My life has been in transition. My husband and I packed up our life in Virginia, dropped off stuff for my parents who also happen to be transitioning back to the U.S. Then we traveled to and participated in two wonderful weddings where we danced, smiled, and celebrated wonderful people that have been inextricably connected to our hearts, family and friends from around the world. I can't imagine a better send off or a more emotionally charged one.
Then, we set off for our new future in Indonesia where we are teaching TCKs. My dream is here, embodied in the faces of 140 students from corners of the globe, all mirroring a life I know so well. I am working alongside teachers whose hearts have aligned with my visions. I am tired, exhausted really, confused, but so excited and filled to the very brim of my being here.
I've had to stop and take time to reflect on a few things. Things like the way I feel helpless not knowing the language of the world outside of this school. Things like the frustrations of my creative mind striving to structure out lesson plans. Things like the cherished moments I have already had sharing pieces of myself with the open-handed here.
I can't express to you the excitement I had when a teacher told me that they had recently started seeing the students, not as Korean, American, British, or Australian, but as global citizens. I told my heart to still but the grin on my face and the excitement in my voice betrayed me. "YES! That is the best realization you can make when you are approaching these students!"
I can't explain how wonderful it was to have a group of 6 girls sequestered to a van with me coming back from a trip where I could ask them hard questions about going back to their passport countries, how they fit or didn't fit in, how they viewed the places they had left or returned to. I asked how they compared those ideas to the ones they had of friends here in Indonesia who may have the same perspective of things like travel, moving, or change.
So, I hope you can forgive this absence with the knowledge that I will have so much to share, to reflect on, and so much more to process here as I get my feet and interact with all of these TCKs and those interacting with us.
Meanwhile, check out this cool video opportunity I had before I left Virginia to share my passion.
How have you shared yourself or your passion recently?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! From one ATCK to another, I am so excited to watch you in this role. When you do write, I will follow, but you must be over the moon being in this place and role. As I said in one blog series "The journey of the Third Culture Kid is to turn a multicultural past, into a meaningful present." You are so doing that!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to following your journey and can't wait until we can get you back here to speak as an expert on TCK life!
ReplyDelete