TCK
I've recently begun reading an absolutely brilliant book titled, Third Culture Kids (TCK), that I have heard of mentioned many, many times but never picked up to read until now. I'm doing my best to prepare to go live in another country where I hope to thrive and not just survive.
The content and examples found in this book has helped me process my thoughts, putting into words matters I already know without realizing I know it. I'm a Vietnamese-American who has recently lived in Mexico for several years. And now I'm planning to go live in China for several years.
Have I ever had an identity crisis and asked, "Who am I?" You bet. "TCKs are raised in a neither/nor world. It is neither fully the world of their parents' culture (ie Vietnam) nor fully the world of the other culture (ie USA) in which they were raised." Thankfully, the truth of God's words reminds me that my identity is found in Christ.
Sometimes what's on the outside does not match with what is on the inside. When I visited Shanghai, people often spoke to me in Chinese. When in reality, I was the person least likely to know what was going on. When I move to China, it will be my first experience living in a country where I'm not the minority. However, China is not my home.
Please pray for this time of transition. I have never been here before.
Posted April 30, 2009 by Phuong.
Health Update
Since January until now, I've suffered from allergies. The crazy thing is in the four years I had lived in Denton, from 2000 to 2004, I had never suffered from them before or ever in my life. So it took me a while to diagnose the problem and find the right medicine to alleviate my congestion and/or runny nose and headaches. But thanks to your prayers, the changes in the season, and the care of my wonderful sister who is a nurse, I'm feeling back to normal again.
A lesson I've learned from being sick for an extended period of time is to not take my health for granted. I want to arrive in Shanghai in June ready to hit the ground running. Please pray I will take care of my body and for good rest.
Posted March 27, 2009 by Phuong.
Learning to curl the tongue
I had hoped to be in Shanghai by now to prepare to attend language classes at a local university. But God has His perfect timing and if is to be March 1st, He will provide.
The thought of the herculean task of learning Mandarin Chinese frightens me! I had a tough time learning Spanish which is one of the easiest languages to learn, I couldn't fathom how I was going to pick up Chinese.
Fortunately, my God-send tutor, Jin-Jian, knew where to start me off. She began teaching me the standard 5 tone variations and 59 syllables (syllables in Chinese are usually composed of 23 "initials" and 36 "finals"). It's all in where you place or curl your tongue, in how you use the back of your throat, force air through your teeth, etc.
It has been two weeks now and I'm pleased to report I struggle with only one tone variation and two syllables. That's awesome! Of course, knowing and speaking a bit of Vietnamese helped greatly. I'm encouraged and the road to learning Chinese doesn't seem as threatening.
Please pray God will enable me to learn how to communicate in Chinese.
Posted January 31, 2009 by Phuong.
10-20-2008 Settling on the Far Side of the Sea
