...will mark 3 years in country. It will also bring us back to the States. Yes, we will return to the USA April 7th.
Two weeks ago we found out our passports have to be good for at least 18 months to get a year long visa. Unfortunately the boys' passports are only good for another 16 months. After the initial shock and dashed expectations, we adjusted our plans. We will return to the states in April, then if all goes smoothly we will come back to this country the beginning of 2016. In the four weeks we have left here in country, we have a lot to do. Thankfully we have bought tickets, renewed our house contract, and even started the process over for the work visa. Though we have to submit a new work visa application, we don't have to completely start from scratch.
We still do have a lot left to do in the time remaining here in country. Besides packing for our trip, we have to pack up our house to prevent as much mold as possible, we're planning a culturally appropriate farewell party, and I'm still homeschooling Caedmon. Not to mention say good-bye to the many, many people we have began relationships with over the past 3 years.
Please be thinking of us during this time and as we transition back to the states. Please be thinking of our boys too. Whitman has spent more of his life here than in the States, and John and I are their main teachers for American culture, yikes!
The following is a little look into their world and what we hope to guide them through as they grow. (I included a portion, but more can be found at tckid.com).
Caedmon and Whitman are "Third Culture Kids": one who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents' culture.
You know you are a TKC
when…
-“Where are you from?” has more than one reasonable answer.
- You’ve said that you’re from foreign country X, and if in America, your audience has asked you which US state X is in.
- You flew before you could walk.
- You speak two languages, but can’t spell in either.
-You had a passport before a driver's license.
- You go into culture shock upon returning to your “home” country.
- You’ve said that you’re from foreign country X, and if in America, your audience has asked you which US state X is in.
- You flew before you could walk.
- You speak two languages, but can’t spell in either.
-You had a passport before a driver's license.
- You go into culture shock upon returning to your “home” country.
-Your life
story uses the phrase “Then we moved to…” three (or four, or five…) times.
- You don’t know whether to write the date as day/month/year, month/day/year, or some variation thereof.
- The best word for something is the word you learned first, regardless of the language.
- You get confused because US money isn’t colour-coded.
- You think VISA is a document that is stamped in your passport, not a plastic card you carry in your wallet.
- You own personal appliances with 3 types of plugs, and know all your appliances can shock you if touched in the right place.
- You believe that football is played with a round, spotted ball.
- You consider a city 500 miles away “close.”
- You haggle with the store clerk for a lower price.
- When asked a question in a certain language, you’ve absentmindedly respond in a different one.
- You miss the subtitles when you see the latest movie.
- You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
- You have frequent flyer accounts on multiple airlines.
- You know how to pack.
- You have friends from different countries.
- You don’t know whether to write the date as day/month/year, month/day/year, or some variation thereof.
- The best word for something is the word you learned first, regardless of the language.
- You get confused because US money isn’t colour-coded.
- You think VISA is a document that is stamped in your passport, not a plastic card you carry in your wallet.
- You own personal appliances with 3 types of plugs, and know all your appliances can shock you if touched in the right place.
- You believe that football is played with a round, spotted ball.
- You consider a city 500 miles away “close.”
- You haggle with the store clerk for a lower price.
- When asked a question in a certain language, you’ve absentmindedly respond in a different one.
- You miss the subtitles when you see the latest movie.
- You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
- You have frequent flyer accounts on multiple airlines.
- You know how to pack.
- You have friends from different countries.
A few specifics from this country that we will brief the boys on upon returning are:
-They don't need to hold and raise their teachers hand to their head every time they arrive at or leave school.
-They don't have to take their shoes off to enter their class room or the bathroom.
-They won't wear a uniform to school.
-You don't called other kid's mom "Jack's mom." For example, "Excuse me Jack's mom, may I have some water?"
-There are rarely Mangoes or Papayas, there are no Durians, Rambutan, Lansat, Lengkeng, or young coconuts in America.
-And yes (in answer to a recent question from Whitman) all the teachers there speak English.
I'm sure there are more, but for now we will return in April, then we can share all that you are anxious to know!
-They don't need to hold and raise their teachers hand to their head every time they arrive at or leave school.
-They don't have to take their shoes off to enter their class room or the bathroom.
-They won't wear a uniform to school.
-You don't called other kid's mom "Jack's mom." For example, "Excuse me Jack's mom, may I have some water?"
-There are rarely Mangoes or Papayas, there are no Durians, Rambutan, Lansat, Lengkeng, or young coconuts in America.
-And yes (in answer to a recent question from Whitman) all the teachers there speak English.
I'm sure there are more, but for now we will return in April, then we can share all that you are anxious to know!
