Yeah, I didn’t have that but I rode an elephant

I actually didn’t grow up here I grew up in Thailand. My mom is Filipino, my dad is British. So growing up in that kind of environment, coming here and finally moving back to America was kind of weird. I had all these wonderful experiences but it is hard to relate, a little bit, to people who have grown up here. I think there were a lot of cultural things I missed growing up. I am American but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. There are certain times in a conversation where I can’t really relate just because I never experienced that growing up, like certain TV shows, or things kids can do in school. Yeah, I didn’t have that but I rode an elephant. People would say “oh, OK, OK fine”.

I’ve gotten over that and continue to just travel. I’ve met a lot of other people who have grown-up in similar situations to me. When they go back to the country that they are from they don’t really fit in so they just keep leaving, which is what I do. I keep traveling to find like-minded people. I actually work for a travel company and this has controlled the direction I’ve taken in my life and my career. My sister doesn’t live in Bangkok anymore and this has encouraged me to continue to pursue my dreams. Not always having to go home to Bangkok has encouraged me to keep trying to find a place to belong.

When I was little I had three little dolls, two are actually the same because I thought I lost one so my parents got me another one, then we found it. It is two boys and a girl. For whatever reason both boys were named Mike and the girl’s name is Martha. I don’t have them here with me now, they are actually in my mom’s house. I’ve had them I think since I was 2. I’m now 26. I took them everywhere with me which is why I thought I almost lost one. Even when I got into high school they would be in my bag. It was a little bit of home to always have. It was a constant.