A significant moment in her life was the time she moved from Hawaii to Colorado. It was not a smooth transition between two completely different places. Nevertheless, she would manage to fall in love with Colorado just as much as her Hawaiian home. She grew up in a military based family, and that meant packing up and moving quite frequently, whenever her father received a transfer. She had become used to relocating to new places, and even new climates. She was born in Georgia and lived for a short time in Alaska before she moved to Oahu, Hawaii. After four years of living in Hawaii, it came time to move again. Her father’s job had an opening in Boulder Colorado. Being just eight years old, and leaving behind your relatives, …show more content…
cannot be an easy thing to do. She felt the anxiety of not knowing anyone in Colorado. She had never visited the state, and she was unsure of what to expect. The island she lived on, was not very big.
She lived and went to school on an Air Force Base. There, she would recognize familiar faces every day. Moving to Colorado, she would no longer be living in the comfort of the base housing she was used to. She and her family would be living in a “regular” house, shopping at “regular” stores, as a “regular” civilian. As you can imagine, Hawaii and Colorado are two very distinctly different places. Living on a volcanic island versus living on mountainous land is an adjustment for anyone. Hawaii is an authentic, spiritual, and cultural state. The natives of Hawaii follow the traditions of worship and respect of their island and their God’s. The majority of the population of Oahu and the surrounding islands are Hawaiian natives. Colorado was going to have cooler temperatures, snow, mountains, and a different culture to adapt to. The climate change between the two places was definitely a shock. Being accustomed to paradise weather (seventy-eighty degrees many days), to a state that fluctuates consistently throughout the year, that was going to be a challenge. Little knowledge of the differences between the two places called for a whole new wardrobe for the family. Goodbye flip-flops, and tank tops every day, hello winter boots and
coats! The first ever snowstorm, she got to witness in Colorado left her in awe. Seeing nothing but pearly white, feathery snow, left her feeling giddy with curiosity! She could not wait to touch it, run in it, and taste it. She was so used to the temperate, crystal clear, turquoise waters. Not being able to see snow for over four years, this was exciting. She knew she would miss going to Bellows Beach on the weekends with her family. She would miss boogie boarding with her friends, and the carnivals she used to go to in Honolulu. Facing the split between the two places was a challenge for her. It was now time for her to have new experiences. Make new friends, and enjoy what Colorado had to offer. She would soon call this unfamiliar place home. And for 34 years, it continues to be.
Traci Glass grew up the youngest of three in Jenks, Oklahoma. She lived in trailer, where she slept on the floor. As her siblings grew up, her parents moved to Arizona. Her mother was a school librarian, and her father was a welder, which caused him to travel a lot.
Condoleezza Rice started off her life with many obstacles that she was forced to overcome throughout her life. Rice was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama in 1954. During this time Alabama was segregated and did not see woman as one fit for a leadership
She was raised by her father on a vineyard in California. After attending summer camp she goes and lives with her mother, Elizabeth James, who she has never truly met
Family is very important, and when I would drift from my family, I would also drift from some of the things most important to me. When Riley’s core memories were tainted and she forgot why those islands were so important to her, she also drifted away from her family in search of something to fill the void she felt. This void was moving away from home, where it is believed held all the important pieces of her personality. Due to the military playing a large role into my growing up, moving to a new place shouldn’t have been so shocking. At sixteen, I moved away from Germany, the place I had been raised for most of my life. I didn’t expect my life to change as much as it did. My bond with my family increased in the time of moving, and I let myself feel many emotions. After leaving my childhood home, I began drifting from my family in search of something new to fill the void of what I defined as home, which was nearly five thousand miles away. I still spent time with my family, but I spent more time with friends and outside of the home. After drifting away from my family, I also drifted away from things I
Imagine having to leave your hometown, where you have lived all of your life, in search of another job. You do not want to move, but at the same time you want to provide food and a decent lifestyle for you and your family. News arrives that an abundance of jobs are available in another part of the country. Hoping for the best, you pack your bags and head for employment. Your kids are saddened about the situation, but they understand the need for relocation. During the travel to the new area, you and your family begin to get excited about living in a different place, even though everyone regrets leaving friends and family behind.
Every person has an American Dream they want to pursue, achieve and live. Many people write down goals for themselves in order to get to their dream. Those never ending goals can range from academic to personal. As of today, I am living my dream. My American Dream is to become a nurse, travel to many places, have a family, and get more involved with God.
I wake up to the sun shining through the window and the faint laughter from my family downstairs. It's the first day of our annual trip to Rhode Island. I lie in bed for a few moments and think about one thing. Rhode Island. I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than here. I glance at the clock and it is only eight in the morning, but everybody is already up, enjoying breakfast, and getting ready to head to the beach. It's not supposed to rain until later in the day, so hopefully we can enjoy our day at the beach before it rains. I eventually make my way out of bed and tiptoe across the frigid wood floors and join my family downstairs. Everybody is up except my brother, Thomas.
Aspen, Colorado, the town I grew up in. The town where I first learned to speak, swim and do many other things. Life in Aspen is perfect. Skiing on the powdered slopes during the winter, hiking grueling mountains during the summer and exploring it’s majestic beauty any season. Aspen’s captivating beauty is also filled with fond memories everywhere that take me back to my childhood: seeing mom bears desperately reaching for the tart crabapples to feed their young, playing volleyball with my brother on the scorching sand, and getting frustrated because I could never hit the ball with enough force to make it over the net, watching the crystallized ice charging to take over the last bit of green left. I had it, the mountains, the snow, the house, I had it all. Although in the summer of 2012 everything changed.
My close friend was going on a trip to California to get his senior pictures taken. He asked me to go and of course I said yes. The flight took off in Grand Rapids and landed in Texas. We got onto a different plane there and we were on our way to Cali. The first night we were there it was really late, so we just went to bed. The next day we walked down to the kitchen and were introduced to everyone in the house. Another family that I didn’t know about and I met them. The oldest was Turner, who became a really good friend after this adventure, and Carmen who was younger.
My little sister cried as she said goodbye to my parents before liftoff, this would be our first time traveling to our “homeland”, Mexico. We would meet the strangers we called family and embrace the culture. I strained my neck to find a familiar face, cupping my hands to form a telescope I spotted my Grandmother. Dragging my heavy bag I side hugged her and awkwardly shook my relatives’ hands.
Sojourners commonly prepare to deal with adjustment difficulties in a host country, but they are unaware to face difficulties in adjusting into a familiar environment when returning home (p. 342).
Their mother had just told them 4 weeks prior, that they were moving. Not just anywhere in California, but almost all the way across the United States. Charlie hated the idea of moving, but Sofia was intrigued with moving to a new place, especially a new state and town. Georgie was already packed in the first week after they had been told.
Walking outside, smelling the wet grass and hearing the wildlife coming alive. Listening to the Rio Grande flowing away and the birds chirping away. Looking at the mountains with their snow tops and watching the sun rise over them. A day in paradise.
The view was so beautiful. I could see coconut trees for miles. Or maybe they were palm trees. I couldn’t tell the difference. I could also sight the ocean, surrounding the entire island. The ocean was clear as glass. I could see many tall skyscrapers and Pearl Harbor in the background, and I could also sight the outline of a beach and mountains in the distance. Welcome to Hawaii, one of the best places to be.
After each taking a shift driving and nearly nine hours, we arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana the home of Louisiana State University. Before we could even unload the car in front of Isabel’s apartment complex, Isabel’s friends and roommates ran out to engulf us all in hugs. Although I had only met a few of her friends over summer break, they all acted as if they had known me forever. I think a large part of it was southern