TCKs: Cultural Chameleons

By: Zoditu Schwind                  

On Oct. 29, the Third Culture Club (TCC) held a panel discussion titled “The Art of Leaving.” Four guests were invited to speak about their lives and how their cross-cultural experiences have impacted their sense of home and identity. 

The guests included Professor David Martínez, his wife Susanna, senior illustration major Yana Ramos Cutrim, and senior civil engineering major Matt Burgi. As all four panelists grew up outside of their parents’ passport nations, they consider themselves Third Culture Kids (TCKs). 

For many TCKs, home is not bound by an address. Mrs. Martínez was born in Germany but grew up in Spain. Dr. Martinez also grew up in Spain but was born in the United States. For them, home has become wherever they are currently living together. Though she was born in Russia, Cutrim grew up in Brazil. Home is an ever-changing concept for her; it’s become wherever she presently finds herself. Burgi grew up in both the States and Nicaragua, and for him, home is wherever his family is. 

With home constantly changing, leaving has become a norm. For Dr. Martínez, “There is a comfort in leaving and starting over.” Staying in one place for too long makes him antsy and there is a thrill in going to a new place. Mrs. Martínez added, “At least every two weeks we discuss where we want to go in the future.” 

Cutrim, however, admitted that she feels ready to establish herself in one spot, because as a missionary kid, she was always moving. Burgi acknowledged that leaving has always been a bittersweet experience for him. There is disappointment in the loss of the familiar, but always an excitement about the unknown of the future. 

As a TCK myself, listening to this panel discussion put words to many of the feelings of confusion I’ve had. I was able to especially empathize with the panelists as they discussed the difficulty in the transition to college as TCKs. For college, Mrs. Martínez returned to Germany, while Dr. Martínez, Cutrim, and Burgi came to the States. They each experienced culture shock or feelings of uncertainty about being in those new cultural environments. Mrs. Martínez was confronted by German pop culture, lingo, and expectations she didn’t understand. The others felt the same towards the culture of their American universities. This confusion, when not acknowledged, can lead TCKs to be depressed, feeling alone in their identity as cultural anomalies. 

Though they never quite fit into a single culture, TCKs can adapt anywhere. They are curious about the world and, having been exposed to different ways of thinking, are open-minded. The TCC Club at George Fox University (@tck.gfu) is important because it allows people of complex cultural identities to find support. There is comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.