Interactive Presentation Who am I: A Returnee’s Search for Cultural, Linguistic and Occupational Identity more

Sun, May 22, 13:30-14:15 Asia/Tokyo

The presenter’s life has been full of identity crises and self-doubt. But after five decades of struggle, she has found peace and belonging. Cultural and linguistic identity began at age six when due to her father’s job, the presenter moved from Japan to Canada and the United States. As her language ability evolved from monolingual Japanese to fully bilingual, she struggled with cultural identity especially after facing racism from Americans and Canadians. When she returned to Japan at age 13, she faced even more discrimination as a returnee, complicating her identity. After 15 years of not fitting in anywhere, she finally found “home” at a private high school that accepted returnees (Doshisha Intl High School). There, she learned that being different made her unique. As an adult, she struggled with occupational identity in her 20s and 30s after working in the media and NGOs and suffering health problems due to overwork. She began teaching English at age 35 and found her true calling. When she obtained her Masters degree in education at age 42, she feared she wouldn’t get any university work due to that ageism and lack of experience. But employers appreciated her past work experiences, and she now teaches English, journalism, translation skills and interpretation skills at four universities in Tokyo. This presentation will discuss how the presenter overcame racism, ageism and conclude that being atypical can be a strength.