finally began to appreciate Mom's lessons about living in a foreign culture.
Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and thanks for all your sacrifices in raising us to be understanding and tolerant of other cultures. By the way, when we talk on the telephone, I still do not notice your Swiss accent!
Until next time,
Jim
Dear Mr. Zumwalt,
I do enjoy seeing your blog very much, and thank you very much for your decent work, dedication, and commitment being made for our strong and warm bilateral relationship. It is my first time to respond to your blog. It made me sort of wondering if I should be responding this in English or Japanese but decided to reply in English and hope this is something good enough for you to understand. Thank you for your blog comment on Mother's day, and it made me think about my mother as well who now lives in Toyama, Japan. It is my privilege to hear great thoughts, your warm memory, and sense of thankfulness about your mother; I am 38 years old and have not met my mother over past 5 months. It made me think deeply how much I appreciate for what my mother have given and done for me. I appreciate very much again for your comments; it really(!) made me think about my mother and my own family too. Hope I can continue to reply in future. I hope you do not mind to call you Jim ...
With my best regards,
Mitsu
Many thanks for your comment. Please do call me Jim. I plan to call my mother this Sunday to wish her a happy Mother's Day. I hope you will do the same. I am sure your mother is very proud to have such a nice son. - Jim
