{"id":36293,"title":"A TCK, raised by a TCK","description":"Meet Manuel Recalde, co-founder of That 3rd Culture Life.","content":"

\"AIn our very first Culture Hub feature, we had a blast guest starring on Project Between<\/u><\/a>, an awesome podcast diving into the TCK experience.<\/p>

On this episode, Manuel shares his journey of growing up across 8 different countries, offering a firsthand account of the TCK lifestyle. Born in Lesotho to parents working for the U.N., Manuel's childhood spans continents\u2014from Rome to New York, Mali to New Zealand. His story sheds light on the rich tapestry of cultures that shape the TCK identity, intertwining personal anecdotes with reflections on belonging and adaptation.<\/p>

\u201cI was born there. I spent my first 3 years in Lesotho so I don\u2019t remember much of that time. But we would visit every other year. We\u2019d alternate between Ecuador and Lesotho, whether it\u2019s Christmas or summer break. So I managed to have these glimpses of the culture and the country without being fully part of it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

\"AThis image depicts traditional garb of Lesotho, a Basotho blanket know as a \u2018Kobo\u2019 in the Sesotho language.<\/em>

Manuel talks through the challenges of cultural identity disconnect when being raised outside of his native culture and assimilating into new ones. Being raised by a TCK parent who normalised the lifestyle and having parents from two different cultures added an extra layer of complexity to his sense of identity, but learning to speak the local languages of the places he lived was the easiest way to gain a sense of belonging.<\/p>

\u201cAnd I think it's also the power of being able to clearly communicate in their own language that sort of gives you that sense of like belonging as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

When asked what percentage of his identity stems from the various places he's lived, Manuel struggles to quantify it, noting that it fluctuates. He attributes around 45% to Lesotho, 45% to Ecuador and 10% to Italy. However, he says this changes depending on where he is at the time.<\/p>

When I'm in Italy, I feel very Italian, being able to really communicate well, and, you know, just the mannerisms and everything are things that I grew up with, I see every day or with my family, and likewise, when you're in Lesotho, you really sort of go back to that feeling of what it means to be a Mosotho\u201d.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

\"AManuel and friends watching the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Rome when Italy won the tournament!<\/em><\/p>

Throughout the interview, Manuel reflects on how his multicultural upbringing shaped his worldview and identity. He discusses the pros and cons of being a TCK, including the pain of being far from loved ones but also the privilege of having connections worldwide. He also touches on feeling most at home in Rome due to his family ties there, though he now feels settled in the UK with his wife.<\/p>

\u201cI definitely think that Italy has had probably the most influence in my life, not just because it\u2019s the longest place I\u2019d lived in but also I have family who are Italian\u2026It\u2019s a big part of our identity as a family, as sort of honorary Italians.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

Manuel first heard the term \"third culture kid\" in his mid 20s which made him realise there was a huge community of people just like him. Manuel sees both positives and challenges in being a TCK but feels grateful for the open-mindedness it has instilled in him.<\/p>

The podcast offers a fascinating window into the nuanced experiences of those who grow up between countries and cultures.<\/p>

You can tune in to <\/strong>Project Between\u2019s podcast<\/u><\/strong><\/a> to hear first hand about Manuel\u2019s multi-ethnic and multicultural childhood, raised by parents who normalised the itinerant lifestyle.<\/strong><\/h3>

\"A
And don\u2019t forget, if you hate answering that dreaded question 'where are you from?', you can let your outfit do the talking with our <\/span>customisable t-shirts<\/u><\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>

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