depending on my mood and on who is asking I’ll have different answers to
asking I’ll have different answers to
asking I’ll have different answers to the question where are you from if I’m
the question where are you from if I’m
the question where are you from if I’m short for time I might just answer
short for time I might just answer
short for time I might just answer Finland and Senegal but more often than
Finland and Senegal but more often than
Finland and Senegal but more often than not I feel like that answer is met with
not I feel like that answer is met with
not I feel like that answer is met with confusion they might say where are you
confusion they might say where are you
confusion they might say where are you really from or aren’t Finnish people
really from or aren’t Finnish people
really from or aren’t Finnish people meant to be blond with blue eyes well
meant to be blond with blue eyes well
meant to be blond with blue eyes well clearly not I’ll respond I am what some
clearly not I’ll respond I am what some
clearly not I’ll respond I am what some people call a third culture kid a TCK
people call a third culture kid a TCK
people call a third culture kid a TCK and third culture kids are people who
and third culture kids are people who
and third culture kids are people who have grown up the majority of their
have grown up the majority of their
have grown up the majority of their lives in a culture other than their own
lives in a culture other than their own
lives in a culture other than their own and they tend to mix and merge their
and they tend to mix and merge their
and they tend to mix and merge their birth culture with their adopted culture
birth culture with their adopted culture
birth culture with their adopted culture to create one of their own in my case I
to create one of their own in my case I
to create one of their own in my case I was born in one country moved to another
was born in one country moved to another
was born in one country moved to another and I’ve cherry-picked aspects from each
and I’ve cherry-picked aspects from each
and I’ve cherry-picked aspects from each to create my own culture but what is
to create my own culture but what is
to create my own culture but what is culture culture is described as a
culture culture is described as a
culture culture is described as a combination of the way we act how we
combination of the way we act how we
combination of the way we act how we speak how we dress and what we eat
speak how we dress and what we eat
speak how we dress and what we eat culture is passed down through
culture is passed down through
culture is passed down through generations and it’s form through our
generations and it’s form through our
generations and it’s form through our peers culture doesn’t come to us
peers culture doesn’t come to us
peers culture doesn’t come to us instinctively it’s a it’s an
instinctively it’s a it’s an
instinctively it’s a it’s an amalgamation of patterns of behaviors
amalgamation of patterns of behaviors
amalgamation of patterns of behaviors beliefs and values but what happens when
beliefs and values but what happens when
beliefs and values but what happens when the lines of culture are blurred my
the lines of culture are blurred my
the lines of culture are blurred my story goes like this
story goes like this
story goes like this my mother is finished my father is
my mother is finished my father is
my mother is finished my father is Senegalese I grew up in Finland
Senegalese I grew up in Finland
Senegalese I grew up in Finland Luxembourg Belgium and I now live in
Luxembourg Belgium and I now live in
Luxembourg Belgium and I now live in London but I don’t feel very finnish
London but I don’t feel very finnish
London but I don’t feel very finnish Luxembourgish Belgian British nor do I
Luxembourgish Belgian British nor do I
Luxembourgish Belgian British nor do I feel very Senegalese but I carry each of
feel very Senegalese but I carry each of
feel very Senegalese but I carry each of those countries with me and they all
those countries with me and they all
those countries with me and they all created me but whenever I feel like I
created me but whenever I feel like I
created me but whenever I feel like I need to explain or prove my origins to
need to explain or prove my origins to
need to explain or prove my origins to people I find myself skewing parts of my
people I find myself skewing parts of my
people I find myself skewing parts of my identity and omitting parts of me to
identity and omitting parts of me to
identity and omitting parts of me to make myself seem more palatable more
make myself seem more palatable more
make myself seem more palatable more easily digestible more understandable
easily digestible more understandable
easily digestible more understandable others I don’t do it to seem
others I don’t do it to seem
others I don’t do it to seem disingenuous I just don’t want to stand
disingenuous I just don’t want to stand
disingenuous I just don’t want to stand out or come across as aloof so sometimes
out or come across as aloof so sometimes
out or come across as aloof so sometimes the simple answer of we moved around a
the simple answer of we moved around a
the simple answer of we moved around a lot when I was a kid is all I can manage
lot when I was a kid is all I can manage
lot when I was a kid is all I can manage but instead of asking where are you from
but instead of asking where are you from
but instead of asking where are you from I much prefer the question where do you
