I Am From Foreign Faces

I am from foreign faces,
From busy streets that have no rules
Engulfed in air pollution.
I am from Calamansi trees,
From crystal clear seas
And coral of every color.
I am from the unhidden dangers,
From bomb scares to kidnappings
That happen two weeks later.

But I am from beautiful cultures,
From gorgeous landscapes
That some may never see.
I am from endless hills of rice terraces,
From bamboo trees to mangroves,
Full of the strangest creatures.
And I am from the International School,
From kids of 50 nations
Gathered to be called Bearcats.
I am from Lupang Hinirang,
From chicken and rice
Pamelo and bolut.

I am from armed guards,
From gated neighborhoods
Of Asian palaces.
I am from marble floors,
Full of Chinese furniture
Enclosed by 20 foot ceilings.
I am from experiences of a lifetime,
That most will never understand.
I am from the Merlion to the Audobahn,
The Great Wall to the Outback.
I am from island resorts to city hotels,
From jungles to oceans
From scuba diving in Cebu
To elephant rides in Phuket.

I am from a mass of black hair.
And the only blonde in the crowd.
I am from the scent of Tamarind,
From the taste of exotic foods
That I almost learned to love.
I am from 7000 islands,
From 16 unique countries,
Four amazing continents,
Hundreds of photographs,
And countless memories.