identity

Yvonne McArthur – Migrations

Migrations
– Yvonne McArthur

We began as a
flock of Scots, a
Glasgow-living clan
Eaters of thick oatmeal
Musical brogue speakers

Crossed the Atlantic
Nested by the Speed River
Tossed seeds from the
Heights of Black Bridge

Some took root,
Sprouted into saplings
A forest of cousins,
Great uncles, and grandnieces
A family diaspora
Populating Canada

Others kept their wings
Soared down to Chiapas
Bushwacked through
Jungle, canoed on rivers,
Ate roasted monkey

But the wind currents called.
Drew feathered creatures
South to the highlands
Land of the Maya
To live among growers of
Garlic and onion

I learned to fly here,
Beating back and forth between
The Great Lakes and the
Caribbean Plate
Drawn to stay, become
endemic to one place. But also
Lured to fly onward forever

Yvonne McArthur is a TCK poet who grew up in Guatemala. Find out more about her or read more of her poetry here!

Read more TCK poetry here.

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Third Culture Music – Sam Cronin

In this video, Sam Cronin of Third Culture Music talks about his TCK childhood and how it has impacted his lifestyle, career, and music.

“Country or no country, nationality or not – it was the realisation that a passport means nothing, and this is an ideology that has really inspired my lifestyle today.” ~ Sam Cronin, Third Culture Music

Listen to more of Third Culture Music’s songs here.

Follow Third Culture Music on YouTube here.

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Megan Norton – TCK author and advocate

About Megan Norton:

Hello; Sziasztok; Bonjour; Guten Tag!

As the daughter of a former U.S. diplomat, I identify as a Global Nomad (Adult Third Culture Kid); and with my extensive international experience, I have a global perspective and demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity. I have lived in ten countries (in order of moves: USA, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Israel, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and currently in USA), 5 U.S. states (in order of moves: Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Washington D.C., Michigan), and have visited over 30 countries.

I am an intercultural communication specialist and trainer. This title and the professional skill sets related to it have been applied in different ways over the past ten years specifically in the Third Culture Kid and transnational education space. I co-founded a nonprofit organization called “Intercultural Transitions” (www.interculturaltransitions.org) in which my co-founder and I envisioned serving our university-bound diplomatic TCK communities worldwide. I am also an independent consultant with several organizations that serve Third Culture Kids.

Find out more about Megan Norton and check out her podcast, her book, and more at her website!

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Where Is Home? – Elliphant

Where Is Home, a song by Elliphant

Lyrics
When the way come, you know we can’t stay
And then blissness is calling out for me
And you flashes pink and life is colour blue
I’m not here, I’m gon’ never die
We got love, we can still survive
And what I feel’s what I gotta do
But can I rest with you?


Where is home?
I’m starting to believe that it is gone
‘Cause I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
Where is home?
All I want is silence in my soul
But I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
Yeah, I’ve been searching, searching, searching


Life is drifting so fast, I don’t sleep
I’m afraid to miss a moment where I’m free
With you, we’re both lost, and nothin’ we’d approved
I can jump ’cause I know I land
All I need is to trust your hand
And like the wind, I will blow away
Unless you make me stay


Where is home?
I’m starting to believe that it is gone
‘Cause I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
Where is home?
All I want is silence in my soul
But I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching


Yeah, I’ve been searching, searching, searching (do I look so sore?)
And I’ve been bursting, bursting, bursting (look at me more)
My mind is rumbling, rumbling, rumbling (is right)
‘Cause I’ve been wondering, wondering, wondering


Where is home?
I’m starting to believe that it is gone
‘Cause I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
Where is home?
All I want is silence in my soul
But I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching


Where is home?
I’m starting to believe that it is gone
‘Cause I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
I need peace
All I want is silence in my soul
But I don’t find it
Though I’m looking
Keep searching
Yeah, I’ve been searching, searching, searching

More about Elliphant

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Takunda Muzondiwa – spoken word poet

Takunda Muzondiwa is a cross-cultural kid born in Zimbabwe, who performs spoken word poetry as a way to express her confusion about her cultural identity. In this video she performs a poem as part of her speech at the Race Unity Speech Awards from 2019.

“Yesterday I was African; today I am lost.” ~ Takunda Muzondiwa

Find out more about Takunda

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Run of the World – Original Song

Run of the World is an original song written by Hannah Mathews and performed by Hannah and Moriah Mathews. Hannah and Moriah are TCKs, and this song is about the mobility and transition of an international lifestyle, and how it impacts an understanding of “home”.

Lyrics:

Run of the World

Will you hold on to me
When my soul is giving up?
Will you stay by my side
When my mind slides past midnight?
And I know that I am asking
For more than I can give
But I’ve never had enough
To settle down

Cuz I’m on the run from something
But I don’t know what
Like a hound from hell
Baying on my heels
And I never get away
But it never catches up
I keep letting go
And it keeps me moving on

Will you whisper in my ear
That the world is all the same?
Will you hold my love for ransom
If I choose to walk away?
And I know that I’ve been traveling
Far and farther away
But it seems now that I’ve gone
Nowhere at all

Cuz I’m on the run from something
But I don’t know what
Like a hound from hell
Baying on my heels
And I never get away
But it never catches up
I think it’s using satellites to trace me

Maybe you could try that
Maybe it might work
All I ask is if you find me
That you help me find myself

Cuz I’m on the run from something
But I don’t know what
Like a hound from hell
Baying on my heels
And I never get away
But it never catches up
I race for greener grass
But all the earth’s the same garden

I never get away
But it never catches up
Maybe I could call this home
After all

More TCK music videos

More videos from Hannah and Moriah

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Growing Up Global – short documentary

“Growing Up Global”, a short documentary made at Mont’Kiara International School.

“This documentary has been made with passion and determination to give all those who struggle with their identities hope. Hope to find themselves. Hope to better understand who they are. No matter how lonely someone feels, it’s important to know that you are not alone and that there are other people feeling what you’re feeling somewhere in the world. It’s been a dream come true working on this project and we are very grateful for those who supported us.” – Ana Hummes Ota

Where do I belong? What is my culture? Where will I end up? Where is home? These are some of the questions that weigh on the minds of our modern day ‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCKs). Students attending international schools around the world have faced the challenge of assimilating into unfamiliar environments, making new friends, and learning local customs.

All of this sounds glamorous, but being a TCK has its challenges. This short documentary film highlights some of these challenges; it also sheds some light on the fact that if you are a TCK, you are not alone. The brainchild of a Mont’Kiara International School student, Ana Hummes Ota, Growing Up Global is a wonderfully balanced documentary that takes into account the lives a handful of students who recognize themselves as TCKs. Produced in collaboration with Mont’Kiara International School and a Portuguese journalist Madalena Augusto, it is a documentary that is bound to open the eyes of many viewers to the lives that these young global citizens lead.

Growing Up Global was premiered on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Mont’Kiara International School.

Music: “Where is Home” by Elliphant feat Twin Shadow.

Special thanks to Lisbon Works and Madalena Augusto

More TCK documentaries

By CulTuremiKs, ago

Vaughn Thompson Jr. – I Am Third Culture

“What are you? I can’t even tell you how many times I had to answer that question in my life. And not once did ‘Vaughn Thompson Jr.’ seem like a good enough answer. Man, sometimes it didn’t even seem like ‘human’ would suffice. So now I just say, ‘I am third culture.'” ~ Vaughn Thompson Jr.

Watch more videos by Vaughn here

See other TCK poetry videos here

By CulTuremiKs, ago