Dear Americans: Let Me Tell You About Third-Culture Kids | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Dear Americans: Let Me Tell You About Third-Culture Kids

Please don't ask me where I'm from...

48
Dear Americans: Let Me Tell You About Third-Culture Kids
Maximgbase

Dear Americans,

The music was blasting, there were dancing bodies everywhere, we were all having a good time when I suddenly looked around me and felt so incredibly isolated from you. All I could think about was how American you are.

And yet I'm American, but I'm not at the same time.

That's the struggle of Third Culture Kid; parts of us identify with everyone while parts of us are lost.

Our number one dreaded question is, "Where are you from?" Do you mean where was I born? Where are my parents from? Where did I move from?

We don't want to always bring up the places we've lived or travelled because you'll think we're showing off, but then we get semi-interrogated about our upbringing. Total Catch-22. Often, I will completely avoid telling you where I'm from because of the attention it draws. Yes, it's pretty cool to be from somewhere that you are so fascinated by, but it's an extremely strange feeling to watch you take a double-take of me and ask me to repeat myself in case you heard wrong.


Oh, and documents asking for our "permanent address" give us a mini anxiety attack.

We have an internal conflict when choosing which temperature filter to choose on Snapchat. Also, we still think in our own currencyand have to convert the prices of things in order to understand the prices here or to translate the prices of purchases from home.

We forget that songs we played at home aren't always a thing here. But yes, we do know "your" music too.

We've had multiple passports since we came out of the womb, but a driver's license is another story...

Speaking of travel -- we almost all have a favorite airport. And don't ask us to count how many countries we've been to.

We've all encountered that awkward moment when you ask us where we got our clothing item from, and we drop another country's name.

Our Facebook newsfeed is full of multiple languages and global perspectives that keep our fellow international friends close.

We have multiple friends that we haven't seen in years but still consider our closest friends. We also almost always have a place to stay in each country due to this international network of friends.

When we think about where we'd raise our future families, it's an eternal debate of whether we'd give this experience to our children of belonging everywhere yet nowhere simultaneously.

We want you to understand that just because travel is an essential part of our life, it does not mean we are all rich kids rolling in money. I've noticed during my time here that a significant difference in our experiences is how our families prioritize our money. Travel and education are the utmost values in my family, while several Americans prioritize real estate and fancy cars. By all means, spend your money how you like, but take some time to reflect on what you will choose to prioritize as you spend your money. Experience or materials?

Lastly, some self-education on the world would be appreciated. I apologize for my generalization, but there is a common view of Americans as very ethnocentric and closed off from the rest of the world. More times than I can count, you've thought that my home was in an entirely other continent than it actually is in, or in another country, or have thought that my city is a country.

So, there's a bit on us Third Culture Kids. Yes, we are so fortunate to have experienced the world in the way we have and I am in no way complaining about that. However, when it comes to our self-identity and relating to others who aren't like us, it's a forever long party in which we're looking around wondering who we are as the music rings in our ears.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

955
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

574
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199665
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20561
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments