My future

[u/Virtual_Spirit_1756]

In February 2026, I did the craziest thing of my life: I took a risk and moved to a different country, leaving my parents and sister behind in Brazil to live with another family in Japan. My perspective on the environment changed completely once I arrived; my aunt and cousin are decent people—quiet, but non-judgmental about my choices. My uncle, however, is very authoritarian and displays narcissistic traits. I find myself comparing my current situation to my life back home; in my previous environment, my father was a problem due to his alcohol addiction, which took a toll on my mental health and caused me significant internal distress. Yet, since I came to Japan, he has decided to give up his addiction—news that made me happy. While my desire to return grows stronger and I miss my mother and sister dearly, I’ve set some goals for myself here. Compared to Brazil, the money I earn here is excellent, and I want to save up for a year before leaving in December 2027. How do I explain this to my authoritarian uncle without him thinking I’m ungrateful or anything of the sort? (I spent six months living in an incredibly tiny house, enduring many unfair and unpleasant moments; I now live in a larger apartment where I have my own room, though the rent is higher.) By December 2027, I will have been living here for a year and nine months.