2024/Ryle-

Many people believe that military families are constantly moving due to either one or both parents being in the military. Their children are also constantly moving around to different schools and leaving their past friendships behind.

Although this is what many military children would usually tell you if you asked them about the sacrifices they’ve made, I am a military child, but my experience is different from others. I’ve only moved to three places before my parent’s retirement from the military. Two-thirds of these locations are in the same place: Japan. I’ve only lived in the United States for about two years until I moved to Japan. I do not have any memories of living in the United States. Places like Six Flags, Chick-fil-A, or any popular American place mean close to nothing to me. I was never able to experience it, so I never got to see what’s so good about it.

Despite all of this, I have been given many other opportunities. Japan is a foreign country, meaning I got to experience Japanese culture. An example is authentic Japanese food. In the United States or any other country, a lot of food that isn’t authentic doesn’t taste the same. It doesn’t hold the same feeling, or in this case: taste. My staying in one place allowed me to fully immerse myself in their culture, which is an opportunity that most Americans can only dream of.