The Other Side

My Name is Ming

Hi my name is Ming, and my family is unique. My dad is Chinese and my mom is Japanese, I was born in the United States in Ohio. My household is very crazy, with three sisters and one brother. There is my older sister Ling-Hu, then there is me, my brother Quin-Lun, then my twin sisters Momo and Jojo.

My parents have a difficult time with us, but that is a normal household. My mom works at the grocery store as a cashier, and my dad works in the tech engineering as a manager. Normally my siblings and I would go to school, come home, do our homework and also warm up some leftovers. We will fight about who can watch TV, and of course my older sister wins with Asian Soap Opera. Ling-Hu loves the main character, she believes that the main character will propose to the side character any episode now... I can say Ling-Hu dreams about being the side character, barf!

I normally stay in my room listening to music, my favorite is K-pop! But I do listen to other cultural music, from Africa to Europe. Russian music makes me cringe, but I'm trying not to think negative about it. Yes I do listen to my culture music, and also my mom is teaching me traditional instruments. But I always fantasies of traveling the world and experience a whole world of cultures! So I have been saving my chore money, my grade money, and also every penny to make sure when I turn eighteen I can travel. My dad keep on yelling at me to go to college saying "It is your duty to be smarter then everyone, so you can be a CEO of a HUGE company..." but I don't want to do that!!! Sure it's something for me to experience, but everyone is doing that!

I can't understand my dad, and my mom is the one who wants me to follow my dreams. So I'm super excited when my mom had convinced my dad to go to Japan, for extra credits for school. How my dad agree about it IF one of my siblings will go with me, my older sister didn't care for planes and didn't want to miss any of her Soap Operas. My twin sisters are still too young, so my brother was the only one that will go with me. Quin-Lun didn't like it, but he had no choice. He said that it will get him to look for a girlfriend, I think thats the only reason why he agreed to go. So for me I'm screwed on having a good time, but my dad was happy that I'm taking school seriously.

I'm counting the days of my trip, been packing my bags here and there. But my brother... He only packed just one bag, my mom was screaming saying that "You need to pack more! What will your dad say!?" Been like that for a week! Dad even said that I'm more prepared then he is, I have been always been like that. Just think about it! The universe gives me a chance to travel early! I'm only thirteen, and my brother is twelve years old! Like this is awesome, five years early then planned!! I can't wait for take off day, I have it marked on my calendar. Of course my dad is not showing it, but he is very proud of me. My mom can't stop talking about how me and my brother will be going to where our family is, and my twin sisters keep on bugging me to get them Hello Kitty items for them. But my older sister keeps on complaining about how everyone is excited of how "We will be seeing Japan..." And how "We are expanding our knowledge...", my sister just annoyed that we get to see her favorite places where her favorite Soap Operas are at. Not my problem, cause I ain't letting no Drama Llamas ruin my time there!

Dad said that "I have till the end of the summer, make it count!" Of course I'm going to make it count! I can travel to different places, see different people, experience different food and so much more! And yet... I have to take care my brother, more school work, and have to stay in the house... THAT'S NOT WHAT I SIGN UP FOR!