A new country every three years: that was my life until I was 7 years old.
Traveling became something natural to me — I was 8 months old when I first rode on an airplane. Being able to travel across the world at a young age allowed me to have experiences I would not be able to have staying in one place.
After eight months living in Arkansas, my family moved across the world to India for my dad’s job, regarding international relations. Little did I know, I would be living in Mumbai, India for the next three years of my life. Even though I was very young, I remember living there like it was yesterday.
India
In Mumbai, I was able to embrace the culture around me. India is a beautiful place and, even though it might be crowded, the area where I lived was incredible. My family is Pakistani, which made my experience in India better because I already knew Hindi. Pakistan and India have similar cultures, which allowed me to somewhat see my culture firsthand.
Something special about living in Mumbai is the many Bollywood movies that are shot there. My family was able to meet many Indian celebrities, which was surreal. My mom met actors such as Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone — two very prominent Bollywood stars.
Although my time in India was short-lived, I will always be thankful for being able to experience it. I was able to learn a lot about the country. My mom and I used to go feed and give back to the people in need. Living in a third-world country and seeing the help that is needed firsthand caused my love for volunteering to flourish. I certainly hope to go back one day, see the beauty the country holds and embrace it more through older eyes.
China
I was 3 when I moved from India to China. I lived in two places there: Qingdao and Shanghai. Qingdao was breathtaking, and, even though it is an older city, it was beautiful. Shanghai is a big city full of skyscrapers. There are two parts of Shanghai: Pudong and Puxi. Pudong was an up-and-coming city with people living fast lives and working for hours on end. Puxi was older, so most people who moved to Shanghai settled in Pudong. However, my family lived in Puxi.
China was a country I remember very well, especially since I stayed until I was 7. I was enrolled in a British International school — filled with students just like me who weren’t native to the country and had come because of their parents’ job. The British school system is very different from the American school system. In the British school, one is expected to take exams at the end of the year which reflect on whether you pass the class or not, however, in the American school system, it depends on if you pass the class as a whole, not just one exam. Also, in my school, I was able to learn Mandarin.
In China, I was exposed to the culture, especially when I went to the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall is a historic and valuable place to a lot of Chinese people, and walking miles and miles on the wall was an unforgettable experience. Every mile I walked, the higher I went, the better the view became. The wall is covered with trees and greenery on each side and it is so spectacular.
Not only was I exposed to Chinese culture, but many cultures due to my school being international. It allowed me to become a more open-minded person. I was capable of understanding so many different traditions and taking part in them, too. My best friend was Swedish and, through her, I got to learn of Swedish culture. Having the opportunity to learn so much about so many different people taught me to become a non-judgemental and accepting person.
China will always hold a special place in my heart from the memories I made and the lessons it taught me.
United States
The first time my parents broke the news to me that I would be moving to America, I was ecstatic. Even though I lived in America before, I had moved when I was so young that I barely remembered it. I saw the U.S. as the land of dreams; I remember watching movies and thinking I was going to be able to live just like that. Foreigners who talk about America highly are usually seen as weird to people who have lived in America their whole life. But, as someone who has been on both sides, I can say I am thankful every day to live in America.
I moved to Arkasnas after China – a drastic change from a fast-paced city to a small town. Entering the American school system was also a big change for me, but I was able to adjust since I was still in elementary school.
After living in Arkansas for seven years, I moved to Texas. Being able to move so frequently has made me accustomed to change. I have noticed that, as I grow up, I have become more flexible with creating new friendships and finding myself. Being able to travel was a blessing because it has helped me in many aspects of my life. I am able to share amazing memories with those around me and apply what I learned to my daily life.
For now, I plan on staying in Texas, but who knows what the future holds? I hope to stay true to myself, stay fascinated with different cultures and continue traveling. I will always be incredibly thankful for being able to travel around the world at a young age.