I much prefer the question where do you
I much prefer the question where do you feel most at home I think that’s the
feel most at home I think that’s the
feel most at home I think that’s the question that’s able to peek into a
question that’s able to peek into a
question that’s able to peek into a person’s deepest core and is able to let
person’s deepest core and is able to let
person’s deepest core and is able to let them choose for themselves how they
them choose for themselves how they
them choose for themselves how they define their their sense of belonging
define their their sense of belonging
define their their sense of belonging and it leaves leaves a lot less room for
and it leaves leaves a lot less room for
and it leaves leaves a lot less room for interpretation by others home is an
interpretation by others home is an
interpretation by others home is an emotional place and home to me is where
emotional place and home to me is where
emotional place and home to me is where I feel comfortable walking around
I feel comfortable walking around
I feel comfortable walking around it’s where the man in my corner shop
it’s where the man in my corner shop
it’s where the man in my corner shop laughs in my daily purchase of
laughs in my daily purchase of
laughs in my daily purchase of pomegranates and cat litter it’s where I
pomegranates and cat litter it’s where I
pomegranates and cat litter it’s where I can call my friends in the middle of the
can call my friends in the middle of the
can call my friends in the middle of the day to go for a quick coffee
day to go for a quick coffee
day to go for a quick coffee tazer lassie stated that home can
tazer lassie stated that home can
tazer lassie stated that home can represent where we worked grew up or
represent where we worked grew up or
represent where we worked grew up or live and she calls herself a multi local
live and she calls herself a multi local
live and she calls herself a multi local and she rejects the the concept of
and she rejects the the concept of
and she rejects the the concept of coming from just one country because she
coming from just one country because she
coming from just one country because she believes that countries and borders are
believes that countries and borders are
believes that countries and borders are just artificial concepts I often feel as
just artificial concepts I often feel as
just artificial concepts I often feel as though I’m wearing different masks I
though I’m wearing different masks I
though I’m wearing different masks I highlight parts of my identity depending
highlight parts of my identity depending
highlight parts of my identity depending on what the situation is for example if
on what the situation is for example if
on what the situation is for example if I forget an English word I might say
I forget an English word I might say
I forget an English word I might say well I’m forgetting English it’s my
well I’m forgetting English it’s my
well I’m forgetting English it’s my third language it’s not my fault but if
third language it’s not my fault but if
third language it’s not my fault but if I forget a Finnish word I’ll say well
I forget a Finnish word I’ll say well
I forget a Finnish word I’ll say well even if it’s my mother tongue I’ve not
even if it’s my mother tongue I’ve not
even if it’s my mother tongue I’ve not lived in the country for two decades so
lived in the country for two decades so
lived in the country for two decades so it’s not my fault but I have a dilemma
it’s not my fault but I have a dilemma
it’s not my fault but I have a dilemma where do I belong Who am I really
where do I belong Who am I really
where do I belong Who am I really and which of these masks is the true me
and which of these masks is the true me
and which of these masks is the true me I don’t again feel that this is
I don’t again feel that this is
I don’t again feel that this is purposefully to skew my identity but
purposefully to skew my identity but
purposefully to skew my identity but it’s just to represent me as a whole as
it’s just to represent me as a whole as
it’s just to represent me as a whole as we’re all products of our environment
we’re all products of our environment
we’re all products of our environment I must give credit to the incredibly
I must give credit to the incredibly
I must give credit to the incredibly multicultural environment that I grew up
multicultural environment that I grew up
multicultural environment that I grew up in in Brussels where I went to an
in in Brussels where I went to an
in in Brussels where I went to an international school my friends came
international school my friends came
international school my friends came from several different countries and we
from several different countries and we
from several different countries and we all spoke several different languages
all spoke several different languages
all spoke several different languages fluently we were all poster children for
fluently we were all poster children for
fluently we were all poster children for European integration and it seemed that
European integration and it seemed that
European integration and it seemed that the more diverse we were as a group the
the more diverse we were as a group the
the more diverse we were as a group the less importance nationality seemed to
less importance nationality seemed to
less importance nationality seemed to have and the more we would focus on what
have and the more we would focus on what
