You can take the girl out of Portland, but you cant take Portland out of Japan

As if homesickness wasn’t already bad enough…

It’s been nearly a year since I uprooted myself from the West Coast’s coolest city (ehem, Portland), and into the depths of rural Japan. Since then, I cannot even count the number of times some Japanese person has asked me where I am from, and this conversation ensues.

Japanese person: “Where are you from?”

Me: “America.”

Japanese Person: “Where in America?”

Me: “Portland.”

Japanese person: “Where….?”

Me: “It’s north of San Francisco.”

Japanese person: “Oh, I see. North San Francisco. I love California.”

Me: “…”

After months of enduring other people’s confusion at my geographically untraceable place of origin, I am finally relieve to see my cool city making it to the pages of trendy Japanese fashion magazines.

2014 was Portland’s debut year in Japan. Well, maybe not. But it was the year that this city made it to the pages of nearly every fashion, lifestyle, and travel publication worthy of being read. Thanks to these magazines, I know longer have to deal with being from “North San Francisco,” “South Seattle,” or the ambiguous “West Coast.” Now my city has a name, it has a face, and according the magazines, some of the best cafes in the country.

Home, sweet home. 

 Elle, February 2014

Trunk, February 2014

GQ, June 2014

Popeye, July 2014