tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20830604140788721152024-03-27T07:38:27.838+01:00DrieCulturenAll about kids growing up in other cultures. Third culture kids. Expat kids. Refugee kids. Immigrant kids.DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-75193397680372616292019-05-31T16:36:00.001+02:002019-05-31T16:36:56.391+02:00Happy Again: The Power of Expressing Your Deep Emotions<span style="font-family: inherit;">While listening to the <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/happy_again_the_power_of_expressing_your_deepest_emotions_encore" target="_blank">podcast called "Happy Again: </a>The power of expressing your deep emotions" I thought I have to share this on my blog. It has been too quiet on my blog lately. The podcast is produced by the <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank">Greater Good Science Center</a> at UC Berkeley. Each week they challenge someone to try a research based practice. This time Sulyman Qardash is challenged to write about his emotions. He is the lead singer in Kabul Dreams, which is the first rock band from Afghanistan. Sulyman was 17 years old when he moved back to Kabul, Afghanistan and started the band. He was a refugee in Uzbekistan before moving back. He grew up as a cross culture kid. His music talks about growing up in Afghanistan. Displacement. The life of a refugee. The current political climate.</span><br />
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In the research based practice Sulyman is challenged to write about his deep emotions. He writes about loss. Listen to the podcast to hear all about it. Sulyman tells about growing up in different places. <i>"<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My mom always used to say that, don’t don’t get too attached to things because you know that—because she had to be very upfront about that—yeah, you know that we’re gonna leave. That’s something that I was like okay, nothing is permanent for me." </span></span></i><br />
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As you know I grew up abroad and moving and loss is something you have to deal with. I noticed similar themes. Growing up in Africa nothing seemed to be permanent for me either.<br />
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You can try the <a href="https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/expressive_writing" target="_blank">expressive writing challenge</a>. I've done it and it has helped me. It is a simple and effective way to work through an emotional challenge. I would love to hear your thoughts on the expressive writing challenge or about the podcast.DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-67533822624697427332018-11-29T12:50:00.002+01:002019-05-31T16:44:00.501+02:00Shaping Identity between Cultures: A Documentary ConcertOn the 1st and 2nd of december 2018 there was an exciting <b>Documentary Concert</b> called <b><a href="https://www.debalie.nl/agenda/podium/wings-%26-roots/e_9783655/p_11772788/" target="_blank">Wings & Roots </a>it </b>took place at <a href="https://www.debalie.nl/home/" target="_blank">De Balie in Amsterdam</a>. In this documentary-concert Andrea Voets and the musicians explored the hidden implications of existing-between-worlds on life and identity.<br />
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On Saturday the 15th of June 2019 at 9pm a film of the concert will be shown in Leiden at the <a href="https://vrijplaatsleiden.nl/agenda/wings-roots-shaping-identity-between-cultures/" target="_blank">Vrijplaats.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.resonate-productions.com/ArtisticDirector.html" target="_blank">Andrea Voets</a> is a harpist and a musical journalist. She has brought together a group of third culture musicians. The four musicians carry 12 countries within them. They are guided by the transcultural psychiatrist Glenn Helberg. The questions they hope to answer is:<br />
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"How can you find a sense of self when you always relate but never belong?"<br />
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"How can you piece it all together?"<br />
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After both concerts there will be room for discussion.<br />
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In 2016 Andrea Voets made the documentary-concert <a href="http://www.resonate-productions.com/XENITIA.html" target="_blank">Xenitia</a> on migration. It contained the testimonies of 18 Greek migrants. The show went on tour in Europe.<br />
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I have been wondering about the above questions. They are one of the reasons this blog exists. Personally I had never heard of musical journalism but I am open to discover more about it. I read that <a href="http://www.resonate-productions.com/Musical%20Journalism.html" target="_blank">musical journalism</a> is a voice beyond words, that sounds very interesting!<br />
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<b>Related topics:</b><br />
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- <a href="https://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2018/10/what-do-you-say-to-your-third-culture.html" target="_blank">What do you say to your third culture kids?</a><br />
- <a href="https://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2013/02/interview-with-graphic-design-student.html" target="_blank">Interview with Jessica Wen on her third culture kid identity books</a><br />
- <a href="https://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2012/03/neither-here-nor-therewhere-do-i-belong.html" target="_blank">Neither here nor there - where do I belong?</a><br />
- <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2011/10/cultural-identity-confusion-and-twitter.html" target="_blank">Cultural Identity Confusion and Third Culture Kids</a>DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-30212522327261372522018-10-07T13:29:00.001+02:002018-10-07T13:29:40.855+02:00What do you say to your Third Culture Kids?<span style="color: #444444;">A while ago I read a piece written by </span><a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Pieh Jones</a><span style="color: #444444;"> and I just knew that I wanted to share it with you. Rachel lives in Djibouti and has raised her children there. I really like the very honest article she wrote: </span><a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/03/1-things-i-want-to-tell-my-third-culture-kids/" target="_blank">15 things I want to tell my third culture kids</a><span style="color: #444444;">. At the time her children were about to leave to boarding school, they have now left to university.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">The quotes that struck me were "<i>I cry for the choices we've made. And then I defend them with passion</i>". </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">The other quote that impressed me was: "<i>I am sorry for the things life has taken from you. The names of all the friends you have said good-bye to are branded in my mind</i>". </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFIeAkYif-SfSdSF0QtHnMLdeioZo_gCYr_4bidlVwnQ2PuslqCKQvBxsBI8dLfJOI4imfooDgRKZ085J_3LXJsVwhEKAG6opPBhe9ktLVkO0r_O8YLPGUqyWClZ_BicrzQK1j9YSvjao/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFIeAkYif-SfSdSF0QtHnMLdeioZo_gCYr_4bidlVwnQ2PuslqCKQvBxsBI8dLfJOI4imfooDgRKZ085J_3LXJsVwhEKAG6opPBhe9ktLVkO0r_O8YLPGUqyWClZ_BicrzQK1j9YSvjao/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Rachel realizes that she knows what it is like to parent TCKs but she has no idea what it is like to grow up abroad. As you probably know, I grew up abroad and I love the way Rachel tries to understand what it is like for her children and for other kids. A few years ago she hosted a whole guest post series on her blog on third culture kids. She has now made a compilation of these essays, updated the information, added interviews and practical tips and has made it into an ebook.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Home-Third-Culture-World-ebook/dp/B07CLB85ZZ" target="_blank">Finding Home</a>. I was privileged to contribute to the series too. I wrote on transitioning globally to university. Many different authors contributed to the ebook: <a href="http://www.crossculturalkid.org/" target="_blank">Ruth van Reken</a>, <a href="https://communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com/" target="_blank">Marilyn Gardner</a>, <a href="https://www.theblackexpat.com/author/mbassey/" target="_blank">Mary Bassey</a>, <a href="https://raisingtcks.com/" target="_blank">Ma Donna Maurer</a>, <a href="https://expatpartnersurvival.com/" target="_blank">Clara Wiggins</a> and <a href="http://www.utesinternationallounge.com/" target="_blank">Ute Limacher</a> just to name a few.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">One of the 5 star reviews said:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">"This collection of essays was both relatable and eye opening. As a third culture kid, there was a lot for me to learn and think about after reading each essay. Highly recommended if you want to better understand people who don’t belong in one culture, or if you don’t!"</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;">I would really like to hear what you could say to your third culture kids. One of the things my parents said was that we should dare to be different. Well growing up in Africa I was different, with my blue eyes and blond hair. I actually found it difficult when I was the same as all the other children. I was </span>twelve years old and as a family we spent a couple of months in The Netherlands. I went to form one, but it was a shock to discover that there were three other girls in my class with the same name as I have. I was used to "Janneke" being a really special name, often people had difficulty pronouncing my name. But in the Netherlands "Janneke" is a very common name, especially at that time. There is even a book named <a href="https://www.bol.com/nl/p/jip-en-janneke-two-kids-from-holland/1001004006287863/" target="_blank">Jip and Janneke, Two Kids From Holland.</a> So at the time I had to adjust to the fact that my name was not special at all and even though I looked like the other Dutch girls I was actually different due to growing up in Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">What do you say to your third culture kids? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><b>Related posts:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-10-tips-to-help-you-prepare-your.html" target="_blank">My 10 Tips to Prepare your child for an International Move</a></span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.loisbushong.com/posts/2017/12/2/international-parenting-5-things-you-need-to-know-when-moving-kids-abroad" target="_blank">5 Things you Need to Know When Moving Kids Abroad by Lois Bushing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.com/2012/06/guest-blog-grandparenting-over-seas-by.html" target="_blank">Grandparenting over the Seas by Libby Stephens</a></li>
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PS. Have you heard that the next <a href="https://www.figt.org/2019_Conference" target="_blank">Families in Global Transition Conference in 2019</a> will take place in Thailand? From April 26 - 28.</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-18582734818482883052018-01-06T15:07:00.001+01:002018-01-06T15:07:22.486+01:00Happy New Year and there is still time to register for early bird rate for Families in Global Transition Conference 2018<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-Wz356BKH0c99jUkAIrHru0bcY6atC2FLWsLZW0U1-bv3yqj1kECdqAMa3mPiCpT1nd4bSf2agXptT47cHKyBjt9wNQut5no4V5a1B3znCtpMo-xHAolE-_5jcNaV2FlhXh8qHYDotni/s1600/image-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-Wz356BKH0c99jUkAIrHru0bcY6atC2FLWsLZW0U1-bv3yqj1kECdqAMa3mPiCpT1nd4bSf2agXptT47cHKyBjt9wNQut5no4V5a1B3znCtpMo-xHAolE-_5jcNaV2FlhXh8qHYDotni/s200/image-2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I want to wish you all a happy new year! I have some dreams that I hope will come true in 2018 and I hope you have dreams too for this year. Today is Epiphany, Three Kings' Day. I was in Gent, Belgium this week and discovered Three Kings' cake in a bakery. I had never seen it before. Apparently there are quite a few countries where they have the tradition of Three Kings' Cake. In French it is called galette des rois. If you want to know more, then here are <a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/about-king-cake-1329119" target="_blank">5 facts about Kings' Cake.</a> I really like discovering new things! See the image for the cake I discovered.<br />
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This year the <a href="http://www.figt.org/2018_Conference" target="_blank">Families in Global Transition Conference</a> will take place in the Hague, the Netherlands again from 8-10 March 2018. It is still possible to register for the <a href="http://www.figt.org/event-2693671" target="_blank">early bird rate,</a> you have <b>until the 15th of January 2018! </b>The theme of the conference is: Diverse Voices, celebrating the past, present, and future of globally mobile lives. An adult third culture kid recently asked me if the conference was suitable for adult third culture kids living in their passport cultures, well I would say it is. What I noticed is that <b>everyone at the conference has a unique story,</b> just like I have and you have, and there is room for each story to be told. There are many expats, third culture kids, organizations involved with expats and their children at the conference. At this moment in time there are registrations from more than 31 countries, so it is a truly international conference. If you live in the Netherlands then it is your chance to join the conference. The venue of the next conference will probably be is Asia. Will we see you at the conference?<br />
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No idea what to expect? Lucille, an expat mum and storyteller <a href="http://www.expitterpattica.com/2017/04/02/families-global-transition-conference-2017/" target="_blank">shares her experience of attending the FIGT conference in 2017.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.figt.org/blog/4768235" target="_blank">Amy Clare Tasker shares her experiences of giving a workshop at FIGT 2017.</a> The funny thing is that those are my words "Home is where the radishes grow" and I am the blond person on the floor depicting "Home is where the radishes grow".<br />
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More news:<br />
<a href="http://www.figt.org/member-pr/5261243" target="_blank">New edition of Third Culture Kids Growing up Among Worlds available (Third Edition 2017)</a><br />
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By the way have you ever eaten a Three Kings' cake? Is it a tradition you celebrate? Can you tell us more about the tradition?DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-38150074469439295062017-08-02T09:46:00.000+02:002017-08-02T09:46:14.784+02:00Where are the male expat or third culture kid voices?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I heard that the <b><a href="http://www.figt.org/2018_Conference" target="_blank">Families in Global Transition conference in 2018</a> </b>will be held in the Netherlands again. This is good news because if it is so near to home there is more chance that I will be able to attend. At the 2017 conference we heard that the next conference would be in Asia, which meant attending would be more of a challenge for me. The FIGT conference will be held in <b>the Hague, the Netherlands</b> from the <b>8th to the 10th of March 2018,</b> mark your calenders and maybe we can meet up there. It will be the 20th anniversary next year so it promises to be a great conference. The theme of the conference is <strong style="color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-center;">Diverse voices celebrating the past, present, and future of globally mobile lives. </strong><span style="color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-center;">If you want to <a href="http://www.figt.org/2018_RFP" target="_blank">submit a proposal </a>it is due before 15th september 2017. First time conference attendees can apply for a <a href="http://www.figt.org/2018_ScholarshipApp" target="_blank">Pollock Scholarship, check this link</a> for more information.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">On the FIGT website I saw this: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><i>The guiding question when considering the applications is, </i><i>"W</i><i>ho is missing at the FIGT table?" They are looking for a diverse field of applicants from each of our traditional sectors, (including corporate, diplomatic, academic, military, mission, arts and entrepreneurial)</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> plus voices not well represented</b><i>, such as those involved in immigration and refugee work, </i></span><b style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">an increase in male voices,</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;"> and participants from all parts of the globe.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I noticed that the FIGT </span>organizers want an increase voices not well represented including an increase in male voices. While searching the internet this week I noticed two stories both by (adult) third culture kid males so I do want to share these stories. The first story is by Chris Aslan. Chris was born in Turkey, lived in Lebanon and returned to the UK for schooling. He later lived in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. His whole story <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/both-and-neither-exploring-my-third-culture-kid-identity/" target="_blank">"Both and Neither: Exploring my Third Culture Kid Identity" can be read here.