have and the more we would focus on what we shared and the less we would focus on
we shared and the less we would focus on
we shared and the less we would focus on what made us different but to me the
what made us different but to me the
what made us different but to me the idea of home is also a mythical place in
idea of home is also a mythical place in
idea of home is also a mythical place in my mind one that I’ve never truly known
my mind one that I’ve never truly known
my mind one that I’ve never truly known it’s a place where I can walk the
it’s a place where I can walk the
it’s a place where I can walk the streets of the city I was born in
streets of the city I was born in
streets of the city I was born in without a map it’s a place where the
without a map it’s a place where the
without a map it’s a place where the kids I went to nursery with are still my
kids I went to nursery with are still my
kids I went to nursery with are still my friends or a place where the home I was
friends or a place where the home I was
friends or a place where the home I was born in and has door frames covering my
born in and has door frames covering my
born in and has door frames covering my growth spurts and sometimes I get sad
growth spurts and sometimes I get sad
growth spurts and sometimes I get sad thinking that I never got to experience
thinking that I never got to experience
thinking that I never got to experience that but on the other hand I’m also
that but on the other hand I’m also
that but on the other hand I’m also grateful because I know that I wouldn’t
grateful because I know that I wouldn’t
grateful because I know that I wouldn’t be Who I am today had I not moved around
be Who I am today had I not moved around
be Who I am today had I not moved around as a kid many tcks described feeling
as a kid many tcks described feeling
as a kid many tcks described feeling ruthless but the sense of rootlessness
ruthless but the sense of rootlessness
ruthless but the sense of rootlessness also brings with it a certain kind of
also brings with it a certain kind of
also brings with it a certain kind of freedom it gives you a sense that
freedom it gives you a sense that
freedom it gives you a sense that everything can be just as temporary or
everything can be just as temporary or
everything can be just as temporary or just as permanent as you want it to be
just as permanent as you want it to be
just as permanent as you want it to be when I was deciding on where to move to
when I was deciding on where to move to
when I was deciding on where to move to study I remember at one point looking at
study I remember at one point looking at
study I remember at one point looking at a map and thinking I can move anywhere
a map and thinking I can move anywhere
a map and thinking I can move anywhere in the world so how on earth do I choose
in the world so how on earth do I choose
in the world so how on earth do I choose where to go but a lot of the time I also
where to go but a lot of the time I also
where to go but a lot of the time I also feel like I don’t quite fit in any box
feel like I don’t quite fit in any box
feel like I don’t quite fit in any box sometimes literally I went to the doctor
sometimes literally I went to the doctor
sometimes literally I went to the doctor once and had to fill in a survey and
once and had to fill in a survey and
once and had to fill in a survey and under the race and ethnicity box I found
under the race and ethnicity box I found
under the race and ethnicity box I found that my usual box which is mixed white
that my usual box which is mixed white
that my usual box which is mixed white with black African was missing and I
with black African was missing and I
with black African was missing and I told the nurse my box is missing and she
told the nurse my box is missing and she
told the nurse my box is missing and she turned around looked at me and just said
turned around looked at me and just said
turned around looked at me and just said just tick the afro-caribbean box perhaps
just tick the afro-caribbean box perhaps
just tick the afro-caribbean box perhaps I was reading far too much into the
I was reading far too much into the
I was reading far too much into the symbolism of the whole situation but I’d
symbolism of the whole situation but I’d
symbolism of the whole situation but I’d never felt more concretely before that
never felt more concretely before that
never felt more concretely before that there was no box for me I believe that
there was no box for me I believe that
there was no box for me I believe that tcks are unique people who are able to
tcks are unique people who are able to
tcks are unique people who are able to adapt and become part of multiple
adapt and become part of multiple
adapt and become part of multiple cultures I returned back to the masks
cultures I returned back to the masks
cultures I returned back to the masks that we wear they’re not to come across
that we wear they’re not to come across
that we wear they’re not to come across as disingenuous but they represent a
as disingenuous but they represent a
as disingenuous but they represent a storyboard of all that we are and it
storyboard of all that we are and it
storyboard of all that we are and it represents our multifaceted identities
represents our multifaceted identities
represents our multifaceted identities but as a TCK I’m also aware of the many
but as a TCK I’m also aware of the many
but as a TCK I’m also aware of the many privileges I have I’ve had opportunities
