I give you “Os”
While my name is simple… I am not.
I’m a PK, MK, ATCK, Alternatively Educated, adult who knows what re-entry shock is like, survived, and lives amongst you.
While you think that pretty much says it all, it doesn’t.
I was/am a Missionary Kid who started in the States, and was moved into a magical world of Caracas Venezuela, only to return “home” to the U.S. to go through hard times of of drugs, re-entry, and finding my true “home”, which eventually landed me back in New Jersey, where I could belong. I’ve been all over the U.S, and know the East Coast like the back of my hand.
As for my education, I couldn’t tolerate international school (Colegio Internacional de Caracas) and eventually took comic art lessons at an inner-city tech school in Caracas, only to find my education never existed in the U.S. academic system. I started at Ringling School of Art & Design, and transferred to Antioch, Joe Kubert School, and finally to Goddard, with no avail. I have actually been published in the Teenage Liberation Handbook: International Edition (at the age of 16) and my life has never been the same since.
I’ve attended a TCK seminar weekend in PA before, and have always known my TCK status. Yet, every time I walked the streets in Jersey, and a group of Latinos carried a conversation, they always had to look at me twice when I responded in almost fluent, and accent appropriate Castellano. It still tickles my funny bones.
My life experiences are vast, and complicated. My family itself is diverse in culture and race. However, I slowly faded into a ghost walking the land of patriotic idiots. “Home” will never exist. I am my own bubble. I like my world.
But it is lonely… I would have it no other way.
-Os J Shepler
Os Shepler
Related Posts
- Introducing Ernesto; Chilean Father and Italian Mother.. Born in Venezuela, then moved three times from Chile and Italy
- not a TCK but born in venezuela
- Introducing Myself
- Introducing Isaac, MK, moved to Ghana when I was four, traveled throughout south and central America and visited England, Holland and Switzerland.
- Calling third-world TCKs
10 Comments to “I give you “Os””
October 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Hola!
I can relate to the Latinos being surprised when you speak Spanish haha, but that’s just because I look white, I’m actually Latina (born in Costa Rica + family from Nicaragua.)
You said you’ve known all your life that you’re a TCK, how did you first find out?
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October 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
hey Os!
I know how it feels to live in your own bubble. It is very lonely
I also know how repatriating is tough, I’m glad you found a way to belong in your “home” country.
The way you described yourself “a ghost walking the land of patriotic idiots” reminds me of my teenage, when I sort of felt like a ghost too, because I was depressed and had no joy in living.
Well, I just want you to know that if you’d like, you can open your bubble here to us. We’ll be glad to help you as much as we can
And to cheer you up a bit, here is our traditional welcome: a lolcat piture!
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October 26th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Hi Os!
It’s so nice to hear your story! I’m glad that you’re comfortable in your own skin, which many of us TCKs are not. I wish I could speak spanish, but I plan on teaching myself soon! (I seem to have a knack for languages..)
Welcome to TCKid!!
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October 26th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Oh, by the way, My name is Laura. I always forget that!
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October 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I think the term TCK was first introduced to me while in Venezuela. We read “Raising Resilient Children” which eventually explained it all.
Mayling: Have you ever read “Overseas American” by Gene H. Bell-Villada? I took a year in San Jose, Costa Rica for missionary training.
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October 27th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Mairabay: Right back atcha!
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October 27th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
USAFinn/Laura: Names come and go, it’s ok. Whatever you do, try to avoid learning Japanese. Is sooo haaaaawd.
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October 28th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
It’s cool that you’ve always known you’re a TCK, that way you’ve had a way to make sense of most stuff.
I haven’t read “Overseas American”, but I looked it up on Google books and what I read was just like me! I liked where he talks about wanting to have a Catholic phase ( I had one, hahaha..) But I’m actually the other way around, Latina in the US (although that doesn’t affect my liking of the book.)
One day I will find time to read all these awesome books all of you keep talking about.
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October 28th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hi Os, I like your name. Is there a meaning behind your name?
Anywho welcome
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October 29th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Miyon: Yes. And I will make a gigantic post about this in the near future. Trust me.
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