third culture
Are you [still] relevant?
It hits me every time. I watch as an older person (read: over 24 in this crazy world of Biebers and Zuckerbergs) struggles to retain their tried and true role of being the voice of reason, of wisdom, of experience. Yet, over and over again, I see them in danger of being discarded, not unlike [...]
Why re-inventing is good
Starting anew. A concept so familiar to third culture kids and their families, as they adapt and try to blend in with their new host society. As any kid in a new school or new neighbourhood will tell you, adapting to new circumstances and getting it right in the first week makes the difference between [...]
Build your own snowman
It was definitely winter. I can’t quite remember if it was my first winter experiencing snow, but I think I was around six or seven. My parents’ work had taken us to Paris and there I was, building my own snowman in the school yard. My snowman was small, perhaps a foot and half, and [...]
Beautiful Ariis
It’s quiet. It’s the kind of quiet that seems to explode in the ears, that deafening silence I am unused to after the constant background din of air-conditioners and traffic in Dubai. It’s green. Green everywhere you look, with fields stretching out as far as eye can see, crowned on the horizon by the Alps, [...]
Do you live like you eat?
It occurred to me the other day that the way in which consume food could be a compelling metaphor for the way we live. There are those of us who fill up so much on the appetizer that we tend to leave most of the main course untouched. It’s a bit like when we get [...]
The need to be right
It was only recently that I came across the Harry Truman quote “”It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” I must admit that I had a little self-conscious, nervous giggle to myself, uncomfortable recognition creeping through my self-righteous, I’m a mom-and-therefore-know-everything role. It occurred to me [...]
Connected Communities
This past month has been awash with several events that I can only really describe as the triumph of communities over the busy-ness of life. It started with Emiratweet, the virtual online community launched late last year. Its founder Heba Al Samt was featured on Dubai One as one of the young achievers being interviewed [...]
Are we here yet?
“So if you could be anything you wanted, anything at all, what would you be? What is your dream?”, I said. My son and I have had this and similar conversations countless times. It’s a bit of a game, and often ends up in giggly tickling sessions accompanied by grand proclamations of becoming a dragon [...]
Say what?
Third culture kids know all about language barriers, and not only in the absolute sense of language. The same word in the same language is often used differently depending on where you are. In England, it’s a biscuit. In the US, it’s a cookie. Petrol vs gas. Tomayto vs tomahto. You get the picture. You [...]
Courage to unleash
Every year on the annual school camping trip, my daughter’s class stages a talent competition. Every year Lisa prepares with great anticipation and fervour. Every year she places in the top three. Except this year. This year, Lisa decided to perform her own composition. Hey, if Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus could it, why not [...]