TCK's

I came across this quote the other day and was shocked by the emotions it stirred up in me. It's funny but I guess i sort of thought that now I was an adult i'd be other the whole "messed up TCK" thing but i realized i'm actually not! so for those of you who know me, this sort of explains a little bit about why i am the way i am. I would love to hear what other people think about this, especially other TCK's. This part in particular spoke to me. Now I understand why i "cling" so fast to family and traditions. "They search for home in the rhythms of breath and time and in attempts to absorb rootedness through ritual and personal connection. Family, religion, language, memories carried within, become the home these children are unable to return to, a home not defined by geography…." Enjoy... “All children must figure out who they are and where they belong. Rooted children can take their clues from history, from their environment, from the traditions they are born into. But mobile children, raised in a world of changing backdrops, are expected to be cultural chameleons, turning themselves emerald in the Amazon forest, tawny on dry Arabian sands. To successfully adapt to the transitions in their lives, they must flow in and out of cultures, taking on the colors of one, slipping from the bonds of another. Some embrace the many influences they are exposed to, while others are more selective, adopting only those aspects of a culture they choose to retain. They are able to immerse themselves in new cultures, keeping pieces of themselves hidden and adapting well with frequent moves.But what of their interior selves. Some children deal with transition by managing superficial changes with ease, seemingly conforming to the new host culture but camouflaging their inner lives. They learn new languages, wear the proper clothing, play the part like the seasoned performers they have become. Yet others suffer great difficulty in dislocation and cannot make themselves entirely comfortable anywhere. Without the supportive structures of a place they can call home,they flounder in new environments, unable to conform or blend in with their surroundings. Theirs is not the exhilaration of freedom but the loneliness of isolation. Awkward outsiders, they always feel out of place. A gnawing restlessness shadows their lives and prevents them, even in adulthood,from establishing permanent roots. They search for home in the rhythms of breath and time and in attempts to absorb rootedness through ritual and personal connection. Family, religion, language, memories carried within, become the home these children are unable to return to, a home not defined by geography…. The journey to self discovery can be a protracted one for the unrooted child. The restlessness bred into these children because of their parents’ mobility leads them to seek identity in something other than place. Roots are not portable; these children cannot secure themselves to an impermanent home. In developing integrated identity, they must piece together self hood in other ways.” from Unrooted Childhoods- Memoirs of Growing Up Global by Faith Eidsea and Nina Sichel

may musings

It's so quiet on station right now i can hear only my fridge humming and the clock ticking. it seems strange to think that in a few days those sounds will be blocked out by the sounds of many children playing with their friends. normally at this point i am still not yet ready for the students to come back but strangely i find myself looking forward to seeing them again. this term break has been just long enough. as i have only truly been off-station for one night and two days i have had plenty of leisure time and find that i am sufficiently rested and ready for the new term. the biggest problem i forsee is getting back into a schedule and making it to breakfast ontime! in the last few weeks we have had 3 "changes" to our school. 1) the back end of the hall was taken off and it has been extended several feet to make new storage rooms. the workmen have been working very fast and seem to nearly have that complete. however the next part is extending the side and then replacing the roof. for those of you who have been to Sakeji, i am sad to say that they got rid of the Eucalytis tree that was between the hall and the tennis court. :( 2) a former student, now trained teacher, David Poidevin, has come to help for the next 2 terms, covering for those who are on furlough. 3) we have accepted a new student into grade 2 although she is already 10yrs old. this was a difficult decision to make as she is much older then the other grade 2's. normally we have a cap on age as this is a boarding school and it can cause problems further down the road. she is from the Hillwood Orphanage and has had a very rough past but recently gave her life to Christ and is working hard to overcome her past. she is a very bright girl and love to learn and help others so i'm sure she'll fit in fine here. please pray for her as she adjusts to life here and that she'll be able to catch up to her peers quickly. well, that is all for now as i have to get to a staff meeting soon and need to finish up a few things first.