I only learned of the term TCK this year and I can’t express how excited I was to know that there were others like me. I’m not a missionary kid. I’m not a military brat. I’m biracial. I’m half Mexican, and half Mongolian. Two cultures at opposite sides of the world, err, my upbringing was a bit rocky indeed. And I could go on endlessly about my views on how my upbringing has positively and negatively affected my psychology, my way of thinking, reasoning, and feeling. It’s fascinating, sometimes depressing and sometimes equally as exciting.Â
My parents met in Russia and had me, so my first language was Russian, but I don’t speak it anymore. My years in Russia were few, if not a couple. I’m seen as Mongolian by my Mongolian peers- like an out of place Mongolian I suppose. That’s the impression most of them give me, anyway. In Mexico, they love me either way, but I’m the “Chinita” Mexican with brown skin. I really like my brown skin.Â
I speak Spanish, Mongolian and English. Languages fascinate me, and the languages I already speak fascinate me just as much as the ones I don’t speak. I don’t know about you guys, but when I speak Mongolian, my attitude toward life changes. When I speak Spanish, it changes again. When I speak English, it changes yet again. Languages seem to give us a different personality. Does anyone else feel the same way?
Sometimes I feel marginalized and then sometimes I feel really special about who I am. Usually when I feel marginalized is when I want to fit in with people who I cannot relate to and vice versa. When I feel special about who I am is when I read about people like us with, say, a special “calling” and “birthright”. We shouldn’t forget that we are really special. It gets very, very lonely, but maybe that’s part of the package. Aren’t all superheroes kind of lonely anyway? Like the XMen, Superman, etc?
I’m happy to be here, in any case :)Â
To explore, read, understand, relate, and connect.Â
They should add a like button! I like the post but I don’t know what to comment!
I was in Russia 5 years as a child, too!:)
I am half german, half russian: well, the perfect bridge between the coutries.
you know why the attitude changes when speaking a “different” language? because there is war between the countries, and i really do not want to have war between Russia and Germany. but no one seems to understand, that both countries are the same on all levels: the both eat, sleep, fuck, build houses, make dishes, built PCs,, built weapons, produce products of all sorts… well, luckely, international economy will win, because it respects every culture, no matter how you behave…..
look at http://www.cchr.org: it is a danger, every one should know about, do not get into there, because people may see you as “crazy”: you ARE NOT. me, neither. have a closer look at CCHR on youtube.com/CCHRInt
you know what does not change, when you talk another language is your body: your face is the same in spanish, english, mongolian, mexican:) your body is the reference to the word “I”: you always mean your body; i have done a work about that: four languages, and one body (reference). remember, every word has got a reference.
 you are in between the borders (of war)!!! you are a bridge, you know both countries. I love exchange with bilingual people, beause we are real peaceful (rational).
you know what helps me to overcome loneliness, is, that I remember that I have got the same body as everyone else: breathing, eating, sleeping, moving, hair, skin, eyes…. I mean, the doctors have no category mexican/mongolian to be treated differently when having a cold! No, on the opposite, your body reacts as everyone elses to nature, products, and noises, and visions, and and and:)))))
Silja Ilka (37 years)