anyway I know right the accent um so it’s quite a unique accent around
it’s quite a unique accent around
it’s quite a unique accent around apparently um so I’m going to give the
apparently um so I’m going to give the
apparently um so I’m going to give the audience the opportunity to answer the
audience the opportunity to answer the
audience the opportunity to answer the following question where does my accent
following question where does my accent
following question where does my accent come from kind of kind of as well anyone
come from kind of kind of as well anyone
come from kind of kind of as well anyone else Zimbabwe no not really it’s not
else Zimbabwe no not really it’s not
else Zimbabwe no not really it’s not from the UK no um unless you know me
from the UK no um unless you know me
from the UK no um unless you know me very well it’s going to be quite a
very well it’s going to be quite a
very well it’s going to be quite a difficult task you to decipher where
difficult task you to decipher where
difficult task you to decipher where this accent comes from so I’ll explain
this accent comes from so I’ll explain
this accent comes from so I’ll explain step one you get a Korean kid about that
step one you get a Korean kid about that
step one you get a Korean kid about that tall let’s say let’s move into a random
tall let’s say let’s move into a random
tall let’s say let’s move into a random country let’s say Australia for step two
country let’s say Australia for step two
country let’s say Australia for step two and then step three let’s move into
and then step three let’s move into
and then step three let’s move into another random country which which
another random country which which
another random country which which country should we move into your
country should we move into your
country should we move into your audience South Africa Oh anybody else
audience South Africa Oh anybody else
audience South Africa Oh anybody else yes yes we move them to Norway for a few
yes yes we move them to Norway for a few
yes yes we move them to Norway for a few years somebody who knows me um and then
years somebody who knows me um and then
years somebody who knows me um and then moving back to an international school
moving back to an international school
moving back to an international school in Korea and see what happens to his
in Korea and see what happens to his
in Korea and see what happens to his accent apparently and voila so that’s
accent apparently and voila so that’s
accent apparently and voila so that’s where my accent comes from this
where my accent comes from this
where my accent comes from this magnificent brilliant accent which
magnificent brilliant accent which
magnificent brilliant accent which nobody here seems to be able to
nobody here seems to be able to
nobody here seems to be able to understand so do my best to talk in this
understand so do my best to talk in this
understand so do my best to talk in this American accent and see what happens but
American accent and see what happens but
American accent and see what happens but no very uncomfortable accent Amy um I
no very uncomfortable accent Amy um I
no very uncomfortable accent Amy um I know my life’s journey is quite special
know my life’s journey is quite special
know my life’s journey is quite special but I know it’s not that special because
but I know it’s not that special because
but I know it’s not that special because I’ve met so many my age who’ve had so
I’ve met so many my age who’ve had so
I’ve met so many my age who’ve had so many more exotic so many more
many more exotic so many more
many more exotic so many more interesting cultural experiences having
interesting cultural experiences having
interesting cultural experiences having moved from international school to
moved from international school to
moved from international school to International School I’ve met so many
International School I’ve met so many
International School I’ve met so many who have their parents culture and the
who have their parents culture and the
who have their parents culture and the culture in which they were raised but
culture in which they were raised but
culture in which they were raised but they do not identify with either or
they do not identify with either or
they do not identify with either or perhaps more accurately they identify so
perhaps more accurately they identify so
perhaps more accurately they identify so strongly with both that it’s basically
strongly with both that it’s basically
strongly with both that it’s basically impossible for them to choose which one
impossible for them to choose which one
impossible for them to choose which one they are third culture kids they are
they are third culture kids they are
they are third culture kids they are those who have the their own distinct
those who have the their own distinct
those who have the their own distinct islands of cultures there have been
islands of cultures there have been
islands of cultures there have been brought up in one way in a sense and
brought up in one way in a sense and
brought up in one way in a sense and their parents have been brought up in
their parents have been brought up in
their parents have been brought up in another way and they have to harmonize
another way and they have to harmonize
another way and they have to harmonize these two and it is a very difficult
these two and it is a very difficult
these two and it is a very difficult task for them and I know there are many
task for them and I know there are many
task for them and I know there are many of you out in the audience today
of you out in the audience today
of you out in the audience today who our third culture kids how they
who our third culture kids how they
who our third culture kids how they speak what they do what they believe are
speak what they do what they believe are
speak what they do what they believe are not what they were brought up to believe
