Jalue Dorje knew it would be the last big party before he joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills -- thousands of miles from his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights, where he grew up like a typical American teen playing football and listening to rap music.

A U.S.-born Buddhist lama celebrated his 18th birthday and enthronement ceremony in Minnesota. It's the last party before Jalue Dorje joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills — thousands of miles from his home in suburban Minneapolis.

When Jalue Dorje was 2 years old, the Dalai Lama recognized him as the lama’s reincarnation. He just celebrated his 18th birthday and in a few months he will move to the Mindrolling Monastery in northern India after graduating from high school.

Jalue Dorje grew up like a typical American teen playing football and listening to rap music in a Minneapolis suburb. After graduation, he’ll head to northern India, more than 7,200 miles from home.