The following story was written by Janica Zamora as part of the Journalism Foundations first semester exam. These stories were the top of the newest crop of future Southwest Shadow journalists.
People often experience what it’s like to grow up in two different cities, or even two different states but, what about two different countries?
Consider sophomore Karmen Cao. Cao was born in Las Vegas, but moved to China when she was just a few months old. She lived with her grandparents in China until she moved back to Vegas at six years old.
Having grown up in both Vegas and China, Cao was surprised by the differences she experience when living in each country, describing that she “had more free will” and that it was “less stressful” living in China.
“When I first moved back to Vegas when I was 6 years old, I had to learn how to speak English,” Cao said. “So, it was overall a really weird adjustment.”
Spending the majority of her childhood living in China, Cao had become accustomed to the way of life there, as it was all she knew.
“In China, it was more free and I didn’t really have to care much,” Cao said. “But in the US, there are different fashion trends, different foods, etc. It was just different from what I was used to while living in China.”
While reminiscing on her time spent in China, Cao recalls one of her favorite memories she had while living there as a child.
“When I was younger, I would go all the way up to my house’s balcony with my Barbie dolls in my hands,” Cao said. “Once I was there, I would put baby powder in the dolls’ hair and shake it off to clean their hair. I loved playing with my toys on the balcony.”
However, playing with her toys on the balcony isn’t the only thing that Cao misses from her carefree life in China.
“I really miss the scenery,” Cao said. “There was a pond near where I lived that I would always go to visit. And, I, of course, miss my family there. I would visit my relatives all the time while living there. So, to not be able to see them all the time is really sad.”
Fortunately for Cao, a visit to her relatives back in China might be something in her near future.
“My parents are planning a trip to China either this summer or next summer,” Cao said. “I haven’t been in China since I left when I was six so, I’m really looking forward to this trip.”
Cao is in fact so excited about this trip, that she’s already begun planning what she wants to do while there.
“When I get there, the first thing that I want to do is go shopping for souvenirs that I can bring back and that can remind me of China when I go back home,” Cao said. “I also really want to go to the bigger cities and visit the tourist attractions while there. I’m honestly just excited to be back in China again.”
And though she misses living in China, Cao acknowledges how growing up in different countries has helped her grow as an individual.
“The way I lived and acted in China and how I live and act in Vegas are very different,” Cao said. “I’ve had two completely different lifestyles in my life already. So, growing up in two different places has taught me that there can be multiple ways to express yourself and behave depending on where you are.”
