2023/Gina -

It was the one place I was supposed to always feel safe, comfortable, and free to be myself. It brought joy and love until I became a military child.

It began at the age of 13. I learned English a few years prior after being raised in a traditional German household. I barely knew what it meant to be a military child until my parents broke the news to me about our upcoming move to the United States. I tried to consider the positive, entertaining states like Florida or New York. However, we ultimately were assigned to a base in New Mexico. I had to prepare for the desert heat instead of the cold, snowy winters.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to stay in one place. Although I got placed in a completely foreign school where I didn't even speak the language, I noticed people coming and going more often than usual. I wondered why the people around me were always constantly moving. I wasn’t aware of the struggles others went through, until I found myself moving across the globe. 5,446 miles and a 13 hour flight to nowhere other than New Mexico, I didn’t realize I suddenly became a military child. I instantly perceived the everyday life of an ordinary military child. Everyone around me seemed to always be prepared for their next destination, having their entire life planned out in a matter of seconds before their next big move.

Soon enough, I noticed how common it was for families to continuously move to extraordinary places, such as Japan. Although I am considered a military child, I haven’t nearly moved as much as others. Despite this, every time I do, I end up in a new continent. My next move happened to be Japan, but it was quite different. I wasn’t as familiar with the culture, not to mention the language. It was completely different from English, and especially German. Okinawa was smaller than anywhere I have visited, but it gave me the opportunity to connect with others and view the island in a way I would never have thought of. Overall, the main focus and realization I came to was that moving, meeting new people, and visiting new places, is far more interesting than being trapped in your hometown with the same days on repeat.