Whether practical or recreational, academic or artistic, these chosen books reflect both present realities and future aspirations.
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Books appear frequently in the video diaries, particularly among participants in Japan and Germany. They often offer a window into the participant’s current pursuits and passions – revealing what they are learning, such as a foreign language, law, or finance, or what they enjoy in their free time, from sauna culture to breathing techniques to manga. In this sense, books become quiet storytellers: show me what you read, and I will tell you who you are – or at least what has been occupying your mind lately.
Whether practical or recreational, academic or artistic, these chosen books reflect both present realities and future aspirations. They hint at skills being built for migration goals, personal interests that anchor identity, and cultural influences shaping the reader’s journey. In the context of migration, a book is never just a book—it is a marker of learning, adaptation, and self-expression.
” My father studied Portuguese before he was assigned to Brazil, and this book is the actual textbook he used“
Japan _ Participant 2, March 2024
“The object that symbolises my feelings is the Portuguese textbook on the right that my father gave me. My father studied Portuguese before he was assigned to Brazil, and this book is the actual textbook he used.
I always feel that my father and mother are supporting me, which helps me maintain my motivation and encourages me to work even harder.”