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SCMP Reporter

Connecting with teens around the world
Name Marta Sarandeva
Age  17
City New York
Star sign Libra
New York is full of snobby New Yorkers, wide-eyed tourists, aspiring actors, musicians, and dancers. There's always something to  do or see here. I love just walking around and observing the city.
American food is mostly fattening, but I still love indulging in a milkshake or Domino's Pizza. The country itself is vast and diverse. What I like most about America is that people accept me for who I am, and there are also lots of career opportunities.
American teenagers like to have lots of fun and are in general very free, crazy, and independent.
I study French, maths, English, history, chamber music, biology and photography at school. School life is fast-paced, intellectually rigorous, and full of friends. I spend around four hours on homework every day.
My first language is Bulgarian, but I moved to the US when I was nine years old, so I'm equally fluent in English.
During my free time, I enjoy singing, chilling out, shopping, eating and karaoke. I usually hang out with friends in the dorm, and we watch movies and do random things.
I usually go back to New York City and visit random European countries during break, since I go to boarding school in Boston. I've travelled to Paris, Turkey, London and other states in the US.
My favourite sport is  football - Go Spain and UEFA! - and I love listening to all kinds of music except for country. Right now, I love Jesse McCartney, Usher, M.I.A. and lots of Brooklyn indie bands.
I'm not crazy about brand names, so I just wear whatever looks good.
When I grow up, I want to become a professional singer, since I'm an avid singer now. I'm in my school's all-girls a capella group, called Octet, and we perform about once every two weeks during school assemblies.
I'm also in the school's Chamber Singers group, which is  a  mixed choir.  We perform  gospel music, both classical and contemporary. In fact, the Chamber Singers went to Prague and Budapest on tour  last March, along with the Chamber Orchestra.
My parents are very supportive and they love me a lot, constantly pushing me to do my best. I think I'm friendly and bubbly, but a little sarcastic at times.
I haven't been to Hong Kong, but I really want to go see the fashion, food, and music. I also have a lot of Hong Kong friends at  school, so I want to visit them in their home town as well. Hong Kong sounds like a really cool place from what I've heard.



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