The Return of the Third Culture Kid

It’s been a long time since my last post, as things suddenly got pretty busy. I’ve been working on some other projects, but more importantly I was spending time with my family and attending my brother’s high-school graduation.

I’ve also had the chance to do some thinking about my blog, how it’s evolved and what I really want to do with it. I started this blog to write about and share my third culture kid experiences and memories. Over time it evolved to include a lot of nature photography, some poetry and texts about daily observations… I love doing those posts, and I will continue to do some, but I’ve realized that I really want to get back to the initial goal of this blog. I really want to get back to writing about my expat/TCK experiences and I want to share more of my memories.

I know that I recently posted about wanting to write more, and I guess this is just the natural evolution of my thoughts. There have been several things these past weeks that have reminded me of why I started this blog and how much I love being a third culture kid. My brother graduated from the same high-school as me, where teachers and students alike are third culture kids and expats. It’s a place that makes me happy, where I feel like I belong. Being back there, coupled with many conversations I’ve had lately – with my husband, my family and fellow TCKs – brought me back to the original source of this blog and filled me with a renewed vigor to write about my third culture kid life.

I know this post is short, but please consider this as both an apology for my long absence and an introduction for what’s to come. I hope you’ll stay along for the journey!

Third culture kid, back and better than ever, signing off!

Advertisement

Writer’s Block

Oh, writer’s block,

How dare you come knock.

 

I look for the words,

But they fly away like birds.

 

I cannot find how to say

All that I wish to convey.

 

It’s all locked inside there, somewhere,

But the key has vanished into thin air.

 

Even to finish this simple phrase,

The words struggle through the haze.

 

So much I want to express,

But today it’s just a jumbled mess.

 

How can I open the door

To let my words flow once more?

 

Why must they insist

On remaining hidden in the mist?

 

If only I could find the key,

That fits only me,

 

Then I could unlock

This damn writer’s block.

To Write or Not To Write

It’s been quite some time since I’ve written, and as much as the past few weeks really have been busy, my lack of inspiration is also to blame. I do have a few photos I could post, and I will put them up soon, but this blog was initially started as a writing blog. I really enjoy putting up my photos and I’ve discovered a new love for photography with my blog, but sometimes that makes me lazier about writing. I don’t want to get lazy about writing, and with all my current free time I have no excuse to be lazy or procrastinate. I love to write and I have always loved writing, for as long as I can remember.

The first personal writing I ever did started in elementary school, when my sister bought me my first diary. I went through many diaries since then, and also many notebooks and journals of all shapes and sizes. Some of those became diaries; many of them became my poetry notebooks. I think I was in middle school when I began writing poetry, although high school was definitely my most productive period. I had a wonderful high school experience, with all the happiness of close friends, flirtations, parties…but I also had my share of teenage angst and unrequited love (until senior year 😉 ). Doesn’t that sound dramatic? Ah, but such is the life of a teenager, and drama sure makes for good poetry. Although, I would have to admit that my poetry didn’t particularly center around darker emotions – I would write about friendship, about love (what little I claimed to know at the time!), about the beauty of nature (that hasn’t changed), and of course the occasional ‘deeper’ emotional poem after a particularly dramatic event. Please note that ‘dramatic event’ is to be taken with a whole box of salt, not just a grain. This is high school I’m talking about, after all.

Well, I clearly went off track there, so let me get back to the point of this post: my love of writing. I had never thought of writing a blog, but when my husband mentioned it last year and I finally wrapped my head around the idea (what a weird expression…), I realized how perfect a next step it would be for me. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do or that I would ‘meet’ such wonderful and encouraging people, but those have been such pleasant and welcome surprises. Blogging has allowed me to explore my writing in a different way, and part of me always wanted to share my writings, but I never knew how. Writing is so much a part of me, and I love the words as much as I love the act of writing. I’m still ‘old-fashioned’ and I write on paper before typing things up. I do that for my personal writing as well as for all my academic work. I love picking up a pen or pencil and watching the words appear on my paper. Writing in pencil is a big favorite of mine – I love the scratching sound of the lead on the paper and I love sharpening the pencil to write with a nice crisp lead. Yes, I am that old-fashioned: I prefer a classic wood pencil to the mechanical ones.

The bottom line is that I always come back to writing, no matter how long of a break it’s been since the last time I wrote. Writing soothes me and puts me in a mood of tranquil serenity. When I haven’t written in a while, I truly miss it.

Here’s hoping that turning 27 will bring lots of inspiration and fulfill this writer’s itch. Looking through my notebook, if the first 10 days are any proof, it’s looking to be a good year.

One Thousand and Counting

A few months ago, when I started this blog, I wasn’t sure where I would go with it or if I’d really get into it. Well, today I’m still not entirely sure where I’m going with it, but I’m most definitely sure that I’ve gotten into it, and I love it. I’ve always loved writing – poems and thoughts mostly, fiction was never something I was good at – but I never quite knew what to do with my writing.

This week I hit and passed 1000 visits on my blog. A thousand times and counting that someone clicked my home page or one of my posts. What does that mean? Does it mean my writing and my pictures are worth reading and seeing? Is it just luck that people stumbled upon my blog once and may never return? Did I manage to interest some people or bring a smile to their faces? Could some of them relate to what I’ve written? Do some of them share an unspoken connection or secret with me?

I love writing and I love sharing thoughts that can make connections with people all over the world. I love the vastness and globalness (if that’s even a word) of the blogosphere. I never thought there would be a day where I would ever have a reason to use the word blogosphere! But here I am, using that word, because since June, it’s another global community I’ve had the chance to be a part of. It something that keeps me in touch with my TCK side, no matter where I am. It allows me to ‘meet’ fascinating people, incredibly talented writers and photographers I would never have met otherwise. I didn’t know I would love writing my blog so much, but it really brings me a deep contentment and satisfaction. Hopefully, life and memories will continue to inspire me for a long time, and you’ll continue reading.

Thank you to family, friends, and all the kind strangers and amazing bloggers who make my day, every day. Your visits and comments always make me smile and add a bounce to my step.

Here’s to hoping there will be another one thousand visits.