So, being raised in Canada and other countries, I’m definitely a TCK. As with everything in life, there are advantages and challenges with being a TCK*.
Advantages:
1. You’re a global citizen.
You have friends from all over the globe. You can even start your own united nations if you wanted to.
2. You have no problem making new friends.
There’s a party, sure, I’d love to go with you. You can’t make it anymore, no worries, just tell me the address and I’ll go on my own.
3. You embrace change and know how to let things go.
We’re moving again? Okay, when are we moving? I want to invite my friends over one last time before we leave. Just tell me when to start packing.
4. You have a better understand of people.
Yeah, they’re celebrating Diwali. It’s quite an interesting celebration. I love the colours!
5. You’re more openminded.
Well, you probably know people from all walks of life. So, nothing really surprises you. And you learn to focus on the similarities rather than the differences.
6. You know how to be vulnerable, which is great in relationships.
Moving around a lot and having to make friends quickly makes you quite vulnerable in ways you couldn’t have even imagined. And then you realize, it’s because of your vulnerability that you were able to connect with people so easily and quickly. And as science has shown it some recent articles, being able to be vulnerable within the first hour of meeting someone creates an immediate bond.
7. You live your life to the fullest, living in the moment.
Your inner child always comes out, and whether you’re traveling or at home, you make the most of your life.
Disadvantages:
1. Your parents want you to attribute yourself more towards their culture as you get older.
Nope, not happening. Kinda too late for that.
2. Your parents want you to go back ‘home’.
Really? Now how’s that home?
3. They want you to marry someone from their culture?
If they’re like me, okay. Otherwise, na ah!
4. You have to constantly explain away the weird stuff your parents do, to your friends.
Yeah, umm… that’s not a skirt my dad’s wearing… and my mom does have fashion sense, it’s just how people dress back ‘home’.
5. You don’t really know which culture you belong to.
You seem to have a foot in each culture.
6. While you’re comfortable with your parents’ culture and are proud of it and align yourself with it, once you get off the plane when visiting your parents ‘home’, you quickly realize that those people are not like you.
Did I say I was from there? Yeah, I’m definitely not. When are we going back home???
7. Visiting relatives and keeping in touch involves hopping on planes and a gazillion phone cards over the years.
And, when speaking to them on the phone, you have to pretend you know exactly who they are and be polite all at the same time, while struggling to maintain a conversation in their native tongue.
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* A TCK is defined as an individual who has spent a significant part of their childhood years outside of their parents’ culture.
The Hibster 