1. Where did you grow up, and what were the reasons behind your family moving around so often?
“I dread people asking me where I’m from because I consider it such a complicated question. Ethnically, I’m half English and half Spanish, but my identity doesn’t always resonate with that. I was born in London on the 4th of February 2003, and my first move happened when I was just three months old. From London, I moved to Spain, then Sweden, Australia, China, back to Spain and England again, then mexico, and now I live and study in Wales.”
“Growing up, we moved so much because both of my parents worked for IKEA. My mum was an interior designer, and my dad worked in sales management. Their jobs meant that, on average, we would move every three years, give or take.”
2. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while adapting to new cultures, and how did those experiences help you grow?
“To be honest, I was quite a shy child, so that was my biggest challenge. I didn’t like leaving friends behind because it usually took me a while to make them. I remember that every time I felt happy and content with my life, I’d have this sense of anxiety, knowing it could all be over soon and I’d have to start fresh again.”
“That said, each move became a little easier, though that didn’t mean I wanted to leave. Looking back, I can now see how fortunate I was to experience so many different cultures and meet people from all walks of life. It’s given me a unique perspective on the world that no one can ever take away from me. From that viewpoint, I’m genuinely grateful for the way everything turned out.”
3. What were some of your favourite parts about moving so often and experiencing life in different countries?
“If I’m being honest, my favourite part was seeing my new room in every house we lived in. I have a younger sister, and we were always so curious to see what our new home and life would look like. It was like a little adventure every time.”
“As we got older, we even had more of a say in where we could move. I remember a conversation with my parents in 2016 when they told us we were leaving Sydney. They asked if we’d prefer to go to Shanghai or Kuwait, and honestly, I barely knew the difference. I chose Shanghai simply because I loved reading manga and thought it would be cool to live there. It wasn’t until we were unpacking boxes in our new house that it hit me — manga is Japanese, not Chinese! In hindsight, that one’s on me, but I often wonder how different my life would’ve been if I’d chosen Kuwait instead.”
“And of course, experiencing all the different cultures was incredible. Everyone always asks me which place was my favourite, but it’s impossible to compare. Each country was so unique, and I usually end up going on a whole tangent explaining why every place had something special.”
4. What lessons or insights from your global upbringing have stayed with you the most, and how do they influence your life today?
“I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is not to take things for granted because nothing lasts forever. Knowing that life can change so quickly has really taught me to live in the present and appreciate everything I have.”
“That mindset has definitely influenced how I live my life. Even now that I’m independent from my family, I still find myself moving around freely. After graduating high school, I moved to the UK and worked on a farm for about a year to gain experience for veterinary university. Then, before heading to Aberystwyth University, I spent another year in Mexico working at a family friend’s restaurant.”
“It’s funny — as a child, I dreaded moving. But now, I find myself seeking it, not wanting to stay in one place for too long. I’m now in my last year of university and I’m still wondering where I’ll go next. What city, what country, what culture will I experience? It’s all incredibly exciting, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”