My story is a unique story. While my great grandparents immigrated to America from Ireland and Poland, I don't have a strong connection to either of those roots, other than how often my mom cooked potatoes growing up. Instead my story starts with me and the expatriate upbringing that I experienced. When I was 1 my family moved to Singapore from America. At 2 my family moved again to London where I lived for 10 years. At 12 I moved back to New York, before moving a year later to Hong Kong for 3 years. I split the sophomore year of high school between Cape Cod and New York, and then graduated High School from New York. Seeking more change, I moved to Minnesota for College before moving back to New York two years later, where I have been for the past 5. All in all from 5th grade on I lived in 8-9 different homes and went to 7 different schools. I know what you are thinking, "What a mess", and that story is a mess. That is why in the photo the first thing that you see is the cluttered mess. However in the background of the photo, and in the background of my story overall is London. London feels like a big part of my story because of how long my family spent there. Growing up in childhood that was my home, but all subsequent places I lived merely felt like places I lived. No move was harder than leaving London initially. While every place shaped me into the person that I am today, London was first. I also became a British Citizen through my time in London. That helped me keep the map of London always in the background, and London always in my heart.

– BW

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more