</a> He writes about feeling in between cultures and not really belonging to either. I like his conclusion. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There have been times when I’ve felt a stranger in both cultures, but gradually I’ve learnt to feel at home in both. I’ve discovered that I’m a pretty good bridge that others can use to walk along to have their horizons broadened and to meet people they might not otherwise have met. I’m letting my character and values to be shaped by the best of both cultures. It’s not always as comfortable as being one thing or another, but embracing the concept of ‘both’ is really good, and that’s better than being comfortable."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marilyn Gardner writes the same in her <a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/thoughts-on-entry-reentry-and-third-culture-kids/" target="_blank">Thoughts on Entry, Reentry and Third Culture Kids</a>. She says that as third culture kids we should accept that we are a combination of worlds. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-align: start;">Joshua tells us his own story. He now lives in Suriname but he grew up in many different countries: Egypt, Singapore, and China. He tells about the culture shock he had when he moved to China. He shares what he </span><span style="color: #111111;">learnt by growing up abroad. Please listen to his story, it will take you less than 6 minutes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you Chris and Joshua for sharing your stories. Will you consider joining us at the Families in Global Transition Conference this March here in the Netherlands? We want to hear more male third culture kid stories. Please let us hear your voices. Come and join us. Do you know male third culture kids or are you one? Let's hear your voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Related Posts:</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/10/cultural-identity-confusion-and-twitter.html" target="_blank">Cultural identity Confusion</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2015/08/interesting-interview-with-rachel-cason.html" target="_blank">Interview with Rachel Cason on her research on third culture kids: identity, belonging and relationship to place.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://thedisplacednation.com/tag/third-culture-kid/" target="_blank">Interesting post TCK Talent: Where am I from?</a> on the website <a href="https://thedisplacednation.com/">DisplacedNation.com</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.chrisaslan.info/" target="_blank">Chris Aslan's website</a>, he is an author and adult third culture kid</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kcrpodcast.com/46897/540203-99-michelle-phoenix-third-culture-kids-the-forgotten-missionary-children-pt-1" target="_blank">Podcast with Michelle Phoenix on Third Culture Kids </a>- The Forgotten Missionary Kids, and about her new book "Stillness and Storm"</span></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-28922907715455903732017-03-22T21:24:00.000+01:002017-04-23T11:43:24.445+02:00Families in Global Transition Conference starting 23rd March 2017 in Den Haag<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The <a href="http://www.figt.org/FIGT_Conference" target="_blank">Families in Global Transition Conference </a>is starting tomorrow in Den Haag, the Netherlands. For years the conference took place in America. This is the second year in a row that the conference will be in the Netherlands. What a priviledge that the conference is close to home for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Conference Theme is:</span><strong style="color: #222222;"> </strong><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.375;">Building on the Basics: Creating Your Tribe on the Move</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I will be giving an Ignite presentation on Friday afternoon, you can see the <a href="http://www.figt.org/Ignite" target="_blank">other presenters and their topics here</a>. An Ignite presentation is a short presentation of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. You have 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide, the slides are forwarded automatically. I have never given an Ignite presentation before. I have been told that you need to practice a presentation like this many times so that's what I am doing at the moment. I hope the saying is true that "practice makes perfect".</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQYyigv9m3N7nRVQlsZ9XQUoS3891ZMsJNNqhKJgcdc9Mb5_osJYfG0Jf2v78KBL6xI5zutRGTu15qqyWlFYIyuv6NbXsfC8_-GTo7HCqNNUTGZ1R_QuWfmQzSiUyWy1o15XykFFkGDF9/s1600/C7T8bOwU8AAHLz6.png-large.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQYyigv9m3N7nRVQlsZ9XQUoS3891ZMsJNNqhKJgcdc9Mb5_osJYfG0Jf2v78KBL6xI5zutRGTu15qqyWlFYIyuv6NbXsfC8_-GTo7HCqNNUTGZ1R_QuWfmQzSiUyWy1o15XykFFkGDF9/s320/C7T8bOwU8AAHLz6.png-large.png" width="228" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Here's the list of the topics of the Ignite presentations:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Exploring the ‘Why’, the ‘How’ and the ‘Who’ of Muslim Expatriates</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The Power of Team Sport to Create a Diverse Tribe </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">How a TCK English Teacher in a Hungarian Village Created a Globally Local Network </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Childhood Losses, TCKs, and Identity Development </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Finding Joy and Abundance as an Expat - Planning For Your Fulfilled Life Abroad</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Finding Your Voice, Your Tribe and Hearing Other Voices Through Blogging</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;">I will be speaking about how I found my voice through this blog and how I heard your voices.</span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;">If you are not coming to the conference but you are interested in what is going on at the conference you can follow the hashtag <b>#FIGT17NL</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;">Want to know how to give an Ignite presentation? <a href="http://www.emmymccarthy.com/blog/how-to-give-an-ignite-talk" target="_blank">Emma McCathy gives advice here.</a></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Her Ignite talk last year at the FIGT conference was on <a href="http://www.emmymccarthy.com/blog/building-a-global-village" target="_blank">Building a Global Village</a>.</span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;">I am a little nervous for my first Ignite presentation ever, but I am also looking forward to what the conference will bring us this year. I would love to know what the Families in Global transition Conference means to you. What does the conference mean to you?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;">Update April 2017: <a href="https://notesonaboardingpass.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/igniting-your-passion-a-pecha-kucha/" target="_blank">Terry Ann Wilson wrote a lovely post all about the Ignite presentations.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>Related posts:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/02/interview-with-graphic-design-student.html" target="_blank">Best read post: Interview with Graphic Design student Jessica Wen</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/10/cultural-identity-confusion-and-twitter.html" target="_blank">Cultural Identity Confusion and Third Culture Kids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/07/my-10-tips-to-help-you-prepare-your.html" target="_blank">10 Tips to Help Prepare your child for an international move</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/08/q-with-tanya-crossman-author-of-book_10.html" target="_blank">Q & A with Tanya Crossman author of the book Misunderstood</a></li>
</ul>
<br /></div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-6391869458365168702017-01-23T21:42:00.000+01:002017-01-23T21:42:44.313+01:00Book Review: B at Home, Emma Moves Again by Valérie Besanceney<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglliKB6JEahbf_OBVxGJUS6ucVDeUAJ9bSpXZx9lKw4-J-76VXatsGl1xr-U9ZMHyZDADgc_AxkNLPKjGjnaoR5bN0FezJLLvahhoylvLawBAkMvIykNu6Cu3UHv5JfrA4FS2bBzRBcvrl/s1600/cropped-B-at-Home-3D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglliKB6JEahbf_OBVxGJUS6ucVDeUAJ9bSpXZx9lKw4-J-76VXatsGl1xr-U9ZMHyZDADgc_AxkNLPKjGjnaoR5bN0FezJLLvahhoylvLawBAkMvIykNu6Cu3UHv5JfrA4FS2bBzRBcvrl/s200/cropped-B-at-Home-3D.jpg" width="200" /></a>To start with I would like to wish you all happy new year. I hope it will be a year that you and your children will thrive and be resilient. I hope to write more about resilience in another post. In case you are moving with children this year than the book <a href="http://www.valeriebesanceney.com/b-at-home-emma-moves-again/" target="_blank">B at Home, Emma Moves Again</a> might be just the book you need.<br />
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Emma is 10 years old and has already moved twice. At the start of the book she lives in the Netherlands. In the book her parents tell her that the family is moving again. She has mixed emotions and turns to B, her faithful teddy bear. Together they make the move.<br />
Children can identify with the girl in the story. It can help them to feel that they are not alone, that there are other children who have gone through the same things. It can help children give words to the emotions they are feeling.<br />
<br />
There are discussion questions at the end of the book. Parents could use the questions to chat with their children about the upcoming move. An example of a question is: <i>Emma and her friends talk about how certain smells bring back memories. What are some smells that bring back strong memories for you?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNXOxHtj9d0sdcEtRd_WM4YAiU-h9OaXKytwPDThcy0FEpiI6D-eCSKrgEgII-Tms_Jt6Oki_0Ug_rGTO1bSudYXsrYVGk5bsTpDlmzx9R1hgdpnhGdi14wGBaglNzgWG3vcUK_bVJXJr/s1600/IMG_1858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNXOxHtj9d0sdcEtRd_WM4YAiU-h9OaXKytwPDThcy0FEpiI6D-eCSKrgEgII-Tms_Jt6Oki_0Ug_rGTO1bSudYXsrYVGk5bsTpDlmzx9R1hgdpnhGdi14wGBaglNzgWG3vcUK_bVJXJr/s200/IMG_1858.jpg" width="195" /></a>The author Valérie Besanceney was born in the Netherlands, grew up as a third culture kid, making several international moves as a child, she is an experienced international school teacher and is raising two TCK daughters. She definitely knows what she is talking about. In addition to the book B at Home Besanceney has created a workbook <a href="http://www.valeriebesanceney.com/my-moving-booklet/" target="_blank">My Moving Booklet.</a> This is a great tool for parents and schools to ease a transition for a child. The children can share their emotions and there is also lots of room for creativity.<br />
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I had the privilege of meeting Valérie at the <a href="http://www.figt.org/" target="_blank">Families in Global transition Conference</a> in Amsterdam in 2016.<br />
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Have you or one of your children read the book B at Home, Emma Moves Again? Are there other books that you would recommend for kids making international moves? Please share them with us.<br />
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<b>Related Posts:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/09/new-book-emotional-resilience-and-expat.html" target="_blank">Book: Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/02/book-review-of-new-book-expat-teens.html" target="_blank">Book review of Expat Teens Talk</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/08/q-with-tanya-crossman-author-of-book_10.html" target="_blank">Q and A with Tanya Crossman author of the book "Misunderstood"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/its-my-blogs-birthday-lets-celebrate.html" target="_blank">Interview with Heidi Sand-Hart author of the book Home Keeps Moving</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/07/my-10-tips-to-help-you-prepare-your.html" target="_blank">10 Tips to help your child prepare for an international move</a></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-58047426933572872762016-08-10T14:02:00.001+02:002016-08-10T14:04:27.530+02:00Q & A with Tanya Crossman author of the book "Misunderstood" The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century <div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;">
As you probably know I love books and especially on the topic of growing up abroad. I am pleased to announce that a new book on the topic is about to be released and the author Tanya Crossman has agreed to answer some questions specially for you. Thank you Tanya! By the way if you want to know what children or young people say about growing up abroad then you have to read this book. Now over to Tanya.</div>
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<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>Please tell us about your book “<i>Misunderstood</i>”. Tell us about how you were inspired to write the book? </b>I spent a decade mentoring TCKs (third culture kids), listening to them and learning how they <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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felt about life. Parents began to ask my advice, and I saw lightbulb moments as they saw their children's situation in a new light. When asked for resources I pointed to lots of great books, but couldn't find anything that did what I did – stand in the gap, and explain the TCK perspective. That is what <i>Misunderstood</i> does: explain how international life affects a child, often in their own words (I interviewed nearly 300 TCKs for the book, plus conducted a survey of 750 TCKs). <i>Misunderstood</i> shows TCKs they are not alone, and helps those who care about them provide more support and understanding.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>What is the most important message you have for parents of TCKs? What would you like to say to every TCK?</b><br />
Being a TCK isn't a bad thing!! Over 80% of the TCKs I surveyed for <i>Misunderstood</i> were glad for their experience, and only 2% would take it back if they could. But TCKs do have a different experience of the world to their parents, and understanding that experience is essential for supporting TCKs well. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>Many people want to write a book someday, but you did it! What was the key to success?</b><br />
The key to my success has been other people! Wise people I listened to, leading me in directions I would not have gone alone. A mentor read my first attempt and told me I could do much better – that I needed to put my passion in it. A close friend approached me about having my book published professionally, and did the work to make that happen. Then the team at Summertime Publishing helped make <i>Misunderstood</i> better. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>What's your advice for other TCKs or anyone wanting to write a book?</b><br />
Know why you want to write – what do you care about, and why does it matter? What gap exists that you want to fill? Find anything similar out there, read it well and work out if you have something new and different to say. Secondly, benefit from the experience of others. Cultivate relationships with people who challenge you with wise advice – then listen to them, even when it's hard. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;">I<b>n which countries did you live as a child and what age were you at the time?</b><br />
I grew up in my passport country (Australia) but also lived in the US from age 13-15, with my parents and my two younger sisters. As an adult I lived in China for over ten years and also spent a lot of time in Cambodia.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>What was the reason that you were living abroad? If it was work, what kind of work did your parents do?</b><br />
My father worked for a multinational technology company. When he was assigned to work in the US for two years, our whole family went along. We lived immersed in the local life (local schools, etc.) but we all found a cross-cultural friend or two. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>What did you most like about living abroad as a young person?</b><br />
I enjoyed engaging with a new physical environment. The houses, food, trees, birds, animals, and seasons were all different. I hoarded new sensory experiences – the crunch under my feet walking across our frozen yard in winter, the soft twilight in summer, the bouncing tails of squirrels – and filled myself up with them. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>What was most difficult?</b><br />
Learning new cultural norms (especially when people didn't think of me as coming from a different culture) was really hard. Simply existing outside my house was tiring! I didn't have words to express the difficulties I experienced, so I had an unhelpful tendency to blame my frustrations on the entire country. It took me years to unravel my feelings. Now I'm very thankful for my time in the US, even though it was hard.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>How did living abroad influence your choice of career or study?</b><br />
I think it showed me there's a whole world of opportunity out there, and not to limit myself to what is “normal” in Australia. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>Which languages do you speak? Do you have advice on learning languages for families living abroad now?</b><br />
