The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Celebrating Mother’s Day 6,000 miles away from home

The Channels Opinion Pages | STAFF COLUMN

This Mother’s Day, I am in Santa Barbara and my mom is in Japan. We are about 6,314 miles away and have a 16-hour time difference.

But that won’t stop me from telling her that I am thankful and appreciate her for everything when I see her via Skype.

Miyazaki_Kanako

In Japan, my home country, children traditionally give their mothers a bouquet of carnations.

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When I was a five year-old girl, I didn’t have any money to spend freely. But I wanted to do something for my mom on Mother’s Day. Just like the tradition, I wanted to give her a carnation.

Because I had no money at the time, I ended up with making it myself.

I went to my room and looked for something that I could use to make it. What I found in my toy box were some white papers, colorful crayons, scissors, and glue. My artistic switch turned on.

First, I cut the papers into the shape of a flower petal over and over again until I had too many to count. Second, I put red and pink colors on the paper petals. Third, I twisted a piece of paper to a thin stick and colored it green. Then, I glued all the petals together to make it look like a flower and pasted it onto the stick.

But it wasn’t quite perfect yet. It needed a nice box.  I walked around in my house and found a perfect rectangular one.

I finally put the hand made flower into the box. I was so excited to give her my present.

At night, when my mom returned home from work, I gently gave the box to her.

“Mom, thank you for everything. I made this for you.”

She looked kind of surprised by my gift but also very happy.

She gave me a warm hug.

Since then, more than 15 years have passed.

Mom, thank you for sending deep love from Japan. I am very happy to be your daughter. I always miss you and your miso soup.

 

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