not what they were brought up to believe
not what they were brought up to believe nor what their parents were brought up
nor what their parents were brought up
nor what their parents were brought up to believe but are rather their own
to believe but are rather their own
to believe but are rather their own little islands of culture they have
little islands of culture they have
little islands of culture they have their own way of thinking their own
their own way of thinking their own
their own way of thinking their own little rituals and for better or for
little rituals and for better or for
little rituals and for better or for worse their own accents
worse their own accents
worse their own accents so today I would like to be talking to
so today I would like to be talking to
so today I would like to be talking to you about three main things about the
you about three main things about the
you about three main things about the third culture kid firstly the importance
third culture kid firstly the importance
third culture kid firstly the importance of experience secondly about about why
of experience secondly about about why
of experience secondly about about why the third culture kid is so relevant in
the third culture kid is so relevant in
the third culture kid is so relevant in a dynamic and globalizing 21st century
a dynamic and globalizing 21st century
a dynamic and globalizing 21st century world and finally about how the third
world and finally about how the third
world and finally about how the third culture kid overcomes the tragedy of
culture kid overcomes the tragedy of
culture kid overcomes the tragedy of having to leave everything behind and
having to leave everything behind and
having to leave everything behind and move to another place so first and
move to another place so first and
move to another place so first and foremost I would like to ask a question
foremost I would like to ask a question
foremost I would like to ask a question for the audience to ponder not to answer
for the audience to ponder not to answer
for the audience to ponder not to answer just just a ponder um if a particular
just just a ponder um if a particular
just just a ponder um if a particular person were to have lived or to have
person were to have lived or to have
person were to have lived or to have been born in one country and have lived
been born in one country and have lived
been born in one country and have lived their entire childhoods their entire
their entire childhoods their entire
their entire childhoods their entire lives in another country which country
lives in another country which country
lives in another country which country is it that they truly belong to in other
is it that they truly belong to in other
is it that they truly belong to in other words this culture come from experience
words this culture come from experience
words this culture come from experience what does it come from ethnicity and
what does it come from ethnicity and
what does it come from ethnicity and this is a difficult question and as with
this is a difficult question and as with
this is a difficult question and as with all difficult questions what do we do
all difficult questions what do we do
all difficult questions what do we do with them we procrastinate if there’s
with them we procrastinate if there’s
with them we procrastinate if there’s one thing hashtag Ivy and promotes its
one thing hashtag Ivy and promotes its
one thing hashtag Ivy and promotes its procrastinating on difficult questions
procrastinating on difficult questions
procrastinating on difficult questions um and I’ve I’m guilty of this myself as
um and I’ve I’m guilty of this myself as
um and I’ve I’m guilty of this myself as well but I think that it’s not a
well but I think that it’s not a
well but I think that it’s not a question that can be avoided it’s an
question that can be avoided it’s an
question that can be avoided it’s an inevitable question that always lingers
inevitable question that always lingers
inevitable question that always lingers where do you belong to everybody asks
where do you belong to everybody asks
where do you belong to everybody asks are you Korean or are you Australian or
are you Korean or are you Australian or
are you Korean or are you Australian or are you Norwegian some some even ask
are you Norwegian some some even ask
are you Norwegian some some even ask when I asked armed students from
when I asked armed students from
when I asked armed students from international schools this question is
international schools this question is
international schools this question is it this culture come from ethnicity or
it this culture come from ethnicity or
it this culture come from ethnicity or experience they overwhelmingly answered
experience they overwhelmingly answered
experience they overwhelmingly answered that it was experience that defines
that it was experience that defines
that it was experience that defines who they are but by contrast when I
who they are but by contrast when I
who they are but by contrast when I asked non international school students
asked non international school students
asked non international school students the same question they suggested that it
the same question they suggested that it
the same question they suggested that it was their nationalities that defines um
was their nationalities that defines um
was their nationalities that defines um who they are so I think this is what
who they are so I think this is what
who they are so I think this is what distinguishes third culture kids from
distinguishes third culture kids from
distinguishes third culture kids from other individuals they’re somewhat more
other individuals they’re somewhat more
other individuals they’re somewhat more free from the shackles of nationality
free from the shackles of nationality
free from the shackles of nationality but a question that’s perhaps more