English is my native language, and I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese. I've forgotten most of the other 10 languages I've studied, but I have basic survival skills in Khmer, Thai, and Indonesian. My biggest piece of advice is to embrace your ignorance – give it a go knowing it won't be perfect, and be humble about your lack of perfection. Another thing that helped me was watching and listening to native speakers doing life – by copying them I picked up the language as it's actually used, rather than stiffly repeating what I'd read in textbooks.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>When and where did you first hear of the term “Third Culture Kid” (TCK)? How did you hear of it and in which way did it help you?</b><br />
When I first started working with TCKs I didn't know that there was such a thing as a TCK! I quickly realised there was something different about these kids due to their unique situations, but it was still two or three years before I started reading literature on the topic. David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken's classic “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Third-Culture-Kids-Growing-Revised/dp/1857885252" target="_blank">Growing up among worlds” </a>was eye-opening. What really struck me was the section on repatriation – I kept thinking “that's me!” For the first time I realised my time in the US was a TCK experience. It helped me understand why it had been so hard to “go home”. </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>How was it to return to your “home country” (passport country)?</b><br />
HARD. Both times. When I left the US at age 15 I was excited to “go home and be normal”. I was stunned to discover that although in the US I stood out as Australian, to Australians I sounded American. It was quite a letdown. It took less than a year to re-acclimatise but it was still a significant experience. When I moved to Australia 18 months ago after 11 years in Asia as an adult, I was more prepared for what repatriation might be like, and blogging about the process was really helpful for me. The funny thing is that this time I found it comforting when people thought my accent didn't quite sound Australian! </li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><b>With which countries do you feel a bond? Where's home?</b><br />
Ah, always a tricky question! I am definitely Australian – it 's an important part of my identity – but Australia doesn't really feel like “home” anymore. Beijing feels like home – but I have no family there and no legal right to be there, so I don't feel like I'm “allowed” to call it home. I guess neither one is completely home – so the Third Culture is very important to me! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OP1P0hhbZUGAqn7xqjOeq1_nia4dgE188-sQ-PMnPrLauvpoJsL153Gq-T0S_h_byCKRznIOgca5pTyVT1u89nxl3e0ePxS7WgGe0F_T0s8PulbGVDC1q27_919jOaqGMOuy10iAhupO/s1600/15e33537438bdd4af651bb211c9b8b7b3d38a840-thumb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OP1P0hhbZUGAqn7xqjOeq1_nia4dgE188-sQ-PMnPrLauvpoJsL153Gq-T0S_h_byCKRznIOgca5pTyVT1u89nxl3e0ePxS7WgGe0F_T0s8PulbGVDC1q27_919jOaqGMOuy10iAhupO/s1600/15e33537438bdd4af651bb211c9b8b7b3d38a840-thumb.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Thank you once again Tanya for answering these questions but in the first place for writing the book. You can visit Tanya's <a href="https://misunderstood-book.com/"><span style="color: #551a8b;">website </span></a>for more information. Tanya is on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/tanyatck"><span style="color: #551a8b;">@TanyaTCK</span></a> and on Facebook at MisunderstoodTCK. You can preorder the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Misunderstood-Impact-Growing-Overseas-Century/dp/1909193852"><span style="color: #551a8b;">Misunderstood on Amazon,</span></a> for more <a href="https://misunderstood-book.com/"><span style="color: #551a8b;">preorder options click here.</span></a> We will be doing a giveaway of the book soon, so come back and check the blog for more information. What questions would you like to ask Tanya?</div>
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<b>Related posts:</b></div>
<ul>
<li style="color: #551a8b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/07/my-10-tips-to-help-you-prepare-your.html">10 Tips to Prepare you child for an international move</a></li>
<li style="color: #551a8b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/its-my-blogs-birthday-lets-celebrate.html">Q&A with Author Heidi Sand-Hart of the book Home Keeps Moving</a></li>
<li style="color: #551a8b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/guest-blog-grandparenting-over-seas-by.html">Guestblog by Libby Stephens on grandparenting Abroad</a></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-91713970813976320622016-07-25T22:47:00.000+02:002016-07-28T15:52:44.328+02:0010 tips to help you prepare your child for an international moveRecently I read a post on Facebook. A mother was asking advice on how to prepare her daughter for a n upcoming move from England to the Netherlands. Her daughter is 5 years old and she had said to her mum "Please mum I don't want to leave my home and my school". I am sure her child is not the only one that does not want to move.<br />
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The question made me think. What would my advice be? As a child I moved many times in Africa, I <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1liIKQbIaiMrFyna3UJcpJB325z7Xno0S4UULacyu4-mvYLWP42e2xt4V-MWfbMGB2euM1pwOyjZdzyQy17MjMJerZgVy5z39ieiO-7xxsMXLiwEdf7gbRG3PihaaUZKFoeafvhkZNSfy/s1600/file1591340859301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1liIKQbIaiMrFyna3UJcpJB325z7Xno0S4UULacyu4-mvYLWP42e2xt4V-MWfbMGB2euM1pwOyjZdzyQy17MjMJerZgVy5z39ieiO-7xxsMXLiwEdf7gbRG3PihaaUZKFoeafvhkZNSfy/s320/file1591340859301.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Kelly Morguefiles</td></tr>
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wonder how my parents prepared us, there were four of us, I have two brothers and a sister. These days there are so many more resources, we have books, the internet, social media to seek advice. I do think this is a great question because I firmly believe parents can help and prepare their children for an international move.</div>
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<b>My 10 tips would be:</b><br />
<ol>
<li><b>Acknowledge your child's emotions</b>. Give her permission to feel sad about the move and about saying goodbye. Give her permission to identify and express her emotions. You can help her by saying "I see that you are sad about leaving your friends". If you want to read more on this topic the <a href="http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/" target="_blank">Centre on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning</a> have practical suggestions here in this download <a href="http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/documents/teaching_emotions.pdf" target="_blank">Teaching Your Child To: Identify and Express Emotions.</a></li>
<li><b>Watch the <a href="https://www.disneymoviesanywhere.com/movie/inside-out" target="_blank">Disney movie "Inside Out" </a></b>together. The girl named Riley makes a move too and finds it tough. Watch it together and take time to talk about it. The movie is all about emotions.</li>
<li><b>Make the move an adventure.</b> When the moving boxes arrive let her paint one or decorate it by using stickers, glue, paint, and pretty pictures. She can even decorate the box with a friend (you then include her friends in the process, so they can get used to the idea that she will move).</li>
<li>As part of the adventure <b>search for information</b> about the city and country you will move to. Show photos or a youtube film. If possible make a preliminary visit to the new country. Be careful not to raise the expectations too high.</li>
<li><b>Let her help pack the boxes.</b> Let her help you sort out which toys she will take along. Let her put her most important toys in the decorated moving box. By letting her make choices you give her some control in a time that many things are "out of her control". You are giving her some influence in this situation.</li>
<li><b>Maintain stability. </b>In the crazy time before, during and after the move try to stick to family routines. For a child this means that even though many things are changing there are still constants in her life and that can give a child stability and a sense of security.</li>
<li><b>Make a countdown calendar</b> together to help vizualize how many nights until the move. Suggestions for a <a href="http://childhood101.com/2013/09/holiday-vacation-celebration-countdown-calendar/" target="_blank">creative and fun countdown calendar can be found here.</a> The concept of time, and knowing when the move will take place can be difficult for children. A countdown calendar can help your child understand how many "sleeps" until the move.</li>
<li><b>Help your child say her good-byes. </b>David Pollock and Ruth van Reken talk about it in their book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Third-Culture-Kids-Growing-Revised/dp/1857885252" target="_blank">"Third Culture Kids, Growing up Among Worlds"</a>. They mention the need for saying good-bye to people, places, pets and possessions. Plan a farewell party for her friends, make the invitations together. Visit special places as a family. Ask her what she would like to do one last last time. Eat and ice cream in the favourite ice cream parlour or swim in a certain swimming pool. Make photos of these last visits. If there is a pet will the pet come along or will someone care for the pet? Maybe possessions will be let behind. Help her accept that some possessions will remain behind, maybe you will give some things to other people, involve your daughter in the process. You could give her a small treasure box in which she can put special treasures, it could be a small stone from you garden or something else special.</li>
<li><b>Consider buying her a copy of the book <span id="goog_1788438321"></span><a href="http://www.valeriebesanceney.com/my-moving-booklet/" target="_blank">My Moving Booklet</a> </b>by Valerie Besanceney. The booklet has been designed to help children through the initial stages of an upcoming move.</li>
<li><b>Make a small photo album specially for her </b>with photos of the friends she will leave behind, of the farewell party, of the special places, of house you lived in and lots more. This photo book can be a tool she can use to show and tell others where she used to live.</li>
</ol>
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If you don't have enough time to make a calendar, make invitations for a farewell party, make the photo album then get other people involved in your move. Your friends probably want to help you, try to delegate something. Ask another mum to help you, she will probably feel privileged!\</div>
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There are many more things parents do to help their kids, I would love to hear your suggestions. Please share them here. Thank you so much.</div>
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<b>Related Posts:</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2015/04/providing-children-with-tools-to-tell.html" target="_blank">Providing children with tools to tell their story</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Resilience-Expat-Child-Storytelling/dp/1904881343" target="_blank">The book: Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child by Julia Simens</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/11/my-10-advantages-of-growing-up-in.html" target="_blank">My 10 advantages of growing up overseas</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/guest-blog-grandparenting-over-seas-by.html" target="_blank">Grandparenting over the seas by Libby Stephens</a></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-4299827648711804262016-03-19T22:08:00.004+01:002017-10-22T15:57:55.553+02:00Starting a Third Culture Kid Society at UniversityIn my last post I let you know that I was <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2016/01/preparing-for-families-in-global.html" target="_blank">preparing for the Families in Global Transition Conference</a> (FIGT). Well the conference has taken place in Amsterdam. It was the first time ever that the conference took place in Europe. How exciting! By the way the FIGT conference will take place in the Netherlands again in 2017, maybe you can join us?<br />
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There is so much I could say about the conference but I just want to start by telling you about a session I </div>
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attended in which two university students told us how and why they started a third culture kids society at Bristol university. We had the privilege of having both co-presidents Dalia Abuyasin and Anna Skoulikari from the <a href="https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/activities/societies/TCKSociety/" target="_blank">Third Culture Kid Society of Bristol University</a> tell their story.</div>
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On the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Bristol-Third-Culture-Kid-Society-1707269909496501/timeline" target="_blank">TCK society Facebook page</a> they start with a definition of a third culture kid: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">A Third Culture Kid is defined as 'a young person who has spent a significant amount of time in their developmental years outside of their family's country of origin'. Often people that identify as third culture kids reply to the question "where are you from?" with "it's complicated". </span></div>
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The TCK social society is a place to meet, connect and share unforgettable experiences with others. It is a place that is open to anyone and everyone interested in spending time in an international environment. You do not have to a third culture kid to join the society. The society was started by Dalia and Anna. They had no idea how many others students would be interested or had lived abroad for a certain amount of time. Now there is a thriving TCK society in Bristol. They even had short videos so we could hear from them members what it was like to transition to university.</div>
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It is even more interesting to hear the members tell about what the third culture kid society has meant to them. They did not need to explain things. It felt so familiar. It felt like "home". This is a short video of about 3 minutes. Listen to what the students say:</div>
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Dalia and Anna explained to us that they want to encourage other students to start TCK societies at their universities. They want to develop a toolbox to help you and make it even easier to start a group too. It would be really great if they manage to develop a toolbox.<br />
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As you might know I transitioned from Zimbabwe to the Netherlands when I was 19 to go to university. It was a very <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/most-difficult-transition-for-third.html" target="_blank">difficult transition.</a> On the MaDonna's Raising TCKs blog I wrote about<a href="http://raisingtcks.com/2015/05/07/the-leaving-series-part-4-leaving-the-african-nest/" target="_blank"> leaving the African "nest"</a>. I hope third culture kids these days have easier transitions to university or college! As you can understand this is a topic I am really interested in. A while ago I wrote a post on <a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/07/painting-pictures-transitioning-globally-to-university/" target="_blank">10 tips to transition well to university</a> (specially for TCKs and their parents). I wish there had been a TCK society like this one at the university I went to years ago, it would have made my transition easier.<br />
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Did you transition globally to university or college? What was it like? Do you know of other universities with groups specially for third culture kids? Please share them here. By the way I just discovered that the <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/123000/international_students" target="_blank">University of Leeds is international</a> and have a <a href="https://www.luu.org.uk/third-culture-kid/" target="_blank">third culture kids society</a>.<br />
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<b>Related Posts:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2014/08/help-another-third-culture-kid-is-going.html" target="_blank">Help another third culture kid is going to university</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/09/third-culture-kids-going-to-university.html" target="_blank">Third Culture kids going to university</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/08/counselors-be-curious-about-their.html" target="_blank">University counselors be curious about their upbringing</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.internationalfamilytransitions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=161" target="_blank">The book: A Global Nomad's Guide to university transition by Tina Quick</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.internationalfamilytransitions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=174" target="_blank">10 Things every global nomad needs to know before leaving for university</a> (international family transitions)</b></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-25451178374424327312016-01-31T17:37:00.003+01:002016-01-31T17:37:58.400+01:00Preparing for the Families in Global Transition Conference 2016At the moment I am preparing for the <a href="http://www.figt.org/2016_Conference" target="_blank">FIGT conference</a> which will take place in March. It's the first time ever that this conference will take place in the Netherlands. It's the first time it will take place in Europe. It's the first time I will attend the conference and it's the first time I will be presenting at the conference. Very exciting! By the way the <a href="http://www.figt.org/2016_Schedule" target="_blank">conference schedule</a> is available and the <a href="http://www.figt.org/2016_Presenters" target="_blank">p</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">resenter biographies</a>. As you can see there are more than 50 presenters, I expect that they will represent all the corners of the world.<br />
