September 2015 it was very nice evening outside I come back from school and I
outside I come back from school and I
outside I come back from school and I sit down with my mom in the kitchen we
sit down with my mom in the kitchen we
sit down with my mom in the kitchen we talk as usual how was your school day
talk as usual how was your school day
talk as usual how was your school day she goes well it was fine
she goes well it was fine
she goes well it was fine we had a lunch meeting with the
we had a lunch meeting with the
we had a lunch meeting with the organization that is recruiting for
organization that is recruiting for
organization that is recruiting for scholars for the next year and if I
scholars for the next year and if I
scholars for the next year and if I applied and got accepted I would be able
applied and got accepted I would be able
applied and got accepted I would be able to spend a year in an American high
to spend a year in an American high
to spend a year in an American high school I unfortunately didn’t go to
school I unfortunately didn’t go to
school I unfortunately didn’t go to their meeting because they didn’t have
their meeting because they didn’t have
their meeting because they didn’t have time but if I applied that would be
time but if I applied that would be
time but if I applied that would be something wonderful what do you think
something wonderful what do you think
something wonderful what do you think about that so we both started ourselves
about that so we both started ourselves
about that so we both started ourselves for like three seconds and my mom goes
for like three seconds and my mom goes
for like three seconds and my mom goes so how many people apply every year and
so how many people apply every year and
so how many people apply every year and I go you know like 300 but four is go
I go you know like 300 but four is go
I go you know like 300 but four is go are gonna go so and she looked at me and
are gonna go so and she looked at me and
are gonna go so and she looked at me and she goes well you can try although I
she goes well you can try although I
she goes well you can try although I guess neither of us expected at that
guess neither of us expected at that
guess neither of us expected at that time that I was gonna be leaving my home
time that I was gonna be leaving my home
time that I was gonna be leaving my home very soon where are you from answering
very soon where are you from answering
very soon where are you from answering that because my answer is in your
that because my answer is in your
that because my answer is in your typical one-word response instead it
typical one-word response instead it
typical one-word response instead it goes something like this well I was born
goes something like this well I was born
goes something like this well I was born in Brazil but four years ago we moved to
in Brazil but four years ago we moved to
in Brazil but four years ago we moved to China for my dad’s job and then two
China for my dad’s job and then two
China for my dad’s job and then two years ago we moved here to America so I
years ago we moved here to America so I
years ago we moved here to America so I guess you could say right now I’m from
guess you could say right now I’m from
guess you could say right now I’m from Toledo Julien and I both defined
Toledo Julien and I both defined
Toledo Julien and I both defined ourselves as third culture kids the term
ourselves as third culture kids the term
ourselves as third culture kids the term is first used in the 50s to describe
is first used in the 50s to describe
is first used in the 50s to describe children from American families living
children from American families living
children from American families living abroad since created it has gone through
abroad since created it has gone through
abroad since created it has gone through slight changes in definition but the
slight changes in definition but the
slight changes in definition but the most popular one is from sociologist
most popular one is from sociologist
most popular one is from sociologist David Pollock a third culture kid is a
David Pollock a third culture kid is a
David Pollock a third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part
person who has spent a significant part
person who has spent a significant part of her or his developmental years
of her or his developmental years
of her or his developmental years outside their parents culture third
outside their parents culture third
outside their parents culture third culture kid builds relationship to all
culture kid builds relationship to all
culture kid builds relationship to all the cultures while not have
the cultures while not have
the cultures while not have a full ownership in any although
a full ownership in any although
a full ownership in any although elements from each culture may be
elements from each culture may be
elements from each culture may be assimilated into the D CK’s experience
assimilated into the D CK’s experience
assimilated into the D CK’s experience the sense of real belonging is in
the sense of real belonging is in
the sense of real belonging is in relationship to others with a similar
relationship to others with a similar
relationship to others with a similar culture in other words a third culture
culture in other words a third culture
culture in other words a third culture kid is someone who has moved abroad to a
kid is someone who has moved abroad to a
kid is someone who has moved abroad to a place with a different culture than
place with a different culture than
place with a different culture than their own in their early years so some
their own in their early years so some
their own in their early years so some usual group of third culture kids are
usual group of third culture kids are
usual group of third culture kids are children of military businessmen or
children of military businessmen or
children of military businessmen or diplomats and very significant group our
