Neither Here Nor There

I have a problem. (It's not really a problem but I can't seem to find the right word to describe it.) I sometimes feel like I am neither here nor there.

A few years ago, I first heard the term "Third Culture Kid." It's a relatively new term that according to Wikipedia "refers to someone who, as a child, has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture."[1] Third Culture Kids are also referred to as Global Nomads."

I suppose that is what I am. A "third culture kid," a "Global Nomad." Broken down into categories, I become a "Foreign Service brat" or a "diplobrat."

Being the daughter of a diplomat, I was privileged to have spent most of my entire life outside of my native country. I spent my childhood life growing up in Europe and the US. Even my name is a testament to my international life. "Swisa" comes from my country of birth, Switzerland. My father invented the name.

So what if you grew up internationally? It is an increasingly global phenomenon. Nothing is the matter I say. It's great and I feel fortunate to have had the life I've had. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The only thing is that I sometimes feel neither here nor there.

When in your native country, sometimes thoughts, ideas, and perspectives differ. Manners of expressions differ. Sense of humors differ. Interests differ. You can never be as native as the natives. Your friends end up being all "Global Nomads." We mix languages as we talk. We laugh at the same jokes.

Yet, at the same time, when abroad you are forever the "international student" or the non-local one. You are caught somewhere in the space between "here" and "there."

So the question then arises where should you live? Here or there? or just live anywhere ? People used to ask me where I regarded my "home." It's an easy question for me. Home for me is where my family is. Where the people you care most about live. Where your loved ones are. That is my home.

You learn to make the best of wherever you are. There are pros and cons to every country. The greatest part is that the world becomes your home. You can live anywhere.

So what do you think of Global Nomads? Are you a Global Nomad?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eggs for Easter

Happy Easter! Its Easter Monday today and eggs are in fashion. Okay, in Thailand we don't have the whole big Easter vacation with easter eggs and egg hunting, but its something I always liked as a child growing up in europe. We get to eat chocolate easter eggs and get our hands dirty painting them...ahh, those good old days. What about eating eggs then? Are they good for you given that they are high in saturated fat and cholesterol (211mg versus daily recommendation of 300mg) ? According to nutrition data, a large egg has only 70 calories and are filled with lots of nutrients. Eggs are a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Protein and Selenium. These nutrients are especially beneficial for you as they a good source of energy, help build up your immune system and also help your mental health. According to Harvard Health, "Eggs are also a good source of choline, which has been linked with preserving memory, and lutein and zea...
Read more

It's all in your Mind

For everything we want to achieve in life, I think the most important factor to its successful achievement depends on our ability to control how we think and keep ourself motivated. When I first started out running, I was so unfit I could hardly run for 1 minute.  I gasped for breath and my face would turn completely red.  My stomach and chest would feel a pain and a little voice inside my head would start telling me to stop running and just walk!   The little voice would get louder and LOUDER the longer I ran.  It would tell me all sorts of things, such as "You've done enough running, you've done a great job, just stop and walk."    Sometimes it would say "Your chest hurts and your stomach is having stitches, something must be wrong.. therefore STOP!"   On other occasions it would tell me the time and say "You are running late today, cut your workout short.  You have a long day ahead, save your energy." At times, it would tell me, "I hate thi...
Read more

One for All and All for One

The other day I got this fascinating Forward from a friend about decision making. It tells the story of a group of children playing on railroad tracks. One child is playing alone on the unused railroad track, while five children are playing on the active rail. Suddenly, a rain is spotted on the tracks heading straight towards the five children. You have to decide what to do. 1) Do you divert the train onto the unused track to save five children while sacrificing the lone child on the other track? or 2) Would you let the train continue on its path towards the group of five children? What would you do? Most people would in an instant answer that they would sacrifice the lone child to save the group of five children. Sacrifice one in the name of saving many. It's the rational and logical solution. It's for the better "good" of society. One death is better than five. However, there is more. There is a dilemma. The great critic Leo Velski Julian (do you know ...
Read more