Status Updates From While I Was Away

This is a collection of what the author could remember from her time in Japan. It’s not perfect, and her relationship with her Grandma wasn’t perfect, but I understand why. It adds depth, character. Overall, I thought this STORY was perfect.

The story ends with her mom asking her to help fold the laundry. They talk about the ajisai she saw in Japan. Her mom explains how they change colors depending on where they plant and root. Waka is kinda like a hydrangea… Many colors: Japanese and American. “Ajisai daisuke!” She says.

6/17/26

When she goes to American school, her friends ask her about her pretty necklace she got at Tokyo Disneyland. She’d rather hear her friends’s stories.

She tries to write to Obaasama but never does. She and Reiko stay in touch for four years. During that time, Reiko always lets her know Waka’s Grandma is doing alright.

6/17/26

It’s finally time to say goodbye to Grandma. Waka says goodbye to Taro too. Grandma cries! She always cared. She cried too on the way home. We get a personal message from the author: an apology to her grandmother and a look into the present. Reiko and Waka’s relationship fades with time and Obaasama passes away when Waka is 18.

When Waka gets home, she is greeted by her mother, older & younger brother.

6/17/26

During her farewell, students ask her questions, Mr. Adachi gives a speech, and she is handed a golden placard with cute messages on it.

Her dad comes to pick her up. Grandma seems down… When her dad arrives, they gift Obaasama a vegetable peeler. Waka recommended it.

They go over and thank Reiko and her family for all she’s done. Reiko was always a true friend…

6/17/26

My bad, she was able to read! I was thinking of a different part of the book while reviewing.

6/17/26

Waka’s reading gets better and better, but she still freezes up when it’s time for class reading. Her shuuji and 100 on her test makes her wanna tell her Grandma! But she holds back.

During a trip to her cousins, Waka helps her grandma navigate the complex train stations.

Reiko and Waka enjoyed ginko nuts/meat and went shopping for omiyage for her friends at home. This was her last time with Reiko.

6/17/26

Waka wakes up to her grandmother peeling potatoes the old fashioned way. She joins. Obaasama tells the story of how her father treated her. After cooking the potatoes, they eat them together, the cultural way of apologizing: offering food.

6/16/26

The next morning, she’s scolded AGAIN for stepping over her Grandmother’s legs. For the school’s field trip, they went to a potato farm. Waka was next to a girl who took her spot after she left the group. They chatted for a bit. A fleeting moment of kindness.

Waka decided she’d be perfect. When she came home, her Grandma tried to subtly attempt politeness. Waka just went to bed.

6/16/26

When Waka heads home, everything’s dark. The doors are locked… SHE’S LOCKED out! She rushes back to Reiko’s house. They help her get back to Grandma.

Once she is safely returned and Reiko’s family has left, Grandma starts shouting at how much she was a burden as a house guest. How she was only supposed to stay just for dinner, not 10. This makes Waka question her memory…

6/16/26

Also, Reiko stood up to the pig nosed bully, Suzuki. Reiko invites her over to do homework. Grandma seems a bit sad, but lets her go.

After homework, she teaches Reiko and Tomoko how to stitch. Reiko and her mom invite her to stay for dinner. THEY offered.

6/16/26

They teased her, called her Oni until she blew up, chased Yamashita mocking her… And all she got was a bump on her head when she crashed into the shoji…

Reiko comforts her after. The shuuji today is shizen ni: naturally. Kris writes to her and she misses her friends from America… Reiko and Waka walk home. On the way, Waka decides it’s time to leave her friend group.

6/16/26

At school, Waka says a-ME instead of A-me. At least PE swimming is fun! Until she mistakens 6-4 for 6-5! The boys were all changing in there, and they start screaming at her. Calling her a peeper, a pervert! Word spreads around in ALL of the classrooms! And her so called “friends” don’t even stand up for her!

6/16/26

The angel in the painting is Waka’s Aunt Sakura! She passed away from a head injury… Waka finished sewing the bag she made for her Grandma as Obaasama finished the story.

This is where things start to take a turn… Waka has been trying so hard to do everything right. Everything perfectly… But when she has her shoes on while grabbing her randoseru inside… Grandma spots it and SCREAMS at her!

6/16/26

The angel in the painting is Waka’s Aunt Sakura! She passed away from a head injury…

Wake went to Tokyo Disneyland! They watched the Olympics being held in LA. Waka wanted to cheer for the Americans too, but her relatives… Didn’t… Where does Waka stand?

When Waka got home, Taro bit her as she tried to feed him! She wrote and read some letters from her friends and parents in America.

After bonding on Grandpa’s paintings, Waka and her grandmother go out shopping!

6/15/26

Her grandma asks her how school is. Waka admits it’s difficult. Her grandma shares cultural etiquette and history of Kanji with her. Waka shares treats.

Japan’s summer break arrives. She’s gonna miss her grandma a bit. Will grandma miss her? During summer break, Waka focuses on bettering her Japanese reading!

6/13/26

Tanabata is approaching. It took a while for Waka to choose what to wish for. In the past, her mom told her to wish to read better. So, she did again. Hopefully, one day, she can show her grandma her progress. But not yet.

6/10/26

6/10/26

Waka was eventually pressured enough to pick a friend group. But she’s not 100% happy with the choice she had to make. In fact, the kanji she has been learning recently, means friend. It takes her a while to learn how to read and write. Classmates still make fun of her…

At home, she wonders if her grandma ever struggled with picking social groups. She looks to her Grandpa’s paintings as she wonders.

6/11/26

Waka gifted her grandma fuzzy socks for when Obaasama has cold feet before a potential episode.

Her classmates in class don’t want her socializing with other people from different classes (eg: Reiko). They want her to join their cliques instead.

Her grandma found her self embroidered apron. She criticized it. But showed Waka her collection of fabrics and designs. They bonded!

6/9/26

I learned a lot more from this chapter. Teachers are not afraid to scold their students by hitting them. Kids clean, make, and serve their own lunches like lunch ladies/fellas. Pachinko parlors are bad gambling places. And even other students can tell incorrect stroke order. And Ajisai are multicolored Japanese hydrangeas!

6/5/26-6/8/26?

Didn’t read too much, but she gets settled into her new school. Although, her old friend, Midori, seems a bit reserved… At least she gets charms from other classmates.

6/4/26

(I read this part to Dad.)

Waka gets settled in, her other aunt, Kyoko, helps her get ready. Grandma has weird comments about her hair. They have to cut it even shorter!

At least she gets to walk to school with a friend she made the last time she was here: Reiko! UNFORTUNATELY, they’re in different classes. Boo…

5/28/26

Once there, her relatives immediately leave her with her grandma. The things she chats with her Grandma about are weird. The proper way to eat sushi, appearance, and life work in the country.

Grandma also hints at how she hasn’t had another episode! Hmmm… What does that mean?

5/24/26

As soon as Waka gets used to living with her cousins, her mom calls to check up on her. Her check in is still direct and no nonsense. No matter what, she is still going to live with her grandma.

On the drive, Waka is still adjusting to everything, the stores she visited with her cousins to go school shopping, the roads, signs, and how her house looks vs her Grandma’s.

5/24/26

In Japan, we learn cultural differences between Kansas and Japan. We also get to meet her aunt, uncle, and cousins!

5/23/26

Waka tells her friends, and us, about her trip and all the things she’s going to miss. Her teacher comforts her with a smile. I think that’ll come back later… The smile.

Then, she sets off on her trip.

5/23/26

Waka works hard to accomplish Operation Stay in Kansas. Her mother works on Plan Ruin Waka's Life. That's what Waka calls it. In the end, her mom wins; she doesn't.

5/21/26