Although some students may find living abroad and moving a lot a hassle, others find it rewarding and enjoyable.
Jasmine Ali, a 25-year-old ETSU public relations major, is one such person. She has lived in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Canada and Italy.
“I think I feel at home anywhere because I am so used to moving,” she said.
Ali was born in East Africa in the country of Somalia. She lived there for about six years when her father found himself caught in a bad deal with the government, forcing the family to seek refuge in another country.
“I think my dad was caught up in something political so it was not safe for us to live there anymore,” she said.
In 1986, Ali and her family found themselves in Italy, in a town not far from Venice where Ali says she learned to speak fluent Italian by conversing with local school children.
“It was easy to pick up things especially being a child. At first it was hard because I could not express myself, but within a couple of months I just started talking,” she said.
Two years later, Ali found herself moving yet again, this time to Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
“My parents wanted to move there because they heard nice things about Canada,” she said. In Toronto Ali said she felt a connection with everyone.
“I had friends who were Fijian, Indian and Italian, I could relate to because they were also from different places,” she said.
After graduating from high school Ali’s sister married and settled in Johnson City, Ali moved here to be close to her and to go to college.
Though Ali speaks fondly of travels and life aboard she says that her home is now in the United States.
“I am just used to being here, but I do plan to visit those places again someday,” she said. She also said that she does not keep up with all the news in Africa, but feels that Africa is portrayed in an untruthful light by the media.
“When I tell people where I am from, they ask if I lived in the jungle and if monkeys were in my backyard,” she said. “I tell them that I grew up in a regular house just like anyone else. We had poor people and rich people,” she said.

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