Changes

HELEN

Being the "New Girl" is never easy but what choice does a girl whose parents have a job that often require them to move have than to change school and start all over again.

My parents are amazing and I love them but I've never been happy with the way their jobs, especially my father's keeps displacing me. Every time I think I'm finally settling in a new environment, something new comes up from his work and then, it's the same old dance all over again.

My father is an engineering consultant, he works as a freelance consultant for several engineering companies but he is mostly affiliated with Knox industries.

Knox industries is a group of companies with branches in different countries and they specialize in all forms of engineering. They are big and affluent, so being associated with such powerful company has earned my father a reputable image as well as a swell bank account.

I know I should think the money is enough compensation for the constant move but the term "money can't buy happiness" is the tune that keeps playing in my head.

Don't get me wrong here; I enjoy the lavish lifestyle that comes with the money but I still really hate the moving cause it's literally starting to snuff life out of me.

I have to endure the stares, whispering and territorial bullies who makes it their life's goal to bully new students over and over again.

It's just tiring and disheartning, I just want to finish highschool in peace, go to college and finally be able to explore an independent life; but the irony of life is, we don't always get what we wished for and I'm a living testimony to that.

We've moved thrice since I started highschool and so far, we've stayed longer in New Jersey than any other place we've lived. I was actually starting to believe that just maybe it was going to be our last stop because He promised, so I let myself relax enough to enjoy school, take part in activities and made friends whom I love spending time with.

It was a win win at some point until it wasn't, my father came home after being away for a few days for work and I was released from my delusions. I was excited to have him back, so I stayed up after dinner to catch up, it was fun and normal until the following morning. It was a weekend, so aside from doing few household chores and spending time with my friends later, I had no big plans that day.

After breakfast, father said they had something to tell me and I just knew even before He said anything that it's happening all over again. I had tuned him out right after he announced we were moving again right before he launched into the full details but I don't think he noticed cause he continued talking and I just sat there, hearing without actually listening. I was hurt, disappointed cause I believed him when he said we weren't going to move again, I guess I have myself to blame for letting myself hope.

I was lost in a little bubble in my mind, oblivious of my surroundings until I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, I looked up and it was my mother looking at me with an all too familiar look on her face. She knows how I felt about moving everytime, she tried to take me in her arms to comfort me but I just put my hands out stopping her, I don't want to be comforted, I just wanted to be left alone.

So I stood and walked to my room dazed, I could hear my dad going on about how it was rude to walk out in the middle of an important discussion and how I was going to be grounded for my actions but I couldn't bring myself to stop. I had in my room awhile before I heard a soft knock on the door. I opened the door to let my mom in falling into her arms without saying anything and we just stayed that way until she felt I had calm down enough to talk. We talked and she made me promise to apologize to my father later which I did and that was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

LAKE CITY

Between moving around a couple of or spending vacations in different cities in different countries, I'd say I've seen a lot of places but nothing in my experience could ever prepare me for what I found in Lake city. I couldn't really enjoy the scenery when we first moved here mostly because of my sour disposition but also because we got in late and night isn't exactly the best the time for sightseeing.

I spent the week after getting to LC in euphoria, mopping in my room doing nothing other than to sleep, wake-up, eat, watch tv and then going back to room. Despite my mom's incessant gushing about the city's beautiful scenery and how I need to go out and interact with some kids my age, I still refused to step out of the house.

I know I would've to step out of the house eventually since I have to resume school, I still prefer to keep to myself inside the house for as long as I could. Its seems to be best way to hold on to my anger a little longer.

My Dad is already taking care of school and I'll probably be going back to school next week because the preparay is almost complete. Dad left me the school brochure to check out the school and so far, everything about the school is tipy notch. The only thing I'm worried about now is fitting in.

After a few days of wallowing in self pity, I finally decided it is time to clean myself up and get out there. So I took my mom up on her offer to tour the city together. We woke up eari took care of household chores, then set out for the grand tour.

The first thing I noticed stepping out of the house for the first time is the environment; it is well organized with beautiful landscapes and buildings arranged in such a way that it seems like they were elevated on a mountain surface. It's absolutely breathtaking, no matter which direction you're looking at it from.

The City is also sorounded by beautiful lakes. Some part the lakes carved by highrise buildings and structures of some Hotel and Resort business while the other parts were left in their natural form and as part of the City tourist attractions Centres. The residential buildings, big office buildings and even small business in different part of the city were designed to follow a specific pattern, which gives it an organized look.

It is obvious from the city's general outlook that Lake City, is the home for the rich and affluent. Now I understand why my Dad wouy want to live here, the city has all characteristics that soothes his expensive taste. "Work hard and live large" that's my Dad's motto.

My Dad is a big fan of having a lavish lifestyle and no matter where we are, he always made sure that the way we live fully reflects his wealth.

I've always been pampered with expensive gifts even when there is no special occasion and especially when I'm upset or angry with him. Everytime he does out and sees anything he thought would look good on his two "favorite girls" like he normally refer to me and my Mom, he'll get for us even if there isn't any special occasion.

My Dad believes that there is no bad that a good gift can not cleanse, so everytime he does something that displeases either of 'his girls', he will keep buying gifts after gifts until he is forgiven. And that's what he has been doing since we got to LC.

He would go to the office and come back with a different gift everyday, then he will proceed by telling me about his how his day went. And sometimes he'd crack dry jokes in an attempt to at least get to laugh at him. Although, I'm still not speaking to him, I've honestly long forgiven him; but I still want him to stew a little bit because more than anything else, I was disappointed at the fact that he failed to keep his promise.