but a question that’s perhaps more
but a question that’s perhaps more important to you at your audiences why
important to you at your audiences why
important to you at your audiences why should you care why are third culture
should you care why are third culture
should you care why are third culture kids important and I would argue
kids important and I would argue
kids important and I would argue precisely that in an interconnected and
precisely that in an interconnected and
precisely that in an interconnected and globalizing world third culture kids are
globalizing world third culture kids are
globalizing world third culture kids are more vital than ever in all that cliche
more vital than ever in all that cliche
more vital than ever in all that cliche you hear when you hear the word
you hear when you hear the word
you hear when you hear the word globalization the Internet the social
globalization the Internet the social
globalization the Internet the social media and for you nerds out there books
media and for you nerds out there books
media and for you nerds out there books um but um I would argue precisely that
um but um I would argue precisely that
um but um I would argue precisely that by looking at Nelson Mandela’s quote
by looking at Nelson Mandela’s quote
by looking at Nelson Mandela’s quote speak to a man in his in his second
speak to a man in his in his second
speak to a man in his in his second language get to his brain speak in his
language get to his brain speak in his
language get to his brain speak in his mother tongue
mother tongue
mother tongue get to his heart I would argue precisely
get to his heart I would argue precisely
get to his heart I would argue precisely what this means is that one has to have
what this means is that one has to have
what this means is that one has to have lived in a particular area to get to the
lived in a particular area to get to the
lived in a particular area to get to the heart a man with the finest intellect
heart a man with the finest intellect
heart a man with the finest intellect who knows everything about another
who knows everything about another
who knows everything about another culture can negotiate in diplomacy and
culture can negotiate in diplomacy and
culture can negotiate in diplomacy and at times win debates but just truly get
at times win debates but just truly get
at times win debates but just truly get to the heart of somebody we really need
to the heart of somebody we really need
to the heart of somebody we really need to have somebody who’s lived their lives
to have somebody who’s lived their lives
to have somebody who’s lived their lives in a globalizing 21st century world
in a globalizing 21st century world
in a globalizing 21st century world third culture kids who have lived in one
third culture kids who have lived in one
third culture kids who have lived in one culture and have other different
culture and have other different
culture and have other different cultures that they identify with are
cultures that they identify with are
cultures that they identify with are going to be the bridges the light that
going to be the bridges the light that
going to be the bridges the light that binds guides all the cultures together
binds guides all the cultures together
binds guides all the cultures together in this globalizing world and but of
in this globalizing world and but of
in this globalizing world and but of course you the audience are probably
course you the audience are probably
course you the audience are probably thinking now oh the third culture kid is
thinking now oh the third culture kid is
thinking now oh the third culture kid is the way to live moving through different
the way to live moving through different
the way to live moving through different cultures sounds fun right right yes okay
cultures sounds fun right right yes okay
cultures sounds fun right right yes okay um but
um but
um but I would argue that it’s much more
I would argue that it’s much more
I would argue that it’s much more complicated than that and I’m drawing
complicated than that and I’m drawing
complicated than that and I’m drawing from my own experiences as well as from
from my own experiences as well as from
from my own experiences as well as from those third culture kids that I’ve
those third culture kids that I’ve
those third culture kids that I’ve spoken to there is this tragedy that one
spoken to there is this tragedy that one
spoken to there is this tragedy that one has to overcome when one moves from one
has to overcome when one moves from one
has to overcome when one moves from one country to another when one leaves
country to another when one leaves
country to another when one leaves behind everything that they’ve loved and
behind everything that they’ve loved and
behind everything that they’ve loved and known their previous schools and their
known their previous schools and their
known their previous schools and their previous lives they have to all be left
previous lives they have to all be left
previous lives they have to all be left behind I would argue that there are two
behind I would argue that there are two
behind I would argue that there are two main ways that one can deal with this
main ways that one can deal with this
main ways that one can deal with this particular tragedy one way is to have
particular tragedy one way is to have
particular tragedy one way is to have some constancy in life and what I mean
some constancy in life and what I mean
some constancy in life and what I mean by constancy is on for example for me it
by constancy is on for example for me it
by constancy is on for example for me it was in my education there needs to be
was in my education there needs to be
was in my education there needs to be something that binds you together and
something that binds you together and
something that binds you together and hold your identity together and for me
hold your identity together and for me
hold your identity together and for me this was through education the constancy
this was through education the constancy
this was through education the constancy in my education which was through 12
in my education which was through 12
in my education which was through 12 rigorous years in the International
rigorous years in the International
rigorous years in the International Baccalaureate which for those of you
Baccalaureate which for those of you
Baccalaureate which for those of you aren’t familiar is a program that’s very
aren’t familiar is a program that’s very
aren’t familiar is a program that’s very similar worldwide and run from Geneva
similar worldwide and run from Geneva
similar worldwide and run from Geneva however perhaps more importantly than
however perhaps more importantly than
however perhaps more importantly than education because education obviously
education because education obviously
education because education obviously isn’t everything
isn’t everything
isn’t everything um I would argue that it’s the moments
um I would argue that it’s the moments
um I would argue that it’s the moments in one’s life
in one’s life
in one’s life those beautiful savoring moments that
those beautiful savoring moments that
those beautiful savoring moments that truly defines a third culture kid I
truly defines a third culture kid I
truly defines a third culture kid I recall the last time I saw Australia
recall the last time I saw Australia
recall the last time I saw Australia when I waved goodbye to that sunburnt
when I waved goodbye to that sunburnt
when I waved goodbye to that sunburnt country snot the last of that salty air
country snot the last of that salty air
country snot the last of that salty air as I saw the last of trondheim Cathedral
as I saw the last of trondheim Cathedral
as I saw the last of trondheim Cathedral school as I saw heard the bells of the
school as I saw heard the bells of the
school as I saw heard the bells of the beautiful needleless Cathedral ringing
beautiful needleless Cathedral ringing
beautiful needleless Cathedral ringing for the last time dear audience I can
for the last time dear audience I can
for the last time dear audience I can talk to you all day about what being a
talk to you all day about what being a
talk to you all day about what being a third culture kid in the 21st century
third culture kid in the 21st century
third culture kid in the 21st century really means but these moments in my
really means but these moments in my
really means but these moments in my life scattered throughout the continents
life scattered throughout the continents
life scattered throughout the continents is truly what defines Who I am in a
is truly what defines Who I am in a
is truly what defines Who I am in a sense it is something that I’ve thought
sense it is something that I’ve thought
sense it is something that I’ve thought and rethought over and over again and I
and rethought over and over again and I
and rethought over and over again and I feel that these moments is savoring
feel that these moments is savoring
feel that these moments is savoring moments are the greatest moments that
moments are the greatest moments that
moments are the greatest moments that define who I am so
when you meet a third culture kid in the
when you meet a third culture kid in the meantime and I guarantee you if you’re
meantime and I guarantee you if you’re
meantime and I guarantee you if you’re watching this video you most probably
watching this video you most probably
watching this video you most probably have met a third culture kid or here’s
have met a third culture kid or here’s
have met a third culture kid or here’s one right now
one right now
one right now you can talk to um why don’t you ask
you can talk to um why don’t you ask
you can talk to um why don’t you ask them about their whole journey about
them about their whole journey about
them about their whole journey about their entire lives rather than just
their entire lives rather than just
their entire lives rather than just about where they’ve been end of
about where they’ve been end of
about where they’ve been end of conversation because that’s what really
conversation because that’s what really
conversation because that’s what really matters you see my accent now which I’ve
matters you see my accent now which I’ve
matters you see my accent now which I’ve been speaking to you for with the for
been speaking to you for with the for
been speaking to you for with the for the last 11 minutes with is not a place
the last 11 minutes with is not a place
the last 11 minutes with is not a place where I show up back anymore rather it’s
where I show up back anymore rather it’s
where I show up back anymore rather it’s a sense of pride it’s another souvenir
a sense of pride it’s another souvenir
a sense of pride it’s another souvenir that I’ve earned from this great journey
that I’ve earned from this great journey
that I’ve earned from this great journey that I have had so I’ve been speaking to
that I have had so I’ve been speaking to
that I have had so I’ve been speaking to you now for 11 minutes but why don’t you
you now for 11 minutes but why don’t you
you now for 11 minutes but why don’t you meet me later in another 11 years let’s
meet me later in another 11 years let’s
meet me later in another 11 years let’s say and listen to my accent then and
say and listen to my accent then and
say and listen to my accent then and guess my journeys path until then the IB
guess my journeys path until then the IB
guess my journeys path until then the IB has tasked me to do a lot of rigorous
has tasked me to do a lot of rigorous
has tasked me to do a lot of rigorous work so until then I will say Ally
work so until then I will say Ally
work so until then I will say Ally [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment