| Why
I started this website
My
own interest in this subject comes from a number of places.
For one, I’ve worked for almost twenty years as a performer
and consultant in International Schools and have become interested
in the stories told to me by children and adults about identity
and adjustment. Since I believe in ‘writing from what
you know’, I felt it was important to provide a site
where people could write about these and other related issues.
In the States, I’ve worked with children from many immigrant
communities. I’ve noticed a similarity between the stories
they tell and those told by children and adults in the International
Community and wanted to find a way that each group’s
stories could be shared with one another.
I’ve also long been interested in the how the ideas
of national, racial, ethnic ‘purity’ are breaking
down as a new definition of Global Citizenry is emerging.
I feel that Third Culture adults and children are ‘canaries
in the mine’, in that they are experiencing an early
stage of this larger cultural/demographic shift. I wanted
this website to be a place where the young and the old could
share their thoughts about this new identity.
In
my limited travels I too, have noticed and been embarrassed/surprised
by many mistakes I’ve made because of my lack of knowledge
of cultural differences. For instance…
- Handing
out business cards in China respectfully with two hands
rather than showing one at someone.
- Greeting
someone with a polite ‘Good morning’, in Quito
before asking a question or in my case, demanding something.
-
Drinking tea in Islamic countries before conducting business
rather than saying as I have said inappropriately, ‘What’s
this cost?’
-
Interpreting the minions who come to my side in India as
impolite rather than merely trying to be helpful and curious.
There
are some funny stories out there and I want to laugh and learn!
I guess that is another reason I started this web site.
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