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While preparing for my session I was searching the internet for new information on <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/p/tcks.html" target="_blank">third culture kids</a>. I found a nice short video made by teenager Alison. She's a third culture kid herself, she explains what it means, has done some research and she gives advice. It's worth watching.<br />
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She conducted a survey and it revealed that the TCKs find leaving friends and changing school the most difficult. It took them a couple a months to adjust to the new surrounding. She encourages TCKs to meet new people and learn the new language. Her last advice is: Stay open-minded and resilient and moving can enhance your life.<br />
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By the way I hope you are attending the Families in Global Transition Conference in Amsterdam too. Please let me know if you're coming so we can meet up. <br />
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<b>Related posts: </b><br />
<a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/11/my-10-advantages-of-growing-up-in.html" target="_blank">My 10 advantages of growing up abroad</a><br />
<a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/02/interview-with-graphic-design-student.html" target="_blank">Interview with graphic design student Jessica Wen on her third culture kid book project</a><br />
<a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2015/08/interesting-interview-with-rachel-cason.html" target="_blank">Interesting interview with researcher and adult third culture kid Rachel Cason </a><b> </b><br />
<br />DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-1478125434694797402015-11-30T21:33:00.000+01:002015-12-13T15:16:00.546+01:00Families in Global Transition Conference 2016 will take place for the first time ever in Holland!<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe you have heard the good news: the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference will take place in the Netherlands next year. The conference is from the 10th of March to the 12th of March 2016 in Amsterdam. For the past 2 years I have been wanting to attend this conference but the conference was in Washington, USA. I had to take days off from work, fly to America and I just was not able to arrange it. I am so excited that the conference has moved to Europe, and even better it has moved to the Netherlands, Amsterdam to be exact. Now I can take the train and attend! If you want to attend the conference and save money make sure you <a href="http://www.figt.org/2016_Registration" target="_blank">register</a> before 4th January 2016.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way the theme of the conference is <b>"Moving Across Cultures: Bringing Empathy and Expertise to the Evolving Global Family"</b>. I like the word empathy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What does <a href="http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy/definition" target="_blank">empathy do according to the Greater Good Science Center</a>? Empathy:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reduces prejudice and racism</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reduces bullying</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">promotes heroic acts</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fights inequality</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is good for healthcare</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cuts against self-interest, people with empathy are more likely to help people in need</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wow that sounds very promising! Then add all the expertise in too and it is a recipe for success.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have heard that the author of the book "<a href="https://melissadaltonbradford.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">Global Mom" Melissa Dalton-Bradford</a> will be one of the keynote speakers. She is a mother of 4, a writer of books, essays, poetry and a blog. As a family they have lived in 10 countries. She has also written the book "On loss & Living Onward", I think I have to read one of her books before the conference. You can see the <a href="https://vimeo.com/74569621" target="_blank">trailer of the book "Global Mom" here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">The conference will take place at </span><a href="http://www.debazelamsterdam.nl/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">De Bazel Cafe & Conference Centre</a><span style="color: #444444;">, Vijzelstraat 32 in <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqoI0NUdklwSlJGFGe7-xZf6Y336u2AisNl5FtfdHr0ET4Rxtqln-AOoUjNPxUAjiav8Z2rq-DjDCGtCwO2HC09tZwJOqKZ2WkTXhnI6kwR54l4UdQz3zbCEszdbyqzm0e26nagPE2n9s/s1600/image+%25285%2529+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqoI0NUdklwSlJGFGe7-xZf6Y336u2AisNl5FtfdHr0ET4Rxtqln-AOoUjNPxUAjiav8Z2rq-DjDCGtCwO2HC09tZwJOqKZ2WkTXhnI6kwR54l4UdQz3zbCEszdbyqzm0e26nagPE2n9s/s320/image+%25285%2529+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Holland photo by DrieCulturen</td></tr>
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Amsterdam.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good things seem to happen at FIGT conferences. Killian </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">Kröll,</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> the current chair of the FIGT board </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">grew up as a <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/p/tcks.html" target="_blank">third culture kid (TCK)</a>. He was unaware of the impact of his upbringing. During a seminar he first heard the term TCK. That moment changed his life and he found his tribe. 2011 was the first FIGT conference he attended and then he was really sure that he had found his tribe. Read more of <a href="http://www.figt.org/blog/3631844" target="_blank">Killian's story and the FIGT conference 2015</a> as written by Lauren Owen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Just in case you have not heard of Families in Global Transitions, you can visit the <a href="http://www.figt.org/" target="_blank">FIGT website </a>for more information. The first FIGT conference was held in 1998 and Ruth van Reken the coauthor of the book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Third-Culture-Kids-Growing-Revised/dp/1857885252" target="_blank">Third Culture Kids Growing up Among Worlds</a>" was one of the initiators.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Related posts:</b></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.figt.org/blog/3522642" target="_blank">Interview with Doug Ota Keynote speaker FIGT15 (Figt blog)</a> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2015/08/interesting-interview-with-rachel-cason.html" target="_blank">Interview with Rachel Cason, researcher and adult TCK</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2015_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Providing children with tools to tell their stories</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingtcks.com/2015/05/07/the-leaving-series-part-4-leaving-the-african-nest/" target="_blank">Leaving the African "nest" my guestblog on Madonna's blog Raising TCKs</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-62072114823582754012015-08-25T20:42:00.000+02:002015-08-25T20:42:09.803+02:00Interesting interview with Rachel Cason, adult third culture kid, researcher I am glad to introduce Rachel Cason to you. We met each other a few years ago at a <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/04/reporting-form-eurotck-in-germany.html" target="_blank">EuroTCK </a>conference<br />
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in Germany. When we met she was doing research, she has agreed to answer a few questions specially for you.<br />
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<b> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">1. Would you tell us a little about yourself?</span></b><br />
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Hi! Well, I'm an adult TCK, a missionary kid to be exact. I was born and raised in West Africa until the age of 16, when my family "returned" to England to settle there indefinitely. After finishing the last two year of my school education, I took a gap year, working with children with additional needs. I went to Keele university to study French and Sociology, and enjoyed a couple of study abroad opportunities in that time also. In my Masters year I got married, and during my doctoral studies I had my beautiful daughter. Sadly, my marriage was not a happy one, and during my maternity leave my husband and I divorced. I suppose my life has been full of transitions, reaching beyond my childhood years! My daughter starts school this September, so that's another transition for us at the moment!</div>
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<b>2. Can tell us about your research?</b></div>
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My thesis examines the ways in which the experiences of Third Culture Kids, or the children of expatriates, impacts upon their adult notions of <b>belonging, identity, and relationship to place.</b> It was prompted by a professor in my final year, who spotted research potential for this relatively understudied population after I did a research project exploring whether or not TCKs should merit consideration as disaporic. Typically, migration research has ignored TCKs, focussing instead on groups united by nationality or ethnicity. I wanted to explore the shared experiences of TCKs as originating in a shared expatriate culture.</div>
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<b>3. For what degree did you do your research?</b></div>
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My PhD in Sociology, at Keele University.</div>
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<b>4. What is your main conclusion?</b></div>
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This was an exploratory, qualitative study, rather than a quantitative one, so I have no concise statistics to sum things up with :) My main conclusions establish that rather than being rootless, TCKs are very much rooted in an expatriate, organisational culture. I suggest that there are characteristics and shared experiences that reach across expatriate organisations, be they military, business or missionary, and that these shared experiences have a huge impact on the development of TCKs sense of belonging, identity and place. Rather than observing that TCKs all share similar characteristics, I note that while many TCKs share similar worldviews, they are more likely to be reacting to the same experiences, than all reacting in similar ways to those experiences. In other words, there is a TCK culture, rather than a TCK personality. It's hard to narrow findings down, for fear of oversimplifying complex human experiences, but broadly; -</div>
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In terms of belonging, I found that TCKs often feel most comfortable in situations in which there is high diversity, and in which they may represent the ethnic minority; such a situation reflects their earliest experiences of culture as mediated by their expatriate organisations. TCKs were often found at the margins of society, often engaging constructively with their marginality (reaching out to other marginals, for example), yet some experienced deep isolation in their marginality.</div>
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In terms of identity, I observed many TCKs struggled as adults with the idea that they were getting better at 'blending in' to their passport culture. As 'perpetually unique' children, adult TCKs may need to find new ways in adulthood to express their individuality. For many TCKs, their adult careers proved a means through which they could negotiate their relationship with a local and global world. Nationality is an ambivalent identity, too restrictive for many, and yet crucial in understanding a TCK's experiences in their host country as national identification often mediated their interactions with that country(ies).</div>
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In terms of place, my findings counter suggestions that TCKs were 'placeless' and/or didn't find places meaningful or relevant, due to their high mobility. Rather, I found that TCKs had a keen emotional connection with place, and that it is possible that the presence of high mobility in adult TCKs may be a case of feeling propelled towards pepetual movement, rather than their making an active choice between settledness or mobility. Indeed, I suggest that of the many skill sets absorbed by many TCKs growing up in expatriate communities, being able to (or seeing the value of settling) is one that may be lacking.</div>
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<b>5. How was it to hear so many TCK stories?</b></div>
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It was an absolute joy and privilege! It was striking though, that for many it seemed to be the first time they'd had this opportunity. We often tell stories from our lives to those around us, but very rarely do we tell the whole story, from beginning to present-day. It seemed a cathartic experience for many. This in itself made me feel the responsability of honouring the stories gifted to me so generously.</div>
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<b>6. How did doing the research influence you?</b></div>
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It inspired me to try and find a way to meet the needs of the people I had spoken to. I was not able to do this directly; as a researcher this was beyond my remit. But for the many TCKs like them, I wanted to make sure that my research could be applicable to their lives in a way that would both validate and equip them to meet any challenges they may be facing.</div>
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<b>7. What TCK research still needs to be done?</b></div>
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I would like to see more research on the gendered experiences of TCKs; the ways in which experiences in multiple host countries may be wildly different depending upon the gender of the TCK. This may be because of host cultural norms about the presence of men and women in public spaces, for example, or it may be that the gendered narratives of the expatriate organisations in which TCKs are raised merit examination in their own right. Gender is such a basic way in which we interpret personal and public identity, I feel this focus would illuminate the TCK experience hugely.</div>
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<b>8. You have decided to start <a href="http://www.explorelifestory.com/" target="_blank">Life Story</a>, tell us about it.</b></div>
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Life Story uses the life story interview as a therapeutic tool. In this way I directly apply my research experience to the process, both in the structure of the interview, and in the subsequent analysis of the interview. Life Story work offers the space to narrate and reflect on one's life story, and analysis of this interview focusses on connecting the past with the present through the emergence of particular patterns and themes.</div>
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This process can help anyone struggling to move forward positively in their lives to unlock past patterns of thinking and behaviours that may hold the key to a more empowered future. In this way, Life Story aims to encourage a more settled sense of self, one that is grounded in a full understanding of the past, but whose future is not limited by its history. </div>
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I work with both TCKs and non-TCKs, and life story process is helpful for anyone seeking to find clarity in a fragmented history. I offer sessions by Skype primarily, although some face to face sessions may be possible also should clients be able to travel to Lincoln, England. </div>
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<b>9. Why do you think that telling your life story works for TCKs?</b></div>
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I think that TCKs especially find that their life stories get chopped up and fragmented, their revelation dependent on the appropriate audience or country. The life story interview offers an opportunity to bring all those fragments together in one place, and in so doing, offers an opportunity to gather all our fragmented selves together also. This in itself is a healing process, and also an empowering one, as it becomes possible to make connections between the 'chapters' of our lives that shed light on our current situations and challenges. Increased understanding of these connections then paves the way for positive changes that can move us forward, where we have felt stuck or without focus.</div>
