Introducing Aga: ( Poland, Germany, Spain, Canada) | TCKID 2.0

Introducing Aga: ( Poland, Germany, Spain, Canada)

Hi Everyone:

?My name is Aga, short form for Agnieszka. I was born in a cute town in Poland on the Baltic Sea. At the age of twelve, my family fled Poland in secret to escape the Communist Regime. I was devastated because I was unable to say goodbye to my friends. We found our new home in a Refugee Camp in Hamburg, Germany. My new neighbors were from Iran and Chile and I learned to speak Farsi and Spanish better than German.

Two years later we moved to Toronto and settled in Chinatown. I spoke littIe English and I felt like an alien. I desperately wanted to return to Europe. I used to have nightmares where I was wandering around & running through the streets of unknown places searching for something. These dreams still haunt me to this day.

I felt like something was wrong with me. The only thing that helped curb this uneasy feeling was traveling to other countries and immersing myself in different cultures. It was only then I felt like belonged. I did not stay in one place for longer than three-four years; I was constantly changing jobs, homes, cities or countries.

I hit thirty last year and I was about ready to gather my belongings, pack my bags, and return to Europe. This all changed when a friend in the film business asked me to write & direct a film. The idea was to capture Canadian experts debating issues of immigration and identity relating to their personal sense of belonging. I entitled it “Longing for Belonging”.

At the conference in Krakow, Poland I discovered the third culture kids phenomenon and my life changed from upside down to right side up! I am now making a film about TCK in Canada. I would love to hear your story. Send me a note if you want to be part of this exciting project. ? ?

Merci,

?Aga

Popularity: 1% [?]

Posted by Aga at 10:02 pm on November 28th, 2008. Comments
Categories: Introduction.

  • Hi Aga,

    Best of luck for your project and pls keep me updated.
  • rafael
    Czesc Aga,

    I just want to wish you good luck with your film project. I'm very interested in new media on subjects around TCKs - up to now the internet has been my only source. I'm 20 and enrolled at a university in Germany for a course in economics and engineering. I have lived in so many places that moving has ceased to be a step into a new life, and turned into a routine that is a supporting pillar of my life. I still have most of my plans to be lain out before me, but I know for sure that all of them will take my TCK experience into count. I am proud of the way I grew up and what I learned from it, even though there is no one who I can look towards when it comes to laying out a red thread to sensibly connect the variety that defines me.

    Therefore I am grateful for any possibility to learn about the problems and successes that make out the lives of other people, who share this something with me.

    Good Luck, I'm interested in what thoughts and experiences you will uncover in the course of making this film.

    Rafael
  • Jakub
    Hi Aga,

    Well I should start with that I am here by complete chance. I am 16 I am Polish, I moved to China in August and next June I am moving back to Poland. I came up with TCK completely by chance on facebook where I found out that some friends from international school signed as TCK fans. I don't feel TCK and I haven't signed into that yet, but it interested me. When I get into TCK club on facebook I have seen Your note on the right and that's how I got here. As I see You had a really unusual life, your nightmares don't shock me, but for sure they are not something nice. If I were you I would really like settle down in one place, I think that every person needs their own place, home. Well, I am sure I would not be able to live like You. That's impressive you do carry on. I hope that You know where You belong. ;] I am looking forward to Your film!

    Best Wishes

    Kuba
  • Aga
    Thank you for the encouragement Miyon! I feel the need to tell the TCK story. I followed Canadian experts for ten days to conferences on immigration, identity,and not even once I heard the term " third culture kids". We need more awareness about TCKs + allow others to heal as well.

    I will keep you informed about the progress. If there is anything you would like to see in the film, feel free to share it with me.
  • Aga, it was inspiring to hear your personal story. It seems like you have gone through so much and you are turning these hardships into work of art where people can be better informed and also relate to (much healing may take place).

    It also made me smile when I read "My new neighbors were from Iran and Chile and I learned to speak Farsi and Spanish better than German."

    Though this may have led to identity confusion later, the ability to speak languages and the appreciation of other cultures are huge assets. :)

    I think there are many TCKs on this forum that live in Canada. I live in Illinois myself so unfortunately I cannot participate.

    I wish to be updated on how the making of the film goes. I am looking forward to your film.
blog comments powered by Disqus