Throughout her childhood senior Claire Swinko has lived in four different countries. Including Russia, Poland, Pakistan and Lithuania.
Swinko was born in Wisconsin and then moved to Russia as a baby with her parents because of her father’s work.
“I don’t really remember much of Russia because I was really young,” Swinko said. “I remember living in Poland as a little kid. It was awesome because it snowed so much”
After living in Poland for three years, Swinko and her family then moved to Islamabad, Pakistan for two years.
“I loved living in Pakistan because I got to go swimming during school a lot, and there was so much amazing culture,” Swinko said.
While at school in Pakistan Swinko learned to speak three languages: Urdu, Spanish and French. She went to an international school and learned about many different cultures from that school but has since then forgotten how to speak those languages.
One of Swinko’s best memories from living in Pakistan was riding elephants and camels.
“I was pretty scared at first but after I while I got used to it and enjoyed myself,” Swinko said.
But it wasn’t always fun and games when she lived there. Swinko and her family lived in Pakistan when 9/11 happened and for safety reasons her and her family had to be evacuated back to the United States.
“I remember being really scared at the time,” Swinko said.
After living in Pakistan for some time, her family was then moved to Lithuania.
Swinko loved Lithuania because it snowed there, just like it did in Poland. She also really loved the scenery because there were castles everywhere.
“It was every seven year old girls dream,” Swinko said.
After living in Lithuania for a year, Swinko and her family then moved back to Virginia and have remained here ever since. Swinko states that she would love to go back and visit all those countries again.