Explain how your experiences as a teenager significantly differ from those of your friends. Include comparisons. (University of Puget Sound)

-         Firstly, I’m not what you call a normal teenager. I’m a half breed. I have Native American and Mexican blood in me, not to mention Bhutanese. I had never spent as much as a month with my father. No, my parents are not divorced, but somewhat separated, maybe because of work. Although I do keep in contact with Dad through email and sometimes short visits. My mother acts as a single mother at home, caring for me, nurturing me since I was little. I had never lived in a single household for at least 5 years. My Mom’s job allowed her to move constantly, every 4 years, from one place to another ever since I was born. From New York to Bhutan, from Bhutan to Thailand, then back to Bhutan again, then Belgium. We constantly moved on from one country to another. I had never had proper friends whom I see every day, like in those sentimental movies. Never got to have a proper girlfriend. Never got to have a hometown. Never got to have a best friend from your home town.  On top of that, I’m a single child.

-         Most of my friends in school don’t travel as much as me. Not even during vacations. I bet they don’t even have a crazy half Native American/ Mexican American dad, who only knows how to make burgers and say stupid lame old jokes.

-         People say my life is exciting, cool and awesome because of my parents and the travelling, but to be honest, I don’t think so. Sure I get to travel a lot and sure I have cool parents, but because of these travels, I can’t enjoy one proper home as whenever I get used to it, my Mom gets transferred back to Bhutan. It’s really tiring.

-         Different Schools every time I move. I remember my first school in Thailand. I had just gotten used to the system, the locals, the language, and even made good friends. I got used to it all, then without a notion, my Mom would say “We’re leaving for Bhutan, our hometown, aren’t you excited”.

-         Now my home is in Belgium. One of the best chocolates are made there, too bad I hate chocolate. It was my first time in Europe. I was there when I was a baby, but didn’t remember, so that doesn’t count. Compared to other European cities, Belgium is quite safe. I take nice long walks in the park; eat good French food, Chinese food and Italian food. Internet is super fast, girls are dressed in expensive fashionable clothes (which is hot), and my apartment is nice and has a great view of the city. My whole life has been and will be significant and different from others.