.
Lala is half Japanese and half American.
And she lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.
It's pretty international.
I lived in Kentucky for a little bit, Japan, Hawaii,
and now in Germany.
And it's just different cultures and blended with different people.
Lala lives with her little sister,
her dad and mom, and her Japanese grandma.
They've travelled the world, because Lala's dad used to work
for the American Military in different countries.
Lala was born in Hawaii when her dad was working in Pearl Harbor.
The Japanese kindergarten. Look how small you were right there.
Where am I?
Look at you. Right there.
A head taller than all the other Japanese kids.
Back in Kentucky.
Lala's life is international.
But for the 15-year-old there is no doubt, where her heart lies.
No matter where her dad's job as a US marine took them
in the last 15 years.
Home for me is in Hawaii,
because I was born there and I lived there the longest.
And all my friends are still there.
I don't know if they remember me, hopefully.
Basically, I was a marine for ten years.
I really enjoyed my time in the Marine Corps.
That did give us
the unique opportunity to travel over the world.
We've been in Japan,
we've been of course in Kentucky, Hawaii.
And it's just a great experience,
blending in with the different cultures and being a part of it.
And also the kids were able to learn a lot about their own culture,
being in Japan.
And now that I'm a civilian, working for the US Army,
it's still an amazing opportunity to be here in Germany.
And explore Europe
and all the wonderful things they have to offer throughout Europe.
And we're able to make some friends and just enjoy our time here.
At home, different customs and food blend together
in Lala's family.
Since I am from an international family,
I actually like every type of food.
Even if I don't like it, I think positive about it.
Like, oh, this is an experience for me.
I like American food and Japanese food.
I don't really have a favorite.
Today, the family is preparing Japanese food.
Little sister Lilly is laying the table in a typical Japanese style.
Let's go ahead and pray.
Holy Father, we just thank you Lord.
We thank you for this wonderful meal that the girls worked hard to make.
Give us good health and happiness. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Today Japanese, tomorrow burgers or steak.
The family enjoys living between cultures.
Their Japanese grandmother makes sure that Lala und Lilly
enjoy celebrating special Japanese customs.
Including wearing Japans' traditional costume: the kimono.
We live international, as you can kind of see here.
We live in Germany and my mom's Japanese,
my dad's American.
So this kind of plays a role of Japan.
We put this up for Girl's Day and also Doll's Day.
But everyday life in Germany is more or less American.
Lala attends the American High School on the military compound.
A school especially for children
whose parents work in and for the US Military.
Lala likes the school and prefers it to other American High Schools.
I think the military school's better.
It's different here.
I think we learn more here
and they work harder to help our education go further.
Lunch break.
The school's multi-purpose-hall has been transformed into a cafeteria.
Most of the 600 students are having lunch here.
Lala has a cheeseburger before going to her next class:
JROTC, Junior Reserve Officers Trainings Corp.
A military youth training program.
Because we're going to get graded for this.
So they'll inspect us,
make sure, we're wearing this all nice and stuff.
Just to make it look nice and show pride in JROTC.
The multi-purpose-hall one hour later.
Lala and her JROTC schoolmates stand to attention for the inspection.
Trousers, shoes, belts, fingernails, ribbons, even the hair.
It all gets checked, and Lala is given a grade.
She likes the training program and thinks it's important.
I think a lot of people just look up to you
and trust you more, now that they see you in a uniform.
They're like: I can trust that person.
Like my friends, they do that, too.
They're like: You're in JROTC. And then: Yes, I am.
And then we'll talk about JROTC and what I do.
Today the students have drill training.
They have to march in unison.
Lala already knows that she wants to join the army after school.
I want to be in the military because I can
go around different places and to serve the country.
Every Sunday Lala attends Chapel Next, her local church.
The church offers three different services.
We have three different flavors
which is three different backgrounds.
We have Gospel, Modern and Traditional.
Lala and her family have a clear preference.
I like Modern, because the music is more up high for teenagers
to enjoy more often.
Yes, that's why I like Modern.
An important aspect of the church community is helping others.
Lala collects donated clothes for the homeless in town.
These are the donations for our Hope Ministry
which is for the homeless people.
We're gonna give this to people who don't have much on them,
so they can get warm and cosy and stuff.
My role is to collect some of the donations
so we can send it and give it to the people from the Hope Ministry.
After church, Lala and her parents host a Sunday school program.
A church-based children's group.
Today Lala talks to them about her experience with the homeless.
There's still homeless people,
so I was wondering how homeless people can survive the cold weather,
since it's really cold here.
God connected us to a homeless shelter in downtown Wiesbaden
and there was an evening where we could serve dinner.
During the week, Lala and her friends
stay on the military compound after school.
They go to the Teen Center before being picked up by their parents.
Here the American students can enjoy many different activities.
We would sign in and then just...
We have a pin with numbers, so we would sign in to get in.
And then sign out if we leave, so they can make sure where you are.
Just for more security reasons.
Apart from the strict security measures,
the Teen Center is a normal youth center.
With basketball, pool and dancing.
They even have their own recording studio here.
Lala will stay another year in Germany.
Then her family will move to a new destination.
Lala is already looking forward to it.
I enjoy travelling around and moving to different places.
Because later on I can tell my friends that I went here and here.
And they'll be, like, wow, really? And I said: yeah.
Subtitles: WDR mediagroup digital GmbH on behalf of WDR
Copyright WDR 2015