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<b>10. What advice would you give those who want to do research?</b></div>
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Stick at it! And follow the truths emergent in your work. Research is a lonely furrow, and it is easy to get discouraged. But though your work will not resonate with everyone, it will matter, and it adds to a body of knowledge and extends the voices that can be heard. That is hugely valuable in and of itself. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmvNN6Ba9T5oBMrq7LRK6u8tWojyE3y2csGRx8j3BBwQfdLjGBfCKfiVK_rJznXuIGGCxifYlQuVLk8QZVX90nSGViR5xOalmwH33uP3L5kbS_6woy5nL1gP5MKldi3KPxOnqSyvasQmO/s1600/June+2015+New+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmvNN6Ba9T5oBMrq7LRK6u8tWojyE3y2csGRx8j3BBwQfdLjGBfCKfiVK_rJznXuIGGCxifYlQuVLk8QZVX90nSGViR5xOalmwH33uP3L5kbS_6woy5nL1gP5MKldi3KPxOnqSyvasQmO/s320/June+2015+New+Logo.png" width="320" /></a><b></b></div>
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<b>11. What advice would you give TCKs in general?</b><br />
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I've typed an answer to this a few times, and then deleted it. I suppose I'm finding this one tricky because, at heart, I believe </div>
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that beyond any profiling or shared characteristics, TCKs are individuals first. Deeply distinct individuals. And I couldn't presume to ever give a group of individuals the same advice. Except this. Be you first, a TCK second. Understanding your TCK experiences and their impact is crucial to this. Otherwise it can be easy to mistake our tendencies for our desires. Unless we can root our 'selves' in a conscious vision for what we want our lives to look like, we will instead be driven by our tendencies, which may or may not coincide with our long term goals.</div>
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<b>12.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Any last comments?</span></b></div>
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Thank you so much for the opportunity to be interviewed! And just that if anyone has any queries or questions at all about Life Story, do get in touch. I am happy to reply to any emails of this nature, and anyone interested in the process is entitled to a free hour consultation by Skype to work through if life story work is something that might benefit them.</div>
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If you want to contact Rachel you can email her: rachelcason@explorelifestory.com</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Or you can visit her website: </span><a href="http://www.explorelifestory.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" target="_blank">www.explorelifestory.com</a> Thank you so much for sharing about yourself and your research.</div>
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Readers have you had opportunities to tell people the whole story? What was it like?</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-33182324028386994142015-08-04T10:59:00.000+02:002015-08-04T10:59:12.700+02:00Ruth van Reken speaks on the Impact of Growing up in a Globalized WorldTwo years ago I had the privilege of meeting and hearing Ruth van Reken speak at the <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/04/reporting-form-eurotck-in-germany.html" target="_blank">Euro TCK conference</a> in Germany. Ruth van Reken is co-author of the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Third-Culture-Kids-Growing-Revised/dp/1857885252" target="_blank">Third Culture Kids Growing up Among Worlds.</a> You should hear her too.<br />
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In this short video Ruth explains what third culture kids are and what cross-cultural kids are, she shares her personal story. She encourages parents who are raising kids cross-culturally to make sure that they know how to prepare their children for their transitions. It's so important to say goodbye appropriately. This TedxINSEAD talk was given in May 2015.<br />
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There are challenges for children that grow up cross culturally. The 2 main issues are:<br />
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<li><b>Identity: </b>Who am I? Where do I belong? Where am I from?</li>
<li><b>Unresolved Grief: </b>this can be a result of all the invisible losses, called "hidden losses". With one plane ride the whole world as the child knew changes. These are the kind of losses there are: </li>
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<li>loss of their world</li>
<li>loss of status</li>
<li>loss of lifestyle</li>
<li>loss of possessions (it can be a bicycle, toys, tree houses, pets)</li>
<li>loss of role models</li>
<li>loss of system identity</li>
<li>loss of the past that was/ or wasn't</li>
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Parents should not just tell their children how great it will be in the next country, but they should take a minute and say "I understand", it's hard to leave and say goodbye. They should validate the emotions their children feel.</div>
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Recently there was an interesting <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/16965678-chapter-12-unresolved-grief" target="_blank">discussion on Goodreads on the topic of unresolved grief</a>. Lois Bushong was the facilitator of the discussion. </div>
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What can we do with the grief? Some people use journalling, music or painting. It can help to talk to a friend about it. Others talk to a therapist. If you need a therapist you could check the <a href="http://internationaltherapistdirectory.com/" target="_blank">International Therapist Directory.</a></div>
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In the talk Ruth poses the following question: <b>How can we help people to use the incredible riches of their childhood?</b> She suggests the following:</div>
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<li>Normalize the story</li>
<li>Celebrate the both/ and's (celebrate the positive and acknowledge the challenges)</li>
<li>Identify/mourn the hidden losses</li>
<li>Re-define identity (can we be international?)</li>
<li>Establish portable roots</li>
<li>Recognize marketable gifts (like language, cross-cultural adaptability)</li>
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I recently wrote a guest post on MaDonna's blog called <a href="http://raisingtcks.com/" target="_blank">Raising TCKs</a>. In it I share <a href="http://raisingtcks.com/2015/05/07/the-leaving-series-part-4-leaving-the-african-nest/" target="_blank">my personal story of leaving the African nest</a>, leaving Zimbabwe to go to university in the Netherlands. With one plane ride my whole world changed drastically.</div>
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Did you grow up cross-culturally? Did you celebrate the good things and acknowledge the challenges? Please share your story or your advice. I would love to hear from you. </div>
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<b>Related links:</b> </div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tayo-rockson/14-ways-to-embrace-your-g_b_5902528.html" target="_blank">14 Ways to embrace your global identity by Tayo Rockson</a> (HuffingtonPost)</li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/11/my-10-disadvantages-of-growing-up-in.html" target="_blank">My 10 disadvantages of growing up cross-culturally</a> DrieCulturen</li>
<li><a href="http://www.uydmag.com/tck/" target="_blank">Meet More Third Culture Kids</a> (uydmag.com)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/07/painting-pictures-transitioning-globally-to-university/" target="_blank">Transtioning Globally to university guestblog </a>(DjiboutiJones)</li>
</ul>
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DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-9565248641615186862015-04-26T21:01:00.001+02:002015-04-26T21:01:35.460+02:00Providing children with tools to tell their storiesMy inspiration today is an amazing post by Eric Spreng, an international school teacher at the International School of Ouagadougou (the capital of Burkina Faso). I wish there were more international school teachers like him. I wish I had teachers like him when I grew up in Africa.<br />
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He teaches to promote student voice, he provides the students with tools they need to articulate themselves and their stories, especially when these stories challenge the dominate narratives that would marginalize them. I think this is what all children need but especiallt third culture kids. They need tools to articulate themselves. They need tools to be able to tell their story in what ever environment or situation they are.<br />
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Recently I came across this quote and I believe it is so true.<br />
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<b><i>"All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story or tell a story about them"</i></b> these are words by Karen Blixen, the author of the book "Out of Africa".<br />
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Third culture kids grow up often moving from country to country with their parents. It can be very exciting and adventerous but the other side of the coin is that they often have to depart and leave friends and familiar places. They often have to say goodbyes. These moments can be painful and sad. If they are equipped with tools to tell their stories it could be great help for them in life. It will make them more resilient and more able to thrive in this global world.<br />
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Not only teachers can teach kids the importance of their stories, but we as parents can teach our<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHZVQX3cxgPYxTyxS5EZjbIP10pwq_mbPDIiF2xEzMU0niJFpxspvlBQBTAHHDGUdMu3FvqRv7LD6NQChDuJJwANe8IO5I2IBBXaDaqFXYBJ4L-yzJjGtkFq3yoU7GSLSGNIUPmO8OmYz/s1600/schiphol6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHZVQX3cxgPYxTyxS5EZjbIP10pwq_mbPDIiF2xEzMU0niJFpxspvlBQBTAHHDGUdMu3FvqRv7LD6NQChDuJJwANe8IO5I2IBBXaDaqFXYBJ4L-yzJjGtkFq3yoU7GSLSGNIUPmO8OmYz/s1600/schiphol6.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by DrieCulturen, taken at Schiphol</td></tr>
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children too. Decades of research has shown that most happy families communicate effectively. It means that as a family you tell a positive story about yourselves. If you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to bounce back from difficult ones. Read more on this topic in the article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/the-family-stories-that-bind-us-this-life.html?_r=0" target="_blank">The Stories that Bind Us</a>.</div>
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So back to Eric Spreng's post. He says: "From the beginning of the year, I make it clear that student voice is one of our great resources, that students' diverse experiences and cultures are assests to us as a community of learners. He gives examples of students that develop their own voice, do read his post called "<a href="https://medium.com/@ericspreng/why-i-teach-voice-discourse-empathy-4a3aa666d1df" target="_blank">Why I teach: Voice, Discourse and Empathy."</a></div>
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<b>Related Posts</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/10/will-therapy-be-place-third-culture-kid.html" target="_blank">Will therapy be a place third culture kids find their voice?</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/09/i-am-fromand-where-are-you-from.html" target="_blank">Where I'm from...</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/05/are-you-raising-messed-up-kids.html" target="_blank">Are you raising messed up kids?</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/03/downside-of-growing-up-overseas-as.html" target="_blank">The downside of growing up as a third culture kid</a> </b></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-44323456545261405762015-02-14T12:35:00.000+01:002015-02-14T18:59:32.634+01:00Highlights in 2014?It's been a while since I wrote on this blog. 2015 is a new year and I hope to surprise you with more posts than in 2014. I only wrote twice last year so I am sure I can write more this year. Even though I do not write frequently it is good to know that there are still constant vistors finding this blog daily. Thank you all for coming by and reading on this blog I hope you found words that were helpful or useful.<br />
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I would like to update you on things that are happening in the third culture kid world. There is an interesting and very informative review on the Tckid website with a review of the many events that took place and new books that were published. It's worth reading the <a href="http://news.tckid.com/tckid-2014-year-in-review/">TCKid 2014 Year in Review</a>.<br />
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Coming up soon is the <a href="http://www.figt.org/">Families in Global Transition Conference 2015</a> it is from 6-8 th of March in the USA. I wish it was here in Europe, it would much easier to attend. Hopefully one day I will attend the Figt conference. The theme this year is <b>Finding "Home": Amidst Global Change. </b>If you want to have an idea what the figt conference is like read an except of the soon to be published Figt year book. The except is on <a href="http://www.figt.org/blog/3220715">Cultural Complexity and Hidden Diversity: Exploring today's TCKs</a>. Are any of you planning to go to the figt conference 2015? Do let us know and maybe you can share your most valuable insight here.<br />
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Recently I was asked whether there are meetups in the Netherlands for third culture kids or adult third culture kids. For those who are interested there is a facebook group called: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/85467872479/">TCKid Netherlands.</a> There are plans to organize new meetups.<br />
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By the way one of my <b>personal highlights in 2014</b> was visiting Havana, Cuba with a group of medical students. It was a great priviledge to meet the Cuban people and to see how the healthcare is organized. Maybe I will tell you more about this trip in another post. As an adult TCK I still like travelling, tasting new food, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtFeksaWgn6ObF_zLuOU45inkPm7A06MC56eVVgTl4czI7w-GFqZRfXaslKUYGND8ptIhwGo40WTruRdjgXSYOaCBlhWphlHzibQTujnDFK5QaLBFGyhpPDESObZs0uPIbXklpf5g3UnR/s1600/DSC00680+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtFeksaWgn6ObF_zLuOU45inkPm7A06MC56eVVgTl4czI7w-GFqZRfXaslKUYGND8ptIhwGo40WTruRdjgXSYOaCBlhWphlHzibQTujnDFK5QaLBFGyhpPDESObZs0uPIbXklpf5g3UnR/s1600/DSC00680+(800x600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Havana Cuba, photo by DrieCulturen</td></tr>
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What was your personal highlight in 2014?<br />
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<b>Related posts: </b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/11/interview-with-fellow-third-culture-kid.html">Interview with a fellow third culture kid and author Heidi Sand-Hart</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/10/im-not-tourist-but-i-m-not-really-dutch.html">My Ten Tips To survive and thrive in the Netherlands</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.uydmag.com/new-blog-1/a-conversation-with-tck-and-author-of-b-at-home-valerie-besanceney">A Conversation with TCK and Author of B at Home Valerie Besanceney (uydmag)</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://mangotreereflections.com/2015/01/26/caged-birds-clipped-wings-and-a-current-passport/">Caged Birds, Clipped wings and a current passport by Lois Bushong (Mango Tree Reflections)</a></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-61692403627380446472014-08-06T17:04:00.000+02:002015-07-31T11:47:54.583+02:00Help: Another Third Culture Kid is Going to University/College!This afternoon at 4 pm Dutch time there will be a TCKchat on twitter and the theme is advice for third culture kids going to university <a href="http://preppedandloaded.com/tckchat/">information can be found here.</a> So while thinking on this topic I remembered a recent article I have read. It's on the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=-619704167&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&md5=f8c331260164a91f2ae696bb8d266228&searchtype=a">experiences of third culture kids transitioning to university life in Australia</a>. The article was published in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations and is written bij Lauren Purnell and Elizabeth Hoban. The lead researcher Purnell is an adult TCK who spent 14 years of her upbringing living in Botswanna, Vietnam and Nepal before moving to Australia after graduating from high school overseas.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNk3PWMnMbuhSVbycWQXCtX9UqSFwhOc7iHNcf_UVS3v88M5KQ_QAjrGt6XBiMtxM0LGPI3_8sgBhYDORZS00TeZn4aiKYJwibeS4zqLoPpEyfO8r0k9hi-pRCygjnpSZDoqhaezmVXs_/s1600/DSC00214+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNk3PWMnMbuhSVbycWQXCtX9UqSFwhOc7iHNcf_UVS3v88M5KQ_QAjrGt6XBiMtxM0LGPI3_8sgBhYDORZS00TeZn4aiKYJwibeS4zqLoPpEyfO8r0k9hi-pRCygjnpSZDoqhaezmVXs_/s1600/DSC00214+(800x600).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When studying in Holland: you need a bike! Photo DrieCulturen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