diplomats and very significant group our
diplomats and very significant group our study abroad students by living in a
study abroad students by living in a
study abroad students by living in a foreign country and assimilating to
foreign country and assimilating to
foreign country and assimilating to different not familiar culture these
different not familiar culture these
different not familiar culture these people end up having distant views on
people end up having distant views on
people end up having distant views on different societal aspects often share
different societal aspects often share
different societal aspects often share the same journey they start with their
the same journey they start with their
the same journey they start with their home culture this is where they’re born
home culture this is where they’re born
home culture this is where they’re born and raised and it changes from person to
and raised and it changes from person to
and raised and it changes from person to person for me it’s Brazil but for Philip
person for me it’s Brazil but for Philip
person for me it’s Brazil but for Philip it’s fallen regardless this is the place
it’s fallen regardless this is the place
it’s fallen regardless this is the place that they associate family friends and
that they associate family friends and
that they associate family friends and school by spending a significant amount
school by spending a significant amount
school by spending a significant amount of time abroad they get used to new
of time abroad they get used to new
of time abroad they get used to new norms in the new place when I first came
norms in the new place when I first came
norms in the new place when I first came to the United States in August last year
to the United States in August last year
to the United States in August last year the process of adjustment took me a
the process of adjustment took me a
the process of adjustment took me a couple of months I would say until
couple of months I would say until
couple of months I would say until Thanksgiving celebration but although I
Thanksgiving celebration but although I
Thanksgiving celebration but although I spoke English fluently at that time I
spoke English fluently at that time I
spoke English fluently at that time I still had to learn how American society
still had to learn how American society
still had to learn how American society worked and it is not a type of knowledge
worked and it is not a type of knowledge
worked and it is not a type of knowledge that any English boot can provide and
that any English boot can provide and
that any English boot can provide and this is their own they adopt some habits
this is their own they adopt some habits
this is their own they adopt some habits from their home culture others from
from their home culture others from
from their home culture others from their host they’re a little bit of both
their host they’re a little bit of both
their host they’re a little bit of both but at the same time not 100% either and
but at the same time not 100% either and
but at the same time not 100% either and they may feel similar to kids going
they may feel similar to kids going
they may feel similar to kids going through the same experience rather than
through the same experience rather than
through the same experience rather than from a single place in other words being
from a single place in other words being
from a single place in other words being a third culture kid means being
a third culture kid means being
a third culture kid means being different than others advantages of
different than others advantages of
different than others advantages of having that experience range from social
having that experience range from social
having that experience range from social cultural to language areas having an
cultural to language areas having an
cultural to language areas having an expanded worldview is one of the most
expanded worldview is one of the most
expanded worldview is one of the most significant advantages the world is
significant advantages the world is
significant advantages the world is split up in many ways there’s different
split up in many ways there’s different
split up in many ways there’s different significant dates historical figures and
significant dates historical figures and
significant dates historical figures and even habits by having a first-hand
even habits by having a first-hand
even habits by having a first-hand experience of these third culture kids
experience of these third culture kids
experience of these third culture kids have an easier time understanding how
have an easier time understanding how
have an easier time understanding how perspectives can vary from culture to
perspectives can vary from culture to
perspectives can vary from culture to culture
culture
culture this also makes third culture kids
this also makes third culture kids
this also makes third culture kids experience a cross cultural enrichment
experience a cross cultural enrichment
experience a cross cultural enrichment to them home isn’t just found in their
to them home isn’t just found in their
to them home isn’t just found in their passport cultures instead they
passport cultures instead they
passport cultures instead they assimilate different aspects of
assimilate different aspects of
assimilate different aspects of different cultures and such like food
different cultures and such like food
different cultures and such like food music or traditions as somehow a part of
music or traditions as somehow a part of
music or traditions as somehow a part of their home they also tend to be more
their home they also tend to be more
their home they also tend to be more tolerant of cultural differences a lot
tolerant of cultural differences a lot
tolerant of cultural differences a lot of times third culture kids are forced
of times third culture kids are forced
of times third culture kids are forced to deal with the extreme situations and
to deal with the extreme situations and
