TCKids

Edit: Gee, I only really talked about myself in here...only coz I shouldn't be blogging at all right now D: I only blogged about myself since this topic has been annoying me for past few days. Maybe one day I'll make a proper post about the whole TCK topic :)

So I was watching this guy...don't know how I got to this, but one phrase got me stuck. 

Yeah thats right. 

TCK.

AKA "Third Culture Kids"

D:



Have I been living under a rock or something, theres actually a term for this!? 

"...A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of [their] developmental years outside the parents' culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background."

(totaly quoted Wiki just now, badass alert)


But anyways, yeah, I guess Australia would be filled with TCKids... but I think bringing another culture to the mix takes it to a whooole different level. No, I'm not being melodramatic or self-centric, nor do I think I'm more 'special' (in every level possible, I guess...) than the 'normal' or 'TCK'ids just because I got the 'third' mix... Its just little bit hard and lonely to culturally click on with other people. (This probs got to do with the fact that Imma down right introvert with weirdass-artfart-wanna be, but yeah, so this becomes more so of a problem.) 

I mean, wouldn't it be super duper nice to have a chat with your average TCK, aaand bring on the third mix? O: Thats like I could be talking to SL/Aus kid about places and hometowns in SL, and suddently talk about the other home town in Japan. I guess I got a couple of Lankan friends who were born and brought up in Japan, now living somewhere else... but they literally live somewhere else :( A proper chat and fb chat is totes different!!

For instance...lets just say, for a Sri Lankan person coming to Australia, yeah that would be hard, culture shock, different accent, blahblahblah, but the SL community here is fairly large, and it would be super easy to get along with other students/families who just came from there. And same thing for Japanese. (Im only pulling these two up coz...theyre the closest to home and all.)

Now, how many of you have actually heard of... lets say, an Asian born and brought up in a African country, and then moved to a western country. As for me, how many of you have heard a Srilankan born and brought up in Japan, now living in Australia?


Its so awkward and bothersome to explain when I get asked the 'where are you from' question. Because, yes, by my looks, I'm 100% Sri Lankan. Not even going to deny that, and I don't want to deny that. And I guess I am pretty lankan when you look at my daily life basis stuff. Lot of 'native' Lankan has said Im pretty much like a Australian, but...heeck no, you just don't know me well then :/

With the Australian side... yeah sure, I got a piece of paper and a passport to prove that I'm an 'Australian', but nothing beyond that defines the identification for me. Sure, I'm super westernised in the sense of mind set, but I can't really relate to the whole 'Australian culture'. (The whole 'true blue' and 'ANZAC' spirit. Mind you, I wholeheartedly respect both of said spirits, just doesn't feel like a part of it.) But I do know that my attitudes and beliefs got solidified, but will keep on changing, because I was able to spend my teenage years here. I guess in that sense I am a uber spoiled to the core, since I had that luxury to grow up in such a open minded culture. I got to meet so many different people from different countries, cultures, social and economical backgrounds... and going to MacG ovbiously played a huge role (: Also my 'rents! They are still very Srilankan, but very very...open minded? Probably because they lived in Japan for nearly 20 years before coming here, probably mellowed down the culture shock by gizillion time.

So by looks, Im ovbiously Srilankan/Australian. I don't really care if people just passes me as that, but I can't help but say that I was 'born and brought up' in Japan when I get asked the whole 'where are you from' question. It feels like I'm trying to deny the fact that Im Srilankan though... But I'm not D: I'm just letting them know, because I will be little different from the native or TCK Srilankans. Its hard to present my self to a single culture person without sounding like 'I LOVE JAPAN' freak, because they don't understand the significance of actually been brought up in a totaly different culture. 

To be frank, I didn't even realise I was a ' foreigner' while I was in Japan. I knew I was 'Sri Lankan', but I only fully understood when I went to Australia and came back again. I didn't even know the term racism properly because I was deeply in the Japanese culture; I truly felt like a part of it. I obviously knew there were discriminations, but they happen on daily basis, and to anybody who looked or acted even a little different. And I know other foreigners in Japan got discriminated a lot... but I guess I never really thought it might have happened to me back then.

Btw, I seriously didn't get bullied while I was in Japan. People get surprised or they think I'm lying, but I honestly didn't get bullied. Im sure they were some light ones here and there... but I guess I was one happy kid :P And my friends were pretty kick ass, we would bully anybody who looked as me funny. (omg, thats sounds horrible now that I think about it!!) They still are :)


Man, I'm not sure if I was a happy-go-lucky kid or...just a clueless idiot :L


Anyways,
So...as I was saying, it is difficult to present myself as a single cultured person, because I know bits and pieces of three completely different cultures, yet most of my peers have not fully experienced any of one culture. Which technically means I have to 'act' around to accommodate to their cultural setting. Booyeah, which technically makes me a fake little...person. Im not btw!! I mean, I am still me in all three different cultures! But I don't wanna scare people away or think I'm being uber arrogant. I just wanna fit in!

Ooo there, I said it! But it is little sad that no one has really seen the real 'three cultured' me.  Probs only my fambam and...couple of friends in Japan. I mean, I got heaps of close friends here as well, but they don't need to know that side kinda thing. They won't be able to relate to it anyways, so no point pushing them 'this side' of me :LL They'll probs tell me to quit the pointless deep thinking anyways lolol. 

But but it would be nice to find some similar TCK like me in Brisbane...Anybody?? :))

Sorry for the typos d: