What does it mean to be a TCK?

In our Global Connections meeting on Monday we talked about what our group originally stood for and that was to support TCK's (Third Culture Kids.) Third Culture Kids are individuals who have grown up overseas or in a different place from their parents. These individuals have 2 (or more) cultures in their lives, the culture(s) that their parents are from and the culture that they grow up in. These 2 cultures then merge to from a third culture, the culture of the individual (e.g. TCK.)

I myself am a TCK, but living here in Colorado have never thought that I really identified with that identity as I don't talk very much about living in Japan and I have family here so I mainly identify with the English and American sides of me. I think when I lived in England I was more of a TCK as I was identifying more with Japan after just moving from there.

However, recently I have been thinking about what I identify with nowadays and I realize that I am more of a TCK than I previously thought. One thing that I noticed recently is that although I identify with my English side, people often know more about England than I do. This often makes me quite upset as it makes me sad that I do not know much about the history, politics, etc of my country of birth. I know this cannot be helped, because I have been to many different schools all over the world and have never really learned it at school. However it still makes me sad, when people ask me questions that I don't know and that I have never taken the time or had the interest to pursue. I guess it makes me sad because it makes me feel as though my English side of me has gotten just a little bit smaller, by not know things.

I often feel this with other identities that I have like the Japanese and American sides of me. When people in England used to ask me things about America or when people ask me whether I can speak Japanese and I say that I no longer can, I feel myself shrink a little bit inside.

I think I feel this way because whenever I am in a different country I fit in by not fitting in, e.g. I fall back on my other identities. And if I don't have these identities to fall back on, then who am I?

I guess I am a mix of all of these cultures, that is my third culture. It is just that when you know or are a little bit of everything, sometimes you can feel like you are nothing.

Relay for Life 2011!

Relay for Life was so good last night, even if it was a bit tiring lol. :)

I am quite proud of myself I will be honest, I had not trained for it and I was pleased about how much I could walk it.

I think that over all I walk for about 3 and a half hours. I think I walked about 8.4 miles.

It was an amazing experience, really nice to help out a good cause while being able to spend time with friends at the same time.

My first time at Sonic! Eating in a car is so overrated lol :)

Shreya and Lizzy doing the first laps for the team!

Eunhee and Grace 'preparing' for their lap

Colorful campsite madness with all the teams

Opening Ceremony 

Playing Egyptian Rat Screw to pass the time

Hanging out singing songs and eating Cinnamon rolls. Definitely enjoying the finer things of life. :)

Gnomes can make jolly good glass stands :)

Miss print in previous blog post

I didn't mean that it was my last blog ever, just my last blog for my front desk shift. :)

Sorry for the confusion!

Just hanging out right now at Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. It is a great day of remembrance, but also of celebrating the survivors and the progress made in science! It really makes me think, but is also encouraging. :)

For all you GloCo'ers out there

I promise this is my last post. I just had to show this to you as it made me smile! :)

Victor Kim Video

I know I have added a lot of blog posts in the last couple of hours, but I am quite bored so have tried my hand at video editing.

This is a video that I made of a mix of the Victor Kim songs that I recorded at the concert before my camera died. 

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud938VKKUuc

Yes I did catch you playing! :)

I am sorry Lizzy and Eunhee, but I did record you both playing piano together. I am sorry I just couldn't help it! You both are so cute together and your playing is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJDMmjbQrQ

Global Connections Pictures

Hi,

I just found all my Global Connections Pictures that I had from the past couple of weeks.

Me wearing Lizzy's Fedora during the meeting after the Flash Mob for Asian Fest. I love that hat! :)

All so engaged in the meeting lol :)

What a face!

Waiting for Victor Kim to start (yes I did make Michael look tired) :)

Euhee and her piano skills

Joe taking a picture of me taking a picture of him (yes thats right!)

Lizzy doing the same

So happy and excited for the show!

I really like them! Tell me what you think :)