THIRD CULTURE KIDS (TCK)
What’s your story? How many countries have your lived in? Do you think that you are a TCK? How do you think your travel experiences have affected the type of person you are today? If you don’t think you are a TCK, how do you think you are different from the people introduced in the video?
What’s your story?
I was born in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, in 2001. I moved to Singapore 2004. After living there for 6 years, I moved to India due to my dad's job. In late 2012, I moved back to Singapore and I have been there ever since.
How many countries have your lived in?
I have lived in three countries.
Do you think that you are a TCK?
I think I am a TCK because I have moved to cities which have a major contrast in terms of their cultures, traditions and the general lifestyles of surrounding communities. I feel that I have lived up to most of the qualities mentioned of being a third culture kid, such us being unable to fully identify or be familiarised with my birth culture or others I have been exposed to. I similarly also often doubt which nationality I belong too, living overseas, speaking English and being immersed in an international education for over 11 years. Due to this, I have experienced being isolated when interacting with relatives or people in Indonesia when visiting and have dealt with racism or culture clashes with my more western approach in most situations.
How do you think your travel experiences have affected the type of person you are today?
I think my travel experiences have affected the type of person I currently am as being fortunate enough to visit and live in various countries as I am comfortable with getting to recognise and respect the beliefs, languages, customs or intangible cultures of others, even if some may seem unusual and different to what concepts I am used to. Just by having an international education for all my life has made it very easy for me to accept the true definition of diversity and understand the hardships of going to an area where the people are less or more able to have overseas luxuries such as an expat filled city like Singapore. Ultimately, I am open to being interested in the different ideas people have or getting to know the behaviour of locals, commonly influenced by their environment.
I was born in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, in 2001. I moved to Singapore 2004. After living there for 6 years, I moved to India due to my dad's job. In late 2012, I moved back to Singapore and I have been there ever since.
How many countries have your lived in?
I have lived in three countries.
Do you think that you are a TCK?
I think I am a TCK because I have moved to cities which have a major contrast in terms of their cultures, traditions and the general lifestyles of surrounding communities. I feel that I have lived up to most of the qualities mentioned of being a third culture kid, such us being unable to fully identify or be familiarised with my birth culture or others I have been exposed to. I similarly also often doubt which nationality I belong too, living overseas, speaking English and being immersed in an international education for over 11 years. Due to this, I have experienced being isolated when interacting with relatives or people in Indonesia when visiting and have dealt with racism or culture clashes with my more western approach in most situations.
How do you think your travel experiences have affected the type of person you are today?
I think my travel experiences have affected the type of person I currently am as being fortunate enough to visit and live in various countries as I am comfortable with getting to recognise and respect the beliefs, languages, customs or intangible cultures of others, even if some may seem unusual and different to what concepts I am used to. Just by having an international education for all my life has made it very easy for me to accept the true definition of diversity and understand the hardships of going to an area where the people are less or more able to have overseas luxuries such as an expat filled city like Singapore. Ultimately, I am open to being interested in the different ideas people have or getting to know the behaviour of locals, commonly influenced by their environment.