to deal with the extreme situations and they’re completely different and
they’re completely different and
they’re completely different and familiar circumstances it may be for
familiar circumstances it may be for
familiar circumstances it may be for example getting a new job or switching
example getting a new job or switching
example getting a new job or switching this school or even moving from one part
this school or even moving from one part
this school or even moving from one part of the world to another again people
of the world to another again people
of the world to another again people that have already lived that their
that have already lived that their
that have already lived that their culture kids life experience are very
culture kids life experience are very
culture kids life experience are very flexible and it is just easier for them
flexible and it is just easier for them
flexible and it is just easier for them to get assimilated and the new
to get assimilated and the new
to get assimilated and the new surroundings and just settle down and
surroundings and just settle down and
surroundings and just settle down and start a new life third culture kids
start a new life third culture kids
start a new life third culture kids adapt in general easily but they can
adapt in general easily but they can
adapt in general easily but they can also easily leave their reality behind
also easily leave their reality behind
also easily leave their reality behind there are also some skills that although
there are also some skills that although
there are also some skills that although not unique to TC phase are fairly common
not unique to TC phase are fairly common
not unique to TC phase are fairly common in the group one of them is being
in the group one of them is being
in the group one of them is being multilingual moving to a different
multilingual moving to a different
multilingual moving to a different country can push them into learning a
country can push them into learning a
country can push them into learning a new language so that they have an easier
new language so that they have an easier
new language so that they have an easier time adapting to a different place also
time adapting to a different place also
time adapting to a different place also in term of socials and interpersonal
in term of socials and interpersonal
in term of socials and interpersonal skills they also tend to be more
skills they also tend to be more
skills they also tend to be more independent and ready for new
independent and ready for new
independent and ready for new experiences however even there are three
experiences however even there are three
experiences however even there are three things that come out of this there are
things that come out of this there are
things that come out of this there are also many challenges perhaps the
also many challenges perhaps the
also many challenges perhaps the greatest one is in answering where is
greatest one is in answering where is
greatest one is in answering where is home home is where you belong but to a
home home is where you belong but to a
home home is where you belong but to a TCK finding an exact location
TCK finding an exact location
TCK finding an exact location isn’t always that easy they may have
isn’t always that easy they may have
isn’t always that easy they may have lived in many countries their families
lived in many countries their families
lived in many countries their families may be spread among all over the places
may be spread among all over the places
may be spread among all over the places but is the home or they are now or is it
but is the home or they are now or is it
but is the home or they are now or is it where they were born and finding the
where they were born and finding the
where they were born and finding the answer for that question it’s not that
answer for that question it’s not that
answer for that question it’s not that easy
easy
easy they may also experience challenges with
they may also experience challenges with
they may also experience challenges with identity they mean there are other
identity they mean there are other
identity they mean there are other people’s behavior in an attempt to fit
people’s behavior in an attempt to fit
people’s behavior in an attempt to fit in and that results in having a harder
in and that results in having a harder
in and that results in having a harder time figuring out their own
time figuring out their own
time figuring out their own personalities a third culture kid may
personalities a third culture kid may
personalities a third culture kid may have difficulties in deciding who they
have difficulties in deciding who they
have difficulties in deciding who they are and who they want to be especially
are and who they want to be especially
are and who they want to be especially when they move from one group of friends
when they move from one group of friends
when they move from one group of friends to another but even though it is very
to another but even though it is very
to another but even though it is very challenging experience I would say it’s
challenging experience I would say it’s
challenging experience I would say it’s lifelong and incredible it is also
lifelong and incredible it is also
lifelong and incredible it is also dependent on a person and their personal
dependent on a person and their personal
dependent on a person and their personal skills and my friends in China and in my
skills and my friends in China and in my
skills and my friends in China and in my friends here in America for me I have
friends here in America for me I have
friends here in America for me I have learned that I can carry a little piece
learned that I can carry a little piece
learned that I can carry a little piece of my polish home in my heart and I can
of my polish home in my heart and I can
of my polish home in my heart and I can share it with people all over the places
”
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