A sort of TCK or is it CCK?
Hi,
I’m Indonesian-Chinese born in Medan, moved to Jakarta when I was 1. When I was 3 we moved to the suburbs and I had to start at a new preschool. Then we moved to Batam(another city/providence) when I was 4. When I was five, we moved to Singapore and now, I’m stuck here for 10 years (with frequent visits back to Indonesia and Taiwan).
I was born to a Taiwanese mother who lived in Japan for 8 years and an Indonesian-Chinese Dad who spent his childhood shuffling between Medan and Jakarta. Although I’ve been stuck in Singapore, we had always moved around within the tiny island so there isn’t “oh, I need to transfer” or “What about my friends” drama. But despite being here for a decade, I still don’t belong here. I do understand the pop culture here, the usual things we students rant about but I still pretty much stink at the local jargon. I still stand out like a foreigner though I look like the rest of the locals( most of the locals are Chinese).
Back in Indonesia, I can’t speak Indonesian really well. As much as I have pride for the place that should have been “home”, it’s till not home to me… I don’t have much to speak about Taiwan coz I was only there for bits and pieces of my life. I don’t feel I’m XXX coz wherever I go, I feel a connection and yet a gap that can’t be filled.
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5 Comments to “A sort of TCK or is it CCK?”
June 16th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Hi Sandy,
Welcome to TCKid…. I definitely get where you’re coming from, I feel the same way about my “passport countries”. I think it’s a mix of TCK and CCK… at the end of the day we’re all just here to help each other out with feelings that seem to transcend all the hodge podge of cultures :).
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June 16th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Welcome to TCKid! I would consider you more of a TCK than CCK. It’s not just two cultures, but that sense of betwixt and between without a real sense of home.
I grew up (mostly) in Jakarta, and often went to Singapore to get my residency renewed. I never went to Medan, though, which I kind of regret. I’ve met a LOT of Chinese-Indonesians who went to school in Singapore, though. Where are you living now?
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I’m currently living in Singapore, but I’ll probably be off to Australia after next year to do university.
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June 18th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Hey
Where in Australia will you be going,do you have any idea?
Welcome to the TCK club!
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Replying Isa:
Thanks for the welcome.
As to which part of Australia, it’ll either be Melbourne or Sydney. I haven’t really decided yet.
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