privileges I have I’ve had opportunities
privileges I have I’ve had opportunities handed to me I’ve had the privilege of
handed to me I’ve had the privilege of
handed to me I’ve had the privilege of speaking several languages fluently I
speaking several languages fluently I
speaking several languages fluently I also have a decreased sense of space
also have a decreased sense of space
also have a decreased sense of space financial constraints aside I feel like
financial constraints aside I feel like
financial constraints aside I feel like I can hop on a plane to anywhere in the
I can hop on a plane to anywhere in the
I can hop on a plane to anywhere in the world and have the confidence to explore
world and have the confidence to explore
world and have the confidence to explore the world and I think it’s important to
the world and I think it’s important to
the world and I think it’s important to note that a lot of people in this world
note that a lot of people in this world
note that a lot of people in this world do not have the same opportunities so as
do not have the same opportunities so as
do not have the same opportunities so as tcks I think we must be mindful of our
tcks I think we must be mindful of our
tcks I think we must be mindful of our privilege I’d also like to point out
privilege I’d also like to point out
privilege I’d also like to point out that I’m in no way unique having spoken
that I’m in no way unique having spoken
that I’m in no way unique having spoken to many other tcks I know that I’m not
to many other tcks I know that I’m not
to many other tcks I know that I’m not alone with my feelings and with growing
alone with my feelings and with growing
alone with my feelings and with growing numbers of global migration I’m sure
numbers of global migration I’m sure
numbers of global migration I’m sure that hybrid identities will be
that hybrid identities will be
that hybrid identities will be commonplace in the future so do I think
commonplace in the future so do I think
commonplace in the future so do I think I’ll ever move back to Finland or one
I’ll ever move back to Finland or one
I’ll ever move back to Finland or one day live in Senegal it’s impossible for
day live in Senegal it’s impossible for
day live in Senegal it’s impossible for me to say but I don’t think so for me
me to say but I don’t think so for me
me to say but I don’t think so for me it’s easier to feel like a foreigner in
it’s easier to feel like a foreigner in
it’s easier to feel like a foreigner in a foreign country than to feel like a
a foreign country than to feel like a
a foreign country than to feel like a foreigner in a country I’m supposed to
foreigner in a country I’m supposed to
foreigner in a country I’m supposed to call my own I think finding my own place
call my own I think finding my own place
call my own I think finding my own place in this world will be a lifelong journey
in this world will be a lifelong journey
in this world will be a lifelong journey but for now I’m exactly where I need to
but for now I’m exactly where I need to
but for now I’m exactly where I need to be I am black I am finished
be I am black I am finished
be I am black I am finished I’m Senegalese I’m a Londoner
I’m Senegalese I’m a Londoner
I’m Senegalese I’m a Londoner and expression was I’m a partner
and expression was I’m a partner
and expression was I’m a partner daughter a sister and an auntie and
daughter a sister and an auntie and
daughter a sister and an auntie and those are just some of the many masks I
those are just some of the many masks I
those are just some of the many masks I wear and they all represent different
wear and they all represent different
wear and they all represent different aspects of me but they all make up me as
aspects of me but they all make up me as
aspects of me but they all make up me as cliched as it may sound I genuinely feel
cliched as it may sound I genuinely feel
cliched as it may sound I genuinely feel like the world is my oyster and the
like the world is my oyster and the
like the world is my oyster and the options for the kind of life I want to
options for the kind of life I want to
options for the kind of life I want to carve out for my family are limitless
carve out for my family are limitless
carve out for my family are limitless and I woke with brexit and the current
and I woke with brexit and the current
and I woke with brexit and the current political climate in the world that
political climate in the world that
political climate in the world that young people will still be able to
young people will still be able to
young people will still be able to thrive and continue to explore the world
thrive and continue to explore the world
thrive and continue to explore the world and I hope that borders will remain
and I hope that borders will remain
and I hope that borders will remain irrelevant war less near imaginary
irrelevant war less near imaginary
irrelevant war less near imaginary concepts and I genuinely believe that
concepts and I genuinely believe that
concepts and I genuinely believe that exploring the world and living among
exploring the world and living among
exploring the world and living among different cultures enriches your life
different cultures enriches your life
different cultures enriches your life and I would very much encourage everyone
and I would very much encourage everyone
and I would very much encourage everyone to do the same if you can
to do the same if you can
”
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