more this issue:
First, a story.
Sometimes we use maps to find clues, take us from place to place, learn new things, or even find treasure. With this journey map activity, you’ll be able to gather some clues about your family’s history to learn about where they came from and even what they did back in the day.
When I think about my own grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings, there’s something special about acknowledging parts of our origin stories. My grandpa (Bapa) and my grandma (Nana) on my mom’s side both grew up in Hawai'i and moved to California after they got married at 23 and 20 (....times were different back then).
They raised their kids, including my mom, in Carson while staying involved in community activities in surrounding cities like Gardena. My grandpa still lives in the house where my mom and her siblings grew up, a place that our family still gathers - even in the front yard while socially distanced during quarantine. I know there are a lot of stories in that house and in that neighborhood that have shaped who my mom is, and have played an important role in my own upbringing.
Next, the activity.
We've provided a fun, interactive activity for kids and adults alike to be able to ask their parents and grandparents to share some of their own family stories. I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of passing those stories onto the next generation recently and am excited to be able to do this with my own family. We hope folks of all ages have the chance to start learning more about their family’s journey with this interactive map - enjoy!
With hopes set high, individuals and families of Japanese origin have settled across the globe. Over the past century, this global diaspora has had the unique experience of adopting new behavioral and social norms, all while preserving our Japanese heritage.
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Read More >>With this journey map activity, you’ll be able to gather some clues about your family’s history. Perfect for all ages - take a look and see what’s inside!
Read More >>An interactive online vending machine?! That's right. Complete with soft drinks inspired by the Japanese diaspora, our Yo! Vending Machine provides you with a fun drink, and a little tidbit about where it's from inspired by our diaspora.
Read More >>As kids, we loathed the idea of turning into our moms. As adults, there's nothing we love more than seeing the ways their habits and values live on in us.
Read More >>
