How to get a global mindset while staying local

I first saw the book “Third Culture Kids” in the library of an American nomad during a random Christmas day lunch in Seville.

I was only visiting for the holidays, traveling on my own

And through a chance encounter

I ended up in the cheery home of an American family, played jumping rope with one of the two daughters, and heard stories of eight other ex-pats/nomads/working student.

Some of them are recent movers to that city, and some of us met each other for the first time.

During the meal we shared, I had this strange feeling

That this could be the future life I want

Hosting strangers

Hearing their stories of previous travels, present lives, and future adventures

Welcoming and tolerant of different ideas and perspectives

After that, I became curious about the third culture kids (TCK) phenomenon

Based on my research, there are varying definitions of what or who is a TCK, so I'll let you figure it out on your own...

But why did I bring it up now?

It's because of future holiday reunions when the topic of raising a family would come up, for sure.

I belong to a generation who are not only in their early career but also in the early stages of building a family.

"Where do you plan to raise your kids or future kids?" I'd ask this from some of my immigrant friends.

And whenever this topic comes up, a commonality occurs.

If we’ll ever have kids, we would want them to grow up in an environment tolerant of differences.

We want them to get exposed early and often to the world they live in

Not only through books and studies

But also via movement across borders and immersion in different cultures

The lack of this movement and immersion was one of the gaps in our education.

But little by little, and only now, through our professions, we’re able to fill the gaps.

We’re able to see for ourselves what it’s like to think differently, to act differently.

What it’s like to own the good values that stem from your original culture

What it’s like to discard the toxic mindsets that block growth

And what it’s like to adopt new values and mindsets that move you forward

Until you’ve got a mélange of cultural values that make you a better human

The global lifestyle is not easy to replicate for sure.

But one of the rewards that we got from moving across borders

Is the awareness that change and transformation are possible

Through small, steady, and consistent progress.

***

So if you're an immigrant and returning to your home country for the holidays, consider this.

What you bring and what you lose are equally important.

Wherever you are in the world right now

Think about every little act that you do

And how each one can contribute to something bigger than yourself

Be open.

Be tolerant.

Listen well to the world around you.

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