A Little Confession

I often ask myself: In which language can I speak more openly about myself? In everyday life, Japanese is the more comfortable language for me. But when it comes to music, I prefer German. Why? Maybe because I remain a stranger all my life – and the German language is a foreign one, too.

The poem “A Little Confession” by Don Mee Choi captures the many facets of foreignness. It’s easy to forget that you live a life outside your mother tongue. Over time – as moments feel both fleeting and stretched – you become increasingly aware that you are a stranger. Even before you ask yourself who you really are. It’s a strange, quiet feeling – and somewhere in the background, a lonely one too.