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Top 10 Best Third Culture Kids Stories
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A college student’s first marriage proposal from a stranger in the library. Eating goat dung and a live cicada for dinner. A child awaken by the sound of machine guns. Two childhood friends meet accidentally after 10 years. Moving 30 times and still not belonging anywhere. These are just a few of the best stories sent this year by Third Culture Kids who grew up around the world at TCKID.
If you just joined us, we held a TCK writing contest in November. The rules were simple: write a story about your experience growing up around the world.
After 104 forum posts, 192 votes and 40 incredible stories sent by Third Culture and Cross Cultural Kids/Adults from around the world, the winner has been chosen.
Grand Winner: Lielie, currently living in Thailand, for her piece entitled “Goodbyes Hurt.” For her winning entry, Lielie’s poem was sent to the tckid community and she took home a cash prize of $100. Congratulations, Lielie!
About Lielie:
Born and grew up in Papua New Guinea, returned to Switzerland when I was 16, Lived in Thailand since 1999. I’m married and have 3 darling children. My hobbies are writing, traveling, listening to music and at the moment going to the gym. I try to live life to its fullest and enjoy it as much as possible.
Lielie’s website
What do you think of tckid?
“I think the forum [tckid] is a great place to meet like minded people and to read the similar struggles other Global Nomads went through. Especially for people who live outside their passport country and are raising children, you might understand them a bit better if you read through some of the posts. Things like taking your children “home”, expecting them to fit in after living overseas, expecting them to say goodbye over and over and over.. things that makes life hard for GNs!”
Top 10 Best Third Culture Kids Stories
1) Goodbyes hurt
A poem on the painful losses we experience when saying goodbye. “I know I will never see my friends again. Tears come, can’t hold them back. My heart hurts, I can’t sleep. I can’t say the things I want to say.”
2) 2 Little Girls
Two little girls saying goodbye and meeting again after being 10 years apart.
“And then, one day, one little girl had to leave. One little girl had to go back “home”. And the two little girls were awfully confused because as far as they knew, they were both “home”.
3) Top 10 Things People Should Know About TCKs.
What every one should know about TCKs.
“Don’t hate me if I’m quick to say goodbye. I don’t miss you, but I still love you. 7. Living in a country doesn’t make me an expert. Just Google it! “…
4) My First Proposal
A college student’s first marriage proposal from a stranger in the library.
“Hello. You and I are in the same speech class… I wanted to ask you if you would marry me. I think I could probably get an extension on my visa, so that you could say goodbye to your parents.”
5) Kaleidoscope
A poem about the story of change.
“My life is a kaleidoscope of colours; people, places, cultures, swirling together, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
6) Being a TCK is Having a Restless Monster Inside of You
A shocking post about the negative aspects of moving excessively without support. “My sister almost died of anorexia that year. My brother didn’t spend a day without drinking. One girl even tried to commit suicide that year.”
7) Home Is Not Where The Heart Is
“A man who was in a coma for many years, and woke up to find everyone he knew has died. He was home, but no one recognized him. “Give me friends, or give me death”, he said. What is home if no one cares for you? It doesn’t matters where you live, as long as you have a home with people you love.”
8 ) The World is My Neighborhood
And then…there was the internet. All of a sudden, the world seems a lot smaller.
” I ran into Jane a couple of years ago in Connecticut. It was mere coincidence. Imagine my excitement. I haven’t seen her in YEARS! Actually almost 10 years. It was the coolest thing that has ever happened to me.”
9) Revolution
It’s a terrific recounting of a dangerous experience that many TCKs can closely relate to. “The revolution woke me up. The sound of machine gun fire was continual. Rat-tat-tat. We stayed trapped in Astrid’s house for two days. Fear was a constant, a member of the party. There were no telephones in Monrovia in the early eighties. I was scared to leave Astrid’s house.”
10) A Westerly Wind
A great introduction from a TCA sharing her experience. “I’ve moved over 30 times in my life. Like lots of you, I have huge problems communicating with people - the people I find it hardest to communicate with are those close to me, especially my parents. I don’t know how to miss people. It’s horrible.
The Weirdest Story
11) Who would ever want to eat THAT?!
In Laos, the restaurant was specialized in goat meat. There was a dip also at the side of the dish. The dip was made from the dung which was still in process and had been taken out of the intestine. I learned to eat a cicada alive! I did not kill the poor thing before I ate it.
The Funniest Post
12) My First Propositions
Ingrid Giles’ funny post on her first proposal from a person from a patriarchal and repressed society reminded me of my first mirror culture shock experiences as a (then) practicing Muslim adjusting to the extremely sexually open societies on the west and east coasts of the USA.
The Best Forum Post
Where is the bathroom? in all languages
Ever wondered how to say where’s the bathroom in all languages and what toilets look like in different parts of the world?
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December 13th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
I like the pictures you choose for these.
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January 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I just say with a tearful smile “I will see you later” it just feels not as final as goodbye!!! Then I proceed to sob on the plane halwway to the next destination! MMGUNN
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