Another Two Part Answer

Part 1:
Marjane changes her identity fairly quickly in the book. On page 8 she identifies herself as being a religious person, or at least talking to god frequently. By page 71, she sends god away. Although god does reappear later in the story; she becomes a lot less spiritual and much more political. I see this a transition from faith to man. Marjane makes this transition because she wants to change things in her world. She may have been influenced by her parents. Her parents never refer to god, but always refer to politics. Marjane saw that her parents put their faith into politics.

Part 2:
I would say that I did a disappearing act like my sister. Many people in my hometown go to school 3-4 hours away, but still come back many weekends. The guys that I hung out with since grade school have already been back five weekends. The only time I came back was to get a lamp for my living room and I am only 45 minutes away. My older sister did the exact same thing when she left for college. She severed the ties from her little hometown. For both of us, it is the best way to start a new stage of our lives.