Today when I was talking to a basketball coach at my school, he asked me an interesting question, "Where's home?".
Only now do I look back and realize that no one ever asks the question, "Where are you from?" in this place. It's unanswerable for most. Certainly for me. People ask , "Where's home?", and even then the TCKs abundant in my shool have trouble. And it's no temporary trouble.
Third Culture Kids, TCKs, are simply children who have grown up in a culture significantly different from their birthplace or ethnicity.
(Keep in mind TCK is just a term, not derogatory by the way, to describe anyone of this sort, not just 'kids'. Adults can be referred to ATCKs, as I've heard before, but this is a relatively new generation that's becoming serious, especially in terms of globalization.)
Example; Me. I'm a half Canadian, half Singaporean mix, born in Vancouver, Canada. Most of my childhood was spent in Singapore. At 10 I arrived in Bangkok, to where I am now where I spent (and will spend) my teenage years (i've left out a few other places I've lived in). I've got a Canadian passport, a Singaporean surname, and Asian facial features. I've got as much Asian blood as I do caucasian, but I don't speak any Asian languages whatsoever. English is my strongpoint, I'm in my 5th year of French, and I'm picking up German as well. Complicated? You bet.
There are bonuses, too. TCK's are more multiculturally understanding, are often more appreciating of finer arts, get the better jobs due to international education and linguistics... We're more prepared for the world, and are the leading force that's driving the next world of globalization.
But there's one thing that will bug me and other TCKs for life, no matter how rich, how happy, how refined we are. Where's home?
For me, I don't have an answer.
Vancouver? I've only lived there for a total of 4 years, 3 from birth and when I was 6.
Singapore? I don't know my way around, I can't communicate efficiently, I feel lost.
Bangkok? I know the city and life here like the back of my hand... but that's it.
I would like to say Vancouver, because I love the place, but it sounds wrong and just isn't true. You can't call home some place like that. And while it may not seem like such a big deal about not having a place to call home... it is. It's like a sort of identity crisis. What you're supposed to be doing with yourself. We feel lost, unwanted, without a base. Nowhere to run to when all else falls. Nowhere to settle down and witness your childhood. It's too difficult.
Not only that, but when it comes to talking with non-TCKs... it gets difficult. When TCK's go off to college, normally in North America or Europe, they stick with TCKs. It's difficult to have conversations with people who don't share the same background as you, in such a different way. Just that simple question, "Where are you from?" will trigger off an endless hopeless search for home... and ultimately bother the non-TCK.
As I sit here now, I can't seem to remember what my question for discussion was. I wanted to create a short little thing about TCKs, and get a discussion going. I've gotten too caught up in writing, I'm on the verge of tears. This is one of only four things in my life that I've cried about since I was little. I guess I'll just leave this up open for discussion. What you think. That stuff.
Only now do I look back and realize that no one ever asks the question, "Where are you from?" in this place. It's unanswerable for most. Certainly for me. People ask , "Where's home?", and even then the TCKs abundant in my shool have trouble. And it's no temporary trouble.
Third Culture Kids, TCKs, are simply children who have grown up in a culture significantly different from their birthplace or ethnicity.
(Keep in mind TCK is just a term, not derogatory by the way, to describe anyone of this sort, not just 'kids'. Adults can be referred to ATCKs, as I've heard before, but this is a relatively new generation that's becoming serious, especially in terms of globalization.)
Example; Me. I'm a half Canadian, half Singaporean mix, born in Vancouver, Canada. Most of my childhood was spent in Singapore. At 10 I arrived in Bangkok, to where I am now where I spent (and will spend) my teenage years (i've left out a few other places I've lived in). I've got a Canadian passport, a Singaporean surname, and Asian facial features. I've got as much Asian blood as I do caucasian, but I don't speak any Asian languages whatsoever. English is my strongpoint, I'm in my 5th year of French, and I'm picking up German as well. Complicated? You bet.
There are bonuses, too. TCK's are more multiculturally understanding, are often more appreciating of finer arts, get the better jobs due to international education and linguistics... We're more prepared for the world, and are the leading force that's driving the next world of globalization.
But there's one thing that will bug me and other TCKs for life, no matter how rich, how happy, how refined we are. Where's home?
For me, I don't have an answer.
Vancouver? I've only lived there for a total of 4 years, 3 from birth and when I was 6.
Singapore? I don't know my way around, I can't communicate efficiently, I feel lost.
Bangkok? I know the city and life here like the back of my hand... but that's it.
I would like to say Vancouver, because I love the place, but it sounds wrong and just isn't true. You can't call home some place like that. And while it may not seem like such a big deal about not having a place to call home... it is. It's like a sort of identity crisis. What you're supposed to be doing with yourself. We feel lost, unwanted, without a base. Nowhere to run to when all else falls. Nowhere to settle down and witness your childhood. It's too difficult.
Not only that, but when it comes to talking with non-TCKs... it gets difficult. When TCK's go off to college, normally in North America or Europe, they stick with TCKs. It's difficult to have conversations with people who don't share the same background as you, in such a different way. Just that simple question, "Where are you from?" will trigger off an endless hopeless search for home... and ultimately bother the non-TCK.
As I sit here now, I can't seem to remember what my question for discussion was. I wanted to create a short little thing about TCKs, and get a discussion going. I've gotten too caught up in writing, I'm on the verge of tears. This is one of only four things in my life that I've cried about since I was little. I guess I'll just leave this up open for discussion. What you think. That stuff.