culture kids on going to university or college. These <a href="http://www.preppedandloaded.com/third-culturecross-culture-kids/tckchat/">TCKchats</a> (#TCKchat) are held every first and third Wednesday of the month.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During the research 12 in-depth interviews were held with Australian TCKs aged 18-27 years who had spent 3-18 years living abroad and had lived in Australia for 7 months to 9 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
4 Themes emerged from the data and a TCK Transition into University Model was developed. This model included 4 Stages:</div>
<ol>
<li>Preparedness prior to transition</li>
<li>Initial experience during transition (initial 6 months in passport country)</li>
<li>Adjustment during transition (6 months to 2 yrs)</li>
<li>Stabilization (2 yrs and beyond)</li>
</ol>
<div>
The key findings included participants who received preparation from their school and family prior to moving, had practical support in Australia and engaged in Australian social networks and university life experienced improved emotional health and made way for a positive transition.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>My short conclusion is:</b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Families and schools should prepare TCKs for the transition</li>
<li>Parents should make sure there are friends or family available for practical help </li>
<li>TCKs should try and get involved in university life or other social activities.</li>
</ol>
<div>
More research needs to be done. What is your advice? What are your thoughts? Please share them!<br />
<br />
<b>Related posts:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/07/painting-pictures-transitioning-globally-to-university/">Transitioning Globally to University (a guestblog I did at Djibouti Jones)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://storify.com/bateconsult/tckchat-college-transitions?awesm=sfy.co_pciz&utm_medium=sfy.co-twitter&utm_campaign=&utm_content=storify-pingback&utm_source=t.co">The TCKchat on transitioning to college/university (storify)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/09/third-culture-kids-going-to-university.html">Previous post: Third Culture Kids Going to University</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/most-difficult-transition-for-third.html">The most difficult transition for Third Culture Kids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://tayorockson.com/blog/tcknessinfographic">Just for fun: The Positive Aspects of Being a TCK (Tayo Rockson)</a> </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-72919083594652255922014-02-19T21:51:00.001+01:002014-02-19T21:51:47.854+01:00Adult Third Culture Kids: Potential Global Leaders with Cross-Cultural Competence?Time's flying and it is high time for me to write a new post. I once again read some interesting articles which I really feel I need to share with you. The first is a disseratation "<a href="http://idea.library.drexel.edu/bitstream/1860/4315/1/Stokke_PatriciaEdD.pdf">Adult Third Culture Kids: Potential Global Leaders with Global Mindse</a>t" by Patricia Stokke (2013).<br />
<br />
<i>"The ability to bridge differences is an example of how ATCKs may integrate their international experience preparing them to work in global organisations." </i>The ATCKs seem to be good "bridge builders". Patricia says that future research needs to be done to bring ATCKs and business together so that not only ATCKs recognize their global skills and abilities, but that recruiters, HR professionals, and hiring managers appreciate the potential value these individuals can offer organisations.<br />
<br />
I came across another interesting article in the <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=jgm">Journal of Global Mobiliy</a>. This journal is new by the way and currently the articles in the first 3 issues are available for free (until the end of March 2014). In the article <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=2049-8799&volume=1&issue=2&articleid=17096115&show=abstract">"Antecedents of dynamic cross-cultural competence in adult third culture kids (ATCKs)"</a> by Tarique and Weisbord they look at what the predictors are of cross-cultural competence. They found that there are 5 predictors of cross-cultural competence in ATCKs:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Varienty of early international exeperience (number of counries lived in) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiAMLP_ZhruYwmhdhQ5WUFkEhU_kILDeXYoI82T5AG8i_rfPanxa22PU35AQAGNiPTlGhAizdHLH_nBdwPCdb8nH2eO1QaASrqqwIT0oH4fqdR9hYbiYfs-8VPD1rZo12SNqr0qGc-vph/s1600/file0001820514517+(549x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiAMLP_ZhruYwmhdhQ5WUFkEhU_kILDeXYoI82T5AG8i_rfPanxa22PU35AQAGNiPTlGhAizdHLH_nBdwPCdb8nH2eO1QaASrqqwIT0oH4fqdR9hYbiYfs-8VPD1rZo12SNqr0qGc-vph/s1600/file0001820514517+(549x800).jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Language diversity </li>
<li>The number of languages they speak</li>
<li>Family diversity (the number of different ethnicities in their family's background)</li>
<li>The personality trait of openess to experience (to which extend are individuals original, innovative and willing to take risks)</li>
</ol>
By the way dynamic cross-cultural competence includes <b>knowledge, skills and attributes</b> that are aquired through learning experiences. So it seems that experiencing international travel during childhood and growing up abroad can provide competencies today's employers seek. This is good news for ATCKs. I feel I already knew this and you probably did too but I like it when research confirms these kind of things.<br />
<br />
I like the article on DenizenMag <a href="http://www.denizenmag.com/2013/07/making-the-most-of-your-tck-experience-when-applying-for-a-job/">"Making the Most of Your TCK Experience When Applying For a Job"</a>. As a TCKs you have adapted to new environments, so you will probably adapt quickly to your new working environment. Probably you have learnt to be flexible and adjust. You may be a "bridge builder". You may be have cross-cultural and multilingual communication skills. Recognize your own global skills and abilities! Make sure you mention them in your résumé. This is one of the things Ruth van Reken said too when she spoke at <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013_04_01_archive.html">EuroTCK in Germany in 2013</a>.<br />
<br />
So it looks like we have cross-cultural competence, we are "bridge builders", we are the people empoyers are seeking. Will we be the global leaders of tomorrow? What do you think? Looking forward to your comments.<br />
<br />
<b>Related Posts:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/08/adult-third-culture-kids-under-tapped.html">Adult third culture kids: an under-tapped source of high quality expats?</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/10/cultural-identity-confusion-and-twitter.html">Cultural identity confusion and third culture kids</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/05/is-there-difference-between-adults-and.html">Is there a difference between adults and kids living abroad?</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo thanks to NPClark2k Morgue File</span>DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-10230381684863630052013-12-26T16:23:00.000+01:002013-12-26T16:23:11.609+01:00Third Culture Kid Christmas Wishes!Happy Christmas to you all! I want to break the 7 week silence to give you season greetings and share some of my Christmas season experiences. I had a "TCK moment" at a Christmas concert in Leiden, the Netherlands recently. There were a couple of choirs that sang Christmas carols in different languages (Dutch, English, French and Spanish). I really enjoy singing Christmas carols. The audience was encouraged to sing athe chorus of "The Star Carol". The conductor made us practise because he said that the Star Carol was not well-known. When I heard it memories came back to me of singing carols at Townsend Highschool in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and at my primary school in Blantyre Malawi. Where did I learn that carol? Was it in Malawi or Zimbabwe? I just don't know. It was my "TCK moment", realizing that my past was different from that of the Dutch lady sitting next to me.<br />
<br />
Can you feel "at home" while singing a familiar carol? I did have some kind of feeling like that. <b>There is something about music that can trigger memories.</b> Here is the chorus of the Star Carol, maybe you know it too:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuokGSs8tyW1cjNC9kEcBNCeRaJexQex36tugd9R0CtuYLjhG58oShFwDiNyQjfdOJar0YKhp1shc0mbkzSRye57JyqQ0oxGdo1L0tns2Mf0v8ngZ5vWSxEcGi0pHwCqzpoo5mRpe1aPs/s1600/163+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuokGSs8tyW1cjNC9kEcBNCeRaJexQex36tugd9R0CtuYLjhG58oShFwDiNyQjfdOJar0YKhp1shc0mbkzSRye57JyqQ0oxGdo1L0tns2Mf0v8ngZ5vWSxEcGi0pHwCqzpoo5mRpe1aPs/s320/163+(600x800).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted this tree in Antwerpen, Belgium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>"See His star shining bright</i><br />
<i>In the sky this Christmas night!</i><br />
<i>Follow me joyfully;</i><br />
<i>Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I had another "TCK moment" during an international Christmas church service on Christmas eve. At the end of the service we all sang Silent Night and we were encouraged to sing it in our mother tongue all at the same time. What an interesting mix of languages! While we were singing I discovered that I know the words of Silent Night better in English than in Dutch, eventhough I am Dutch and it is officially my mother tongue. While growing up in Africa most carols were sang at church and at school and the language there was English. So I know the English version better than the Dutch.....<br />
<br />
A couple of days ago I was walking in Antwerpen, Belgium and I spotted a third culture kid Chrismas tree, it was a tree full of "travel boxes". Even TCKs that are adults and have settled down, like me, often still love travelling or feel some kind of bond with travelling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWEoYXkewUaJwsaUJ5OPP61zfgty-zWUfPlZoQqwLfjW32MqPvrisX9ilKquFp322V396Hi6CMa4PbbV-4DwqjX8OcRkcvxJfgkdleuaaX3P_2Xq3aelYtGcjar2-yApPh6Tons_eIkEe/s1600/165+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWEoYXkewUaJwsaUJ5OPP61zfgty-zWUfPlZoQqwLfjW32MqPvrisX9ilKquFp322V396Hi6CMa4PbbV-4DwqjX8OcRkcvxJfgkdleuaaX3P_2Xq3aelYtGcjar2-yApPh6Tons_eIkEe/s320/165+(800x600).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
What will the new year bring us? New travels? Or will we stay in one place and grow some roots? These are some of the questions adult TCKs ponder about. What about you? Will it be a year of moving or staying in one place?<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
I want to share a comment Rebecca posted. I interviewed Rebecca 1,5 years ago, you can read the interesting <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/05/meet-rebecca-expat-raising-trilingual.html">interview here</a>. She is raising trilingual expat kids here in the Netherlands. I asked her where home is for her daughters. Recently her daughter said <b>"Home is where the people you love live."</b> I hope you were "home" this season, with the people you love! Did you have any "TCK moments" this season? Please share them with us.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Related posts:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_962274542"></span>Christmas around the world (DrieCulturen)<span id="goog_962274543"></span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/24/living/going-home-holidays-irpt/">"Home"for the holidays? not that easy (CNN)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://hollydyck2.blogspot.nl/2013/12/mks-in-transition.html">Third Culture Kids in Transition (HollyDyck)</a></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-16647737588432771772013-11-06T21:01:00.003+01:002013-11-06T21:01:20.232+01:00Interview with Fellow Third Culture Kid and Author Heidi Sand-Hart<span style="color: #000099;">More than a year ago I interviewed Heidi, author of the book Home Keeps Moving. I really liked the interview so I have decided to repost it. There is a great opportunity to get a signed copy of Heidi's book with 25% discount check her <a href="http://homekeepsmoving.blogspot.nl/2013/10/christmas-sale.html">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000099;">I like her advice for third culture kids or adult third culture kids:</span><br />
<i>Read as much as you can about TCKs <b>so you can understand yourself better </b>-- <b>connect</b> with other TCKs either in person or online and <b>begin to process the results of your upbringing</b>. Deal with any unresolved anger or bitterness you may have as a result because it will eat you up after a while. And <b>focus on the many positives</b> that such a diverse life has - <b>embrace the uniqueness.</b></i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">1. In which countries did you live as a child and what age were you at the time?</span><br />
England - born and lived off an on until I was 16, India - age 5 (off and on) until I was 18, Norway - 15-17 years old.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">2. What was the reason that you were living abroad? If it was work, what kind of work did your parents do?</span><br />
My parents were missionaries so that is the reason we lived between India and England all the time, for durations of 8 months - 2 years. My mother started 2 orphanages in South India for unwanted girls and my father taught but also researched different tribal groups.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">3. Please tell us about your book "Home Keeps Moving". How old were you when you wrote the book?</span><br />
“Home Keeps Moving” tells the story of growing up in many worlds due to moving frequently throughout my childhood. It gives a lot of insight into the many struggles and challenges that “Third Culture Kids” face with constantly leaving friends, homes and their familiar surroundings – of those trying to grasp an understanding of who they are and how they fit into their current society. I actually started writing "Home Keeps Moving" over years ten ago when I was 19 years old but realised the task was too overwhelming at the time. As I’ve gotten older, I have realised how exciting, colourful and unique my own childhood was and I wanted to share that with others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEIjnp49ssE8LTiv-VngiSc9X9SXlrfpxbnSTaeSMTpo7PeMfdwj0ZPcLsFOVzAFTu5q85th-f9KbJwpILskz7KoPqFmYHlnU9wCoQz_E7egg-rw3WP9IPXweoNcHrt57CYNVMoOUOiez/s1600/HomeKeepsMoving_Cover_FRONTsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEIjnp49ssE8LTiv-VngiSc9X9SXlrfpxbnSTaeSMTpo7PeMfdwj0ZPcLsFOVzAFTu5q85th-f9KbJwpILskz7KoPqFmYHlnU9wCoQz_E7egg-rw3WP9IPXweoNcHrt57CYNVMoOUOiez/s320/HomeKeepsMoving_Cover_FRONTsmall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #000099;">4. Many people want to write a book someday, but you did it! Who was your inspiration and what was the key to your success?</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was inspired to write a book when I discovered there were hardly any personal accounts of growing up as a "<a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/p/tcks.html" target="_blank">Third Culture Kid</a>" out there. There is the<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Third-Culture-Kids-Experience-Growing/dp/1857885252" target="_blank"> TCK bible</a> (as it's referred to) but not a lot which actually tells the story first hand of constantly moving, adapting, transitioning…leaving friends, houses, pets, schools and starting all over again. I realised as I entered my early 20s how much my unusual upbringing had moulded me and wanted to reach out to others in the same place. I also hoped the book would be insightful to people from conventional backgrounds and can be used as a tool to understand their TCK friends/colleagues/spouses better. As for who inspired me to write it…conversations with my brother were the catalyst but I just had a desire within that wouldn't fade away so ten years down the line, I picked it up and gave it another go!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #000099;">5. What's your advice for other TCKs or for anyone wanting to write a book?</span><br />
Stick with it until the end! It seems like everyone has started writing a book at some stage of their lives but not many people complete them. It is tough going at times but make sure you surround yourself with supportive people and keep giving yourself goals to achieve.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">6. What did you most like about growing up abroad?</span><br />
I loved spending so much of my childhood in India…a culture so completely opposite to my European heritage. It's colour, vibrancy, smells and smiles were captivating and I loved all the travelling and tropical holidays we had there. I loved the chaos and freedom…as a child, it felt like you could do anything since it's not ruled by laws like Northern Europe.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">7. What was most difficult?</span><br />
I suppose missing friends in England was the hardest thing and I remember missing sweets and food but we adapted quickly and had a rich life in India in different ways.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">8. How did living abroad influence your choice of career or study?</span><br />
Living in India and seeing the value of my mum's work (orphanages) birthed in me the desire to do something similar with my life. It seemed that all around me people had made unconventional choices with their lives and it gave me the boldness to not do traditional further education (university) but pursue my dreams instead.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">9. Can you say something about your social network? In how many countries do you have friends?</span><br />
