{"id":37766,"title":"Creating TCK Communities with Jay","description":"In the latest episode of the Culture Hub podcast, Jay, the founder of TCK Global, shared her journey as a Third Culture Kid (TCK), offering insights into the complexities of identity formation and cultural belonging. Growing up as a Filipino TCK in China, studying in Hong Kong and eventually settling in London, Jay navigated a myriad of cultural influences and grappled with questions of home and belonging. Reflecting on her childhood, Jay described how her concept of home constantly evolved, shaped by her experiences in different countries","content":"

\"PromotionalIn the latest episode of the Culture Hub podcast, Jay, the founder of TCK Global, shared her journey as a Third Culture Kid (TCK), offering insights into the complexities of identity formation and cultural belonging. Growing up as a Filipino TCK in China, studying in Hong Kong and eventually settling in London, Jay navigated a myriad of cultural influences and grappled with questions of home and belonging.<\/p>

Reflecting on her childhood, Jay described how her concept of home constantly evolved, shaped by her experiences in different countries. Despite spending most of her childhood in China, returning to the Philippines didn't evoke a sense of home, highlighting the transient nature of her upbringing. The need for visas to revisit once-familiar places underscored the complexities of her identity as a TCK.<\/p>

\"A\"I had a really big identity crisis when I lived in Hong Kong...people at the time started asking me where home was...then I started to question myself, like, why am I changing my answers every single time?\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

Discovering the term \"Third Culture Kid\" in her twenties provided Jay with a newfound sense of validation and understanding of her experiences. However, she acknowledged the absence of discussions around TCK identity in her international school upbringing, emphasising the importance of raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the TCK experience.<\/p>

\u201cWhen did I first learn about the term third culture kid? Because I'm pretty sure it wasn't at high school, and it wasn't at middle school, it wasn't in elementary, and I had been to international schools for all of those time periods. So I must have somehow come across it online at some point when I was trying to figure out, like, \u2018who am I\u2019 when I was in my early 20s. Right. I have no idea.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Returning to the Philippines as an adult, Jay faced pressures from relatives to conform to cultural expectations, highlighting the challenges of reconciling her multicultural identity with external perceptions. Setting boundaries and asserting her identity became essential steps in navigating these familial dynamics.<\/p>

\"A\"In hindsight, I think I could have done a little bit more of building my own identity instead of looking for it. But I was so confused that a big part of my identity became like being able to identify who people are in terms of their mixed culture.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

Driven by her own identity struggles, Jay founded TCK Global, aiming to create a supportive community for fellow TCKs. Through TCK Global, Jay provides resources and platforms for TCKs to connect and share their experiences, offering guidance and support to navigate the complexities of their upbringing.<\/p>

\"I built TCK Global because I wanted to find people like me... My hope was to, like, catch them early. So that they never have that identity crisis... Instead, it's, you know, how do I be okay with who I am? How do I accept myself early enough?\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

She went on to say that it served as a bridge for communicating with her parents about being a TCK.<\/p>

\"I decided to use [TCK Global] as a platform to communicate with my parents... What I found was over time they started to understand things about it... I understand why you're like this or why you do this.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

\"LogoWe discussed the sensory triggers that sometimes feel more like home than the physical places we find ourselves in. For Jay certain condiments and sounds create that nostalgic feeling of home<\/p>

\"The taste of vinegar on rice... makes the food nicer for me. I get that sense of home from it... And also fireworks... whenever I hear fireworks, I think of the Philippines and of Chinese New Year.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

Jay advises TCKs to know they aren't alone in this experience. She also encourages adult TCK parents to educate themselves and their kids on the TCK upbringing.<\/p>

\"I think something I wish I learned growing up was that there is a way to describe yourself and that you're not alone. You're very normal and your mannerisms are a product of your environment growing up... My biggest advice for parents to TCKs is to learn all about third culture kids and understand that you need to educate yourselves and your kids about the TCK upbringing.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>

The full interview with Jay provides an interesting perspective on the nuances of growing up across multiple cultures. Be sure to check out TCK Global<\/u><\/a> to learn more!<\/p>

You can tune in to our brand new podcast <\/strong>The Culture Hub<\/u><\/strong><\/a> to hear Jay\u2019s unique upbringing.<\/strong><\/h3>

<\/p>

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 customisable t-shirts<\/u><\/a>!<\/p>

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