Serve

I'm not feeling well today. I feel like so much of me...who I was doesn't exist anymore. I say that I'm not from the states, yet I don't feel cultural at all nor do I feel American. It's like I exist in this in between stage - this limbo.

I do get tired of the depressed feelings. I do get tired of not being able to maintain the happiness that happens to befall upon me.

I'm bored and I'm restless. I need a change. I've been going to school for way too long. I've been feeling "stuck" for way too long and it's sucking what little bit of life there is left out of me.

My goal is to genuinely try to focus on others. To genuinely listen and take in what others are saying either verbally or non-verbally. I want to get the most out of my experiences rather than continue to wait around for things to change because by doing that, I'm letting this short life slip away day by day, moment by moment.

My goal is to genuinely pour out love to others in ways that they need - not in ways that I need. I've often heard that by giving to others, it helps one become less focused on self and feel a greater purpose. I'm ready for my greater purpose and if all it is is to give others a smile or a hug, I'm ready.


Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

Developmental Change

For so long, I’ve viewed being a TCK – someone with no roots – as a negative, when in fact there are a lot of positive attributes associated with my ability to be flexible, malleable, pliable.
Society has a tendency to look at something and/or someone and label them with one name. The “naughty boy,” the “happy couple, the” alcoholic,” the ”emotional girl,” etc. When we do that, it connotes stagnation; it doesn’t imply the ability to ever learn from our past mistakes or change.

Being a TCK has allotted me the opportunity to interact with people from a multitude of different cultures. I’m talking cultures from different countries, but also cultural differences within one country. Culture can even be described as the differences between men and women.

I would like to pride myself on being someone who is at a stage in development and someone who is always willing and able to mold, shift, change, become, and thrive with whatever the world throws at me. I’ve been so focused on not fitting in and meshing with the American culture that I’ve been blinded to the positivity growing up overseas has given me.

From now on, I will try to see people for who they are: living, changing, ever-growing human beings. We all have the chance and opportunity to learn from our past and become who we want to be and for that, I’m truly grateful to be a TCK; to allow myself to developmentally change and blossom.

Global Citizen

There is a lot that I'm learning and beginning to accept about myself. I think I always knew a lot of these things, but when I moved to the States....everything I did - everything I was became wrong.

I've come to recognize and accept that most people do not talk about cultural things or even really acknowledge the existence of their own culture in everyday life. Being a TCK doesn't really warrant you that opportunity. It becomes second nature to be inquisitive and interested in most all things culture latent.

That being said, I'm curious if other TCK's are this way:

I have a hard time telling others what I think. More specific, I have a hard time developing an opinion about much of anything. This is a phenomenon that seems to be more prevalent the older I become.



When I was younger, as I'm sure it is for the majority of people from any culture, I grasped onto my parent's culture. They are Christian. They are educators. My mom is from the south so we had cornbread and black-eyed peas for New Year's eve. My dad is from the north so we always had to have a pastie when we went up to the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan). I know those are only a few things that I'm naming and a lot had to do with food, but hopefully you get my point. I've mentioned this in other posts, but I was drawn to the stories my parents would tell longing for the day that I could live in the States and participate in a similar lifestyle. I dreamed of having a family and being a career woman. Oddly enough, I never dreamed about traveling much. I had set in my mind that I was an American and that I was going to live a very similar lifestyle that my own parents did.

They say that TCK's go through a delayed adolescence. I see the truth in that. It's been a long time coming and I'm still discovering who I am. Perhaps that's why I'm attracted to all things personality...but even more than that - I think it's a TCK trait.

We are very good at observing our surroundings. We don't often give our opinions right away because we want to discover what the "norm" is and that "norm" has changed so often in our lives that, as stated earlier, it becomes second nature. We want to figure out who you are before we allow ourselves to jump in.

I use to think being a chameleon was a sign of being untrue to oneself, but I'm slowly realizing the positive value in my capabilities. I have the ability to understand a wide variety of people with little to no judgement. I have a want to understand who people are and their backgrounds.

Yes, it becomes lonely when you're the only one asking questions. Yes, it becomes confusing when you're only learning about other people and not taking the time to discover who you really are. Many TCK's struggle with identity and rootlessness and it's very understandable. I believe those things have contributed greatly to my depression and PMDD. However, I'm accepting that this IS part of my identity and there is nothing wrong with it. It feels odd to not fully immerse yourself in one culture. People look at you funny or can't always understand or want to understand, but the beauty is that we are true global citizens. We are not closed off to one way of being. We are mailable, flexible, ever-learning people.

For once in my life I can say I'm proud of where I've been. I'm proud of who I've become and I'm looking forward to this continued journey!

Memories of Life Abroad

I wanted to create a mini collage that captured some pictures of the lifestyle I once led.

In honor of the Arabic-way of reading, I will start on the right and then move to the left.

Bahrain was the place I grew up from the time I was 6 years until 12 years old. I loved the pearl round-about because my name means "pearl". Not only that, but Bahraini's are known for their pearl diving skills and use dhows to accomplish that. I've written before about the Tree of Life. It's just an awesome, natural wonder!

The causway is a bridge that links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia together. We never went into Saudi because we didn't have a visa to be there, but we went half way and it was neat.

I loved shopping in the souk. The smells and the colors were amazing. Shop owners would often invite you in for some tea or to try some of their fresh pistachios or candies. You could buy carpets and gold galore!!

Terceira was the place I grew up from the time I was 12 years until 18 years old. I have a lot more clear, defined memories of this island.

Azaleas grow and bloom in the summer time and when they do, it looks like waterfalls of flowers are cascading down the hillside. The spirit houses are very unique to the Portuguese culture. It's a parish that houses the Holy Ghost's crown and there is usually a celebration that goes along with it. Back in the 1200's, Queen Elizabeth of mainland Portugal was said to start the tradition letting the poorest of people be crowned for a day. It was a tradition adopted on the Azorean islands in the 1400's.

The other four pictures are common scenes seen on the island. It's very common to see an older gentleman riding in a cart pulled by a donkey. It's very common to walk upon cobblestone roads. Neptune's face is just exist and a reminder of how beautiful nature truly can be!!