Good Lord, that's a great question…one that I can't answer though! It must be close to a hundred countries for sure but don't hold me to that! Social networking sites (such as Facebook) have really helped me stay connected to dear friends around the world. It makes them feel closer even though I rarely get to see them in person.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">10. Which languages do you speak? Do you have advice on learning languages for families living abroad now?</span><br />
I speak English and Norwegian (limited) and a small mishmash of other languages. I studied French and German at school but unless you immerse yourself in the language, I don't think it sticks for as long. Growing up as a TCK is definitely the best opportunity to jump leaps ahead with languages…it's a great advantage.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">11. When and where did you first hear of the term “third culture kid (TCK)? How did you hear of it and in which way did it help you?</span><br />
I first heard the term "Third Culture Kid" as a 16 year old when I was living in India. My cousin had sent an article (by David Pollock) to my parents and it suddenly jumped out at me. I was extremely excited to know I belonged to this tribe and felt proud of my upbringing.<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">12. What characteristics have you developed or do you think you have developed because of growing up abroad?</span><br />
A deep love and passion for travel and different cultures. I have a travel bug that can never be eradicated…the more I see, the more I realise there is to see. I love seeing and recognising the positives in both the European and Asian ways of life despite being opposite. The world isn't rigid, there is no right or wrong. We are just the result of the bubble we grew up in and luckily, my bubbles are many and large. TCKs generally have cultural awareness and can pick accents easily! <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">13. Are there things related to growing up abroad that are difficult for you to this day?</span><br />
I constantly miss the other side…the grass is always greener and when I'm in London, I constantly dream of being in Asia. When I've been there for a while, I usually romanticise London! The hardest thing is always having a part of you missing…<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">14. How was it to return to your “home country” (passport country)?</span><br />
This one's tricky because my passport growing up was Norwegian but I was born in England and hadn't lived in Norway until I was 16. When I did move to Norway though as a teenager, it was a huge shock and very difficult time for me. I didn't fit in at all and actually wanted people to think I was English! I talk a lot about this in the book so I will leave it at that…<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">15. With which countries do you feel a bond? Where’s home?</span><br />
The strongest bonds for me are definitely with India and England. Despite my parents both being Scandinavian (Finnish/Norwegian), I have never had an affinity with either of their countries because we didn't spend much time in either of them when I was a child. It was just summer holidays and we always thought upon England or India as "home". India lives in my blood, constantly calling me back. And England…it's the country of my birth, most of my early childhood memories and bonds occurred there and I have chosen to bond with it. I understand how everything works…the humour, the system, the people, the transport…but deep down, I still know that I'll never truly fit in. That's why I love London…it is so multicultural and you can be from anywhere in the world yet be accepted as a Londoner. For now, it's "home".<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">A thank you to Heidi for the interview. Heidi's blog is: </span><a href="http://homekeepsmoving.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">homekeepsmoving.blogspot.com.</a><span style="color: #000099;"> </span><span style="color: #000099;">You can follow her on twitter:</span><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/homekeepsmoving" target="_blank"> @HomeKeepsMoving</a>. By the way what would your advice be to third culture kids?<br />
<br />
<b>Related Posts</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/09/giving-third-culture-kids-voice.html">Giving Third Culture Kids a Voice</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/02/book-review-of-new-book-expat-teens.html">Book review of Expat Teens Talk</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/07/book-review-slurping-soup-and-other.html">Book review of Slurping Soup and Other Confusions</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Belonging-Everywhere-Nowhere-Insights-Counseling/dp/0615696066">New Book Belonging Everywhere & Nowhere: Insights into Counseling the Globally Mobile </a></b>by Lois J.Bushong</li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-80582373316591040972013-10-18T23:15:00.001+02:002013-10-26T20:42:53.072+02:00I'm not a tourist but I 'm not really Dutch either...With a suitcase, a really full bag, my viola with a tennis racket strapped onto it I board the plane. Alone. Depature was from Harare, Zimbabwe and the destination Schiphol international airport. Arrival time a fresh morning in May. Blond, blue eyes, nineteen years old, the start of an adventure called: going to university in Holland. Was I an international student? Was I Dutch?<br />
<br />
One thing was certain even though I spoke Dutch I did not really understand the Dutch. I thought I knew what I should know. I thought I would be able to understand the ways of the Dutch. What a major culture shock! The wierd thing was that I had not expected a culture shock at all. In the meantime I have survived and started to thrive here so I have some advice for you.<br />
<br />
<b>10 tips to survive and thrive in the Netherlands:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Buy a bicycle. It's an easy way to integrate, do as the Dutch do. If you are sensible you will buy some <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1mH2k2B830i5nxa59ALXEMpryLzIeztF4f8mvCtelpSfR5UPfhdAtQyk2EmaP0HdbdaQVdFN02m5HX9iUn_GvadrBfE_1lkT5fyt-NpwybUqhWk57s5fQ0soaEfXtwnCHr2mjQLqWhfF/s1600/tulpfiets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1mH2k2B830i5nxa59ALXEMpryLzIeztF4f8mvCtelpSfR5UPfhdAtQyk2EmaP0HdbdaQVdFN02m5HX9iUn_GvadrBfE_1lkT5fyt-NpwybUqhWk57s5fQ0soaEfXtwnCHr2mjQLqWhfF/s320/tulpfiets.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Keukenhof by DrieCulturen </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
good "fietstassen" (bicycle bags) too. Mine are one of the best investments I have ever made. They have served me so well I could write a whole post just about my "fietstassen".</div>
</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">If you are serious about learning Dutch get a <a href="http://www.directdutch.com/2013/09/give-expats-in-the-hague-the-opportunity-to-speak-dutch/">button "Spreek Nederlands! met mij!"</a> and pin it on your jacket. Otherwise people start speaking English to you when they hear your accent or hear you struggling to speak Dutch.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Buy a <a href="http://www.museumkaart.nl/">museumkaart</a> which gives you free entry to nearly 400 museums all over the country. To give you an idea there are more than <a href="http://www.amsterdam.info/nl/museumkaart/">30 museums in Amsterdam</a> which you can visit with the card.</li>
<li>If you have a garden plant some tulip bulbs, it will make spring even more exciting. You can plant them now between September and December. I mean it is the country of the tulips so why not let them flower in your garden.</li>
<li>Make sure you know how to flush the toilet. There are many different kind of toilets here. Sometimes you need to push a button or pull on a chain. There are even bloggers that write about the toilet here: <a href="http://www.expatica.com/nl/lifestyle_leisure/blogs_photos/Everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-Dutch-toilets_14840.html?ppager=0">everything you never wanted to know about Dutch toilets.</a></li>
<li>When going to a Dutch birthday party remember to congratulate all the family members too, it's what you do here.</li>
<li>If you want to start a conversation while waiting in a queue just start talking about the weather. In the beginning I was irritated about the fact that everyone complained about the weather and was always talking about the weather but it is just a way to start a conversation. What a revelation! </li>
<li>Start cycling just for fun. There are nearly 35 thousand kilometres of <a href="http://www.fietsersbond.nl/nieuws/bijna-35000-km-fietspad-nederland">cycle paths in our country</a>. It is the cyclist friendliest country in the world. Discover the cycling culture! Even the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23587916">BBC wonders why cycling is so popular in the Netherlands?</a> Do you need suggestions for your cycling adventure? If so check this website <a href="http://www.nederlandfietsland.nl/en">Nederland Fietsland.</a> </li>
<li>Taste the local food like stroopwafels, drop (liquorish) and herring. Did you that <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/09/what-do-dutch-miss-when-living-abroad.html">herring is the thing the Dutch miss most when they live abroad?</a></li>
<li>Make a local friend and spend time together.</li>
</ol>
Now back to the question about where I'm from. The answer is a complicated one. I am not a tourist but I am not really Dutch either. I was born and bred in Africa but I have a Dutch passport. When I came to my "passport country" I suffered from a culture shock. I now know I was a hidden immigrant at the time. I looked very Dutch but I thought differently. My identity had been formed by all the years I had lived in Africa. Even though I spoke Dutch at home I did not know the sayings and the slang words. I easily connect with expats and internationally minded people, actually I love being in an environment with people from different nationalities. Years ago I discovered that I was a "third culture kid". That discovery helped me understand my confusion. It gave words to my feelings. I am a member of the "third culture kid" tribe. Actually I am a global citizen living in the Netherlands at the moment. In Dutch we would say "een wereldburger".<br />
<br />
Just in case you have never heard of the term <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/p/tcks.html">"third culture kids"</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> it refers to <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">a person who has spent a <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpDIGTV_hzxTkJdiJrl4LJ-r-on_9u8LzNvmcaG_BKR9oIff4-32xgpSM61FC8o4MEhunRw0dtd9_6ehk7c_xnEzrd-6dkcIeax3eSTETVFRX2FlPk5sIxKLV0xVSW9y_9wc6EfeEJAto/s1600/IMG_8020+(1024x683).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpDIGTV_hzxTkJdiJrl4LJ-r-on_9u8LzNvmcaG_BKR9oIff4-32xgpSM61FC8o4MEhunRw0dtd9_6ehk7c_xnEzrd-6dkcIeax3eSTETVFRX2FlPk5sIxKLV0xVSW9y_9wc6EfeEJAto/s320/IMG_8020+(1024x683).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Madurodam by DrieCulturen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture, like I did. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Moving to the Netherlands years ago was the start of my new adventure. I hope you meet as many interesting people as I have here, I hope you become addicted to cycling like I did. I hope you not only survive but thrive in the land of the clogs and tulips. Do you have any survive and thrive tips? Please share them here.<br />
<br />
If you enjoy this blog would you take a couple of minutes and vote for my blog in the <a href="http://www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist/blog_vote.php">I'm not a tourist expat blog competition</a>. Voting closes 30 October 2013. So time is short. Thank you for your support.</div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-66363962970963793162013-10-06T16:19:00.000+02:002013-10-12T22:54:15.343+02:00Will therapy be the place a third culture kid finds their voice?Once again the internet has helped me find some research on third culture kids. This time it is a thesis on the subject "Third Route Kids: A New Way of Conceptualizing the Adult Third Culture Kid Experience" by Tamara Lynn Williams at the University of British Columbia (February 2013).<br />
<br />
I want to quote part of her research. I know she writes specifically about the therapeutic setting but there are some great themes here: third culture kids as hidden immigrants, fitting in to the dominant group, silencing their voices, and not telling their stories.<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="text-align: justify;">"In
a therapeutic setting, it may be of help to recognize your role as a therapist
in </span><span style="text-align: justify;">restoring the
voice to the TCKs in the room and to encourage them in finding places where
their stories and their voices will be accepted as valuable. Being able to
share their stories, even in a focus group setting, appeared to be a
positive and encouraging experience for the participants, and their
stories were often punctuated with laughter and recognition of a shared
experience. Remembering that TCKs are often a hidden minority/non-dominant/immigrant
population is important, since they may often be able to fit into the
social expectations in the world around them and will often avoid talking about
stories or experiences that may make others uncomfortable or that sessile individuals
have difficulty relating to. As a therapist, it is important not to place
people into predetermined categories based on assumptions of their culture
or past. Many TCKs are able to appear to fit into a dominant group, due to
the silencing they have experienced; if not given a voice in therapy,
their experience may go unexplored. It is hoped that therapy will serve as
a place where TCKs’ voices are heard and not another experience where TCKs
are silenced."</span></i><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">The research included focus groups of third culture kids in which they discussed different topics. What was striking is that participants noticed that they <b>all experienced a certain time that they felt</b>:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Increased angst</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Dissatisfaction with themselves</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Identity confusion.</span></li>
</ol>
As they matured they grew out of the period of angst and identity confusion. During that time they they felt:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Dissatisfaction with their sense of self</li>
<li>Heightened anxiety</li>
<li>Sadness</li>
<li>Worry over whether they would ever fit in</li>
</ol>
There were periods of feeling grief, anger and sadness over their childhood experiences. The good news is that as they matured and grew out of that developmental phase they <b>began to feel at peace and happy</b> with their experiences.<br />
<br />
If you grew up abroad, like I did and have experienced one or more of the feelings mentioned above then I hope you know now that you are not the only one with these feelings. It can be quite painful at the time but there is hope. A time can come when you feel at peace and can look back and kind of be happy with your experiences. I have not had help from a therapist but some times I wonder how it would have helped me. I read a lot on the topic of third culture kids. Reading and talking to others has helped me on my journey.<br />
<br />
You might need a little help in the process, maybe a therapist can help you a little on the way. If you find a good therapist, the therapy can be a safe place where your third culture kid voice and story can be heard.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips to help you on your journey in becoming an adult TCK:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Find people who will listen to your story!</li>
<li>Remember you have a unique story which needs to be told. Start a blog or submit your stories for the TCK anthology, read <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/09/giving-third-culture-kids-voice.html">Giving Third Culture Kids A Voice</a> for more information.</li>
<li>Sharing your story with like-minded people can be positive and encouraging.</li>
<li>If in despair seek help from a good therapist.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Have you felt any of the emotions mentioned? Have you found a way to be at peace with your childhood experineces? Any tips? Did therapy give you a safe place to tell your story? I wonder. Please share your story here. By the way here's the link to <a href="https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/43936/ubc_2013_fall_williams_tamara.pdf?sequence=1">Tamara Lynn William's research</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Related posts:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/03/downside-of-growing-up-overseas-as.html">The downside of growing up overseas as a third culture kid</a></b></li>
<li><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://thedisplacednation.com/2013/09/17/tck-talent-diahann-reyes-is-in-her-element-as-writer-actor-storytelling-coach/">TCK Talent Diahann Reys in her elemant as writer, actor and storytelling coach (the Displaced Nation)</a></b></li>
