My Third Culture Kids
My girls don't know what M&Ms are. They think it's mind-boggling that there are parts of the world where someone can deliver an entire meal to your home. Celebrities to them are Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Julie Andrews (we watch a lot of musicals). They have never eaten in a McDonalds (and if I have my way - never will!) When they hear someone speaking another language they wonder if it's French or Swedish or Romanian - it's not a surprise to them to hear other languages. They only like Italian cheese. They know what red wine tastes like (Paloma and Viola like it, Giulia does not). They have no idea what is on television tonight. My girls say things like "rubbish" and "jumper" and make fun of the way we say "mad" or "Tommy" with our flat a's and o's. When they don't get their way they exclaim "Boring!"
My girls have US passports, were born in Rome and have never lived in the US. They go to a British international school and speak with English accents. I was born in Germany, grew up in Panama and Colorado, but am Puertorican on both parents' side for many generations. Steve was born in Connecticut, grew up there and in Colorado and comes from a Russian Jewish background. So far, so confusing!
We often wonder what kind of effect this will have on them in the future. Will they feel like "citizens of the world" or aimless and confused - never really knowing what place to call home? I was a "third culture kid" myself and never felt any negative repercussions, but when I see how deeply grounded Italians are to their home, families and friends- I feel a bit envious of this type of stability - this strong sense of identity.
Many of us Americans are wanderers - living transient lives that take us from one place to another - either through a job, family or even just on a whim or a dream. We have this sense of freedom this sense of endless possibilities that doesn't translate or even exist really in other cultures. Benefit or detriment? Positive or negative? I guess I'll find out in about 15-20 years.
My girls have US passports, were born in Rome and have never lived in the US. They go to a British international school and speak with English accents. I was born in Germany, grew up in Panama and Colorado, but am Puertorican on both parents' side for many generations. Steve was born in Connecticut, grew up there and in Colorado and comes from a Russian Jewish background. So far, so confusing!
We often wonder what kind of effect this will have on them in the future. Will they feel like "citizens of the world" or aimless and confused - never really knowing what place to call home? I was a "third culture kid" myself and never felt any negative repercussions, but when I see how deeply grounded Italians are to their home, families and friends- I feel a bit envious of this type of stability - this strong sense of identity.
Many of us Americans are wanderers - living transient lives that take us from one place to another - either through a job, family or even just on a whim or a dream. We have this sense of freedom this sense of endless possibilities that doesn't translate or even exist really in other cultures. Benefit or detriment? Positive or negative? I guess I'll find out in about 15-20 years.
posted by lomalinda at
15:57
1 Comments:
I can relate! My mom is Filipino and I grew up mostly in the Philippines with a couple of stops in the US in between times, in places like Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. My dad is 100% German, born and raised on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. His dad was more comfortable speaking German than English. I speak three languages, more or less. I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to have such an international upbringing. I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
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