Things About MK's/TCK's That Might.... Surprise You

Howdy y'all. So, I realized that I have not written much about MK's (Missionary Kids) or TCK's (Third Culture Kids). And while, in many ways, we are no different than your average kid or teenager, there are some aspects to us that might come as a bit of a surprise.

Some examples:

1. "Where are you from?" ...I don't think people understand just how difficult it is for us to answer that question. Our parents are from one country (and, very possibly 2 different States if they're from the USA); our home church -- if you're in the States -- is very possibly in a totally different State; we live in another country; many of us were born in a different country. And if you include the places where our grandparents live... Oh boy. Not to mention the various other countries in which we might have previously lived. The locations for us to choose from very quickly add up. Honestly, if you ask us this question, you'd better be prepared to listen to our entire life story. A better question to ask would be, "Where have you lived?"

2. We can speak with authority on the subject of airline travel. When it comes to airports and airlines, we all have our favorites. We know the pros and cons. This airline always has "good" food (I put the quotation marks because in my opinion, almost all airplane food is disgusting... not all, but most) and service, while this airline shows free movies. This airport has free WiFi and the security area is easy to get through, while that airport is easy to maneuver around and has excellent restaurants/coffees shops. In my opinion, one of the greatest airports in the world is Incheon International in South Korea because it has all of the above. Not to mention, it has cultural things you can participate in, as well.

3. We have passports before we ever have a driver's license.

4. We know that "knowing how to pack a suitcase" doesn't just mean knowing how to put things in a suitcase. It mostly means that we know what needs to be packed and what will just be extra weight. We also know that many people in our sending countries do not know how to pack a suitcase.

5. We pass geography class with flying colors. You wouldn't believe how many people I know in America who have gotten countries and continents mixed up.

Comments from non-TCK's/MK's: "Africa's a big country." "Where in Africa is Peru?" "...there's such a place as Korea?"

Explanations from TCK's/MK's: "<enter country> is located directly above <enter another country>." "...*hands the other person a globe/map* I live here."

6. We use the phrase, "It has about the same time zone as..."

7. There aren't many questions that people have asked that haven't been answered a hundred times before...in one month. 

8. We have many "Aunts" and "Uncles." These are not our biological aunts and uncles, but rather friends of our parents. We are often closer to these people than we are to our family in our passport country. I love my parents' brothers and sisters to death, but due to living overseas for my entire life, I am closer to people who are non-related. So, though we are not related, they become something like aunts and uncles.

9. We suffer from culture shock on a regular basis. We do not only experience culture shock when visiting our passport country for the first time in three or four years (or more). It is experienced every time a short term team arrives. Music and humor are constantly changing. One style of music and clothing suddenly comes into fashion, and goes out of fashion just quickly. For those of us living overseas, by the time we get accustomed to a certain style, short term teams are coming with humor from the newest movies, TV shows, listening to the newest music, dressing in the newest styles and we feel out of place. We cannot contribute to conversation as easily because we do not understand the humor and even the culture.

10. Most of us would rather move to another foreign country than back to our passport country. I honestly would prefer moving to South America, Africa, or somewhere in Europe than go back to live in the United States. The US is more of a foreign country to me than any other place. Don't get me wrong. I love the US, and support those who fight for it. My family is quite patriotic in that we love and will fight for our passport country, and we pray for our leader. I enjoy going to the States for a few months on visits... but after the third month has passed, I'm ready to come home. Our sending country is not home to us. So many people have asked me, "So, are you happy to be back home with your family?" Excited to visit America? Yes. Excited to see my family? Yes. Is it home? No. Am I excited to go back to China? Yes.


And last but not least...

11. We. Are. Not. Perfect. You may be reading this and thinking, "Of COURSE they're not perfect." But we MK's often get a different vibe. Our parents are Missionaries. The high and mighty Missionaries. So holy. Such good Christians. They can do no wrong. ...you think I'm exaggerating. Our parents are Missionaries, and because of that, people often believe what I wrote up above. That they are more holier, that they are better Christians. Because we are the children of the Missionaries, we are often put upon the same pedestal. Yes, we know... "People look up to us." "We need to be good examples." We don't feel like there is room for us to slip up, even once in a while.

In all reality, cultural differences and titles aside, we MK's and TCK's are just the same as every other average kid, teenager, and adult out there. We have struggles. We hurt. We enjoy life. We enjoy simple things like reading a book... we don't have to be out hunting tigers to have satisfaction in our lives. Sure, we might enjoy different sorts of things than those people in our sending countries, but we're still people like everyone else. We make mistakes. We yell and get into arguments with our parents and siblings. We can be lazy. We can be struggling in keeping up with our personal Quiet Time with God. We might even be at a point where we don't necessarily like or want to do what God is telling us.


So were you surprised by any of the things I've mentioned? There are many other things I could have chosen, but alas, my post would go on and on.