<li><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/05/are-you-raising-messed-up-kids.html">Are you raising messed up kids?</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2011/11/my-10-disadvantages-of-growing-up-in.html">My 10 disadvantages of growing up abroad</a></b></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-25845455933098595202013-09-22T20:08:00.001+02:002013-09-22T20:08:46.580+02:00Giving Third Culture Kids A VoiceRecently I had the privilege of meeting Eva László-Hertbert. I am glad she agreed to answer some questions about a great project that she is doing together with Jo Parfitt. Third culture kids this is your opportunity to be creative and to let your voice be heard. The project is called The <a href="http://www.theworldswithin.org/">Worlds Within TCK Anthology</a>. The deadline for submissions has been postponed to the 30th of October 2013, so you can still send in<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
submissions.<br />
<br />
These words by Eva jumped out at me:<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">"I am hugely excited about this project
and want to shout it out to all four corners of the world:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">hello, young and beautiful people, this is
your moment to tell the world what it is like to be born in Dubai, have
grandparents in Leicestershire, Skype with a best friend in Poland and still
miss life in Argentina."</span> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-align: justify;">How was the idea for the book born?</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6q2f7V-GyMKcD3otb7wXSKWCv_8c6lh-0VUGo3i7uwKIKT6Eg4-ettbmebmq-VJYxrDCKnFJezlenhKFbwS5vIYltD45pt702Cd6obcsvScXQVqG42DS6ivPd0wzOSosRm_KkA14NpAM/s1600/IMG_9938+(683x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6q2f7V-GyMKcD3otb7wXSKWCv_8c6lh-0VUGo3i7uwKIKT6Eg4-ettbmebmq-VJYxrDCKnFJezlenhKFbwS5vIYltD45pt702Cd6obcsvScXQVqG42DS6ivPd0wzOSosRm_KkA14NpAM/s320/IMG_9938+(683x1024).jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home is where the sunflower grows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea for the upcoming </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">anthology of TCK writing “ The Worlds
Within “</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> was forged following the 2012 FIGT
– Families in Global Transition – conference in Washington DC, USA. I
was invited to be the closing key note speaker and Jo was launching her book
and leading workshops on writing your life story.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Founded in 1998 at the kitchen table of
Ruth van Reken (co-author of <i>Third
Culture Kids–Growing Up Among Worlds</i>), FIGT is both the mother hen and the
flagship of all writing, research and publishing on TCK/ ATCK matters,
connecting brilliant minds who speak and dream in many tongues all across the
globe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To me, sharing my views on identity vs
nationality with 200 strangers who I had come to deeply feel connected to in
less than 72 hours was a life changing event. It was for the first time ever that
all the many pieces of my “weird” biography were being voiced and brought
together – and no one told me off for being weird, strange, too complicated or
simply unreal. These people were genuinely curious and they kept nodding – and
then had equally incredible stories to share themselves. Which they did until
the wee hours of the morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Questions that had put my life on hold
for so many years – who am I, where do I really belong to, and so many more –
suddenly found an answer and were put into the right context and perspective. Words
fail to describe the effect this had on my outlook on myself and the many
worlds I am living in… on Facebook this would translate into OMG !! WOW !! and
a lot of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My definition of home is: <b>home is where
you don’t need to explain yourself. </b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, in March 2012, at FIGT – please
immerse yourself into </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.figt.org/">www.FIGT.org</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
- me, myself and I arrived home. HOME! After
returning to The Hague, my eureka moment and Jo’s expert and compassionate
guidance led to the idea of giving other TCKs and ATCKs a voice of their own,
to be compiled into an anthology of original writing. A lot has been written <i>about</i> TCKs / ATCKs and related issues – we felt that the time for
showcasing the practice in genuine TCK/ATCK words and art was ripe. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Is it correct that art and writing can be
submitted? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To be part of <b><i>The Worlds Within</i></b>: Write
as much as a short story or as little as a haiku – you may use up to 2000
words; draw, paint, make a collage – whatever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
deadline</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> for submissions is 30 October 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Submissions</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
can be sent to </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:TCKTheWorldsWithin@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">TCKTheWorldsWithin@gmail.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,
in Times New Roman 12 font, formatted in indented paragraphs. Artwork will be
published in black and white and must be submitted in the highest possible
resolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Authors,
</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">aged<b>
</b>0-27<b>, </b>have the explicit right to
remain anonymous or submit their work using a nom-de-plume. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Minimum
requirements</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> that need to accompany
submissions: a name, the age when the submitted work was created, countries the
author has lived in and a three word motto, which is relevant to their life (mine,
for example is: connect – contribute – celebrate). If desired, they may add any
information – website, blog, email, twitter – by which their art / writing can
be followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The texts – up to 100 – will be
organized by age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, we do accept submissions of group
effort – what a great idea! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For all further questions please email
us </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:TCKTheWorldsWithin@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">TCKTheWorldsWithin@gmail.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,
like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheWorldsWithin">www.facebook.com/TheWorldsWithin</a>
and – very important – keep writing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And, last but not least: please be our
ambassador. Tell your siblings, cousins, friends, colleagues and class mates
about this chance to tell the world what it feels like to be the genuine,
unique and complex YOU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you Eva. I hope there will be many submissions because children who grow up in other cultures are very creative. Even adult third culture kids can send in submissions. Please spread the word around. I just love the idea of a book with works by third culture kids. What are your thoughts on this? I would love some comments. Just to let you know that I read each comment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Related Posts:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/03/guestblog-ode-to-third-culture-kids-by.html">Guestblog: An Ode To Third Culture Kids</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/08/a-third-culture-kid-spreaking-im-not.html">TCK speaking: "I'm not from Anywhere"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2012/07/guest-third-culture-kid-poem-by-marina.html">Guestpost: Who am I?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://seachangementoring.com/">SeaChangeMentoring Events October 2013 Den Haag</a> (SeaChangeMentoring Website)</li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-11608564098245550432013-08-30T21:37:00.001+02:002013-08-30T21:37:18.663+02:00Third Culture Kids, Blogging, Books and More<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I always love reading other blogs and especially when
they are written by someone who grew up abroad. I want to share a few blogs that I
have been reading the past few weeks. I like Susanne's blog. She was born in
Bruges, Belgium, lived in Poland, Japan and America. Susanne writes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e;">"Moving
around for me, at the time, was just a part of life."</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e;">"When we
moved back to the Netherlands, my past became a burden."</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #37404e;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">She writes about what it is like to be a third culture
kid, </span><a href="http://susanneisme.blogspot.nl/p/my-story.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">read her story here</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">. Growing up in Poland there was a time when Susanne </span><a href="http://susanneisme.blogspot.nl/2013/08/the-time-i-spoke-fluent-polish.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">spoke Polish fluently</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">. To her regret she does not speak Polish anymore. Do check her blog. Did
your past ever become a burden for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">I read an interesting article on </span><a href="http://mpeska.blogspot.nl/2013/08/the-benefits-of-reading-as-third.html?m=1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Benefits of Reading
As a Third Culture Kid</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">. Rowena is a
third culture kid who lived in Blantyre, Malawi, just like I did. We
"met" online by the way. She has a great love of books and reads
many. Books had a stabilzing effect on her life while she made an international
move as a pre-teen. Rowena says: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white;">"Books
helped me learn more about my culture and my surroundings. I was supposed to
know all about a culture I had never lived in, but I didn’t."</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I must admit I love reading too. Sometimes I wonder if
I read to be able to travel. So when I am actually not moving and travelling in
real life, I can travel while I read stories about life abroad. Am I escaping
real life too when I read books? I love having breakfast and then getting back
in to bed to read a good book, that's like heaven to me. It does not happen
often but when it does it's pure enjoyment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you a third culture kid who loves reading? Why do
you love reading? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">I want to keep you updated in how the blog is going.
Well in July 2013 there were a record amount of </span>pageviews. Thank you for stopping by and reading this blog. I have not
been blogging very frequently but behind the scenes I am trying to write a
book, I had a holiday in Belgium and France, I try to spend time with the
family and read some books too. I will be reviewing <a href="http://tonisummershargis.com/tonisbooks.html"><span lang="EN-GB">"The Stress-Free Guide to Studying in The
States"</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> by Toni Summers Hargis soon. The book is on my bedside table at the
moment. </span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYDNpZW-88unRmkJZtMBdw3NAiUpL_maH0RHAUEgmy9676PexTT0IiPa5SveSqksoQcvt25KI68AcRLrSHzFIZA-1GNLeyEaEkMH6SwDnC1yeibsFn4T_OvefuME3WvtUSWt3TyFTMOul/s1600/DSC09805+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYDNpZW-88unRmkJZtMBdw3NAiUpL_maH0RHAUEgmy9676PexTT0IiPa5SveSqksoQcvt25KI68AcRLrSHzFIZA-1GNLeyEaEkMH6SwDnC1yeibsFn4T_OvefuME3WvtUSWt3TyFTMOul/s320/DSC09805+(1024x768).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books I recently received & want to read!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">I did a skype interview this week with Emma, she is a university student
studying anthropology in England. She interviewed me for her research on third
culture kids. I am so glad that there is ongoing research on what it is like to
grow up in other cultures. I also want to let you know that I have added a link
on this blog to </span><a href="http://youthcompass.org/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">YouthCompass</span></a><span lang="EN-GB">. They are an organisation that have been working with TCKs since 2001. I
hope to post an interview all about YouthCompass in the future. I must admit
that I had never heard of YouthCompass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you read any interesting third culture kid blogs
recently?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Related Posts:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/2013/07/book-review-slurping-soup-and-other.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Book Review:
Slurping Soup and Other Confusions</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.djiboutijones.com/2013/07/painting-pictures-transitioning-globally-to-university/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">My Story & 10
Tips Transitioning Globally to University</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> (on Djibouti Jones)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.joparfitt.com/2013/08/i-talk-to-toni-summers-hargis-about-her-new-book-stress-free-guide-to-studying-in-the-states/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Interview with Toni
Summers Hargis about her new book The Stress-Free Guide to Studying in The
States</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> (JoParfitt website)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://milliverstravels.com/2011/07/summer-vacations-at-my-grandmas-house-poland-ohio/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Summer vacations at
Grandma's House by Julia Munroe Martin</span></span></a><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Millivers
Travels)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083060414078872115.post-51178876061061370902013-08-12T21:49:00.002+02:002013-08-12T21:49:40.943+02:00I am glad that another (Adult) Third Culture Kid Overcame his lifelong Identity Crisis<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once again I read an interesting article, this time on the <a href="http://www.timeoutdubai.com/knowledge/features/42784-third-culture-kids-in-dubai#.UgkzbtJJqSo">Time Out Dubai website.</a> The author grew up as a <a href="http://drieculturen.blogspot.nl/p/tcks.html">third culture kid </a>but had never heard of the term until someone reacently shared about it on facebook. You see amazing things can even happen on facebook!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The author Hfu <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Reisenhofer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> explains that the question: <b>Where are you from? </b>Was a difficult one for him. Like it is for many of us. He writes:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"You see, for years I didn’t know who or what I am – at least officially. It sounds like an odd thing to say, but it’s the truth. If you were born in Tokyo but brought up in Hong Kong, have an Austrian passport but feel British, have a Japanese first name and a German last name but pronounce them with an English accent, the issue of where you’re from is not as straightforward as it seems."</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Hfu I had an international childhood. I was born in Zambia, lived in Malawi and Zimbabwe but my passport country is the Netherlands. So am I African? Am I Dutch? Am I Zimbabwean? Am I a mix? Well years ago I discovered that I'm a third culture kid too.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 20px;">I really like the end of the article. He says <i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, go on, ask me where I’m from. I’ve finally got the answer."</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am so glad Hfu finally found the answer! I am still concerned because like him I think there are more adults and young people out there who grew up as third culture kids but have never heard the term. Who have not experienced the relief, the validation, discovered that they are not alone in this, and that there are more individuals like them. There is still work to be done. The word has to get out. Will you help spread the word?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How can we spread the word about the term third culture kids?</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="line-height: 20px;">Expat parents must teach their children.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 20px;">Teachers at international schools must teach their pupils about it.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 20px;">We adult third culture kids must spread the word around.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 20px;">Do you have ideas how we can raise awareness? How can we get the word out? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/FouOIB_AAfw/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/FouOIB_AAfw&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/FouOIB_AAfw&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 20px;">This is the trailer of the film "Les Passagers" I have shared it before but it is one of my favourites so I will share it again.</span></div>
DrieCulturenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.com0