Hey from Cairo | TCKID 2.0

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Hey from Cairo

Hey everyone,

I’m Marwa from Egypt. Well, I was born in Adis Ababa (Ethiopia). I lived most of my life in Somalia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India, but also traveled to a ton of countries (Turkey, Croatia – when it was still part of Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, UK, US, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon…).

I attended American International schools in three different countries – Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India. I got my BA from an Indian university and my MA from the American University in Cairo (am I like, the oldest TCK here?).

Anyway, the sign-up form asked me what kind of TCK I am, and to tell the truth, I don’t know what a UN TCK would fall under, so I just put “Traditional TCK”. My dad worked for the UN and that’s why we were everywhere. Brice and Daniel, thanks for the welcome and if I still fit under Traditional TCK, then so be it, if there’s a specific category for people like me, I’d love to know it.

Both my parents are Egyptians. I have an aunt as well as a brother who are Americans, though.

I’ve been back in Egypt for the past 10 years, and STILL don’t feel like I belong… I’m starting to come to the conclusion that I may never feel that anyway.

But I love the fact that I can get along basically anywhere on earth and with almost anyone!

Pleased to meet all of you!

Popularity: 1% [?]

  • marwa
    Thanks for the welcome, peoples! If being 30 qualifies as grandma... well, maybe i should be "great-grandma" or something, i turn 31 in Feb.

    Thanks for the welcoming pic, Brice - I just wish there were a few words with "the", "this", or any word beginning with "th" so that the lovely Egyptian accent, "zis, zere" and so one could be truly highlighted!

    About 4th culture, I have a friend who is a third-culture, and her kids are wondering if they would be fourth-culture... i wonder if there is any research on children of tcks! Does anyone know? Uncle Dan?
  • Julie
    Hello Hello welcome here...You don't say how old you are but I am 26 so not the oldest but getting up there.
  • kristine
    hi marwa! i knew someone from egypt with the same name. but then again, i think everybody has to have someone with the same name.. ahhaha. anyways, welcome to tckid! it's addicting :D

    see you around!
    kristine aka fetus.
  • warona
    hahahahahahahahahaha! nice pic.

    welcome marwa, nice to have some folks on here who have some age on them! they were starting to call me grandma and i am only 30!

    i too am a UN TCK and was confused as to what to label myself under, i don't remember the 'traditional tck' box. oh well, it matters not.

    i lived in ethiopia too (its the UN thing) so cool!

    welcome!
  • Brice
    Hi Marwa! Welcome to tckid. :)

    You seem to fit the description of a traditional TCK and I don't believe there's a specific group for the UN, but they would closely be related to the Army brats experience.

    I remember someone asking if they were a "Fourth" cultured TCK because they've traveled more extensively than most TCKs. It was a misunderstanding of the term: the "third" culture isn't the third country or culture you've come in contact with, but it's your own.


    Anyway it's great to see you here! I've traveled and have family from most of the countries you've listed. My mom is Ethiopian (Addis) and traveled to Somali, I was born in France, and have been in the UK, US, and also Egypt! It's good to see we hve much in common. :)

    We have a tradition here (as you probably already know), we welcome you with a picture!

    <img src="http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/37692/2002868809514587500_rs.jpg">

    About this pic:

    "U.S. first lady Laura Bush, second right, and Egypt's first Lady Suzanne Mubarak, right, accompanied by unidentified Egyptian official chat with the puppet Nem Nem as they tour the set of Aalam Semsem, or Sesame World, the Egyptian version of the popular American children's show Sesame Street "</img>
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