Growing Up Multicultural

Third-Culture Kids"refers to someone who [as a child] has spent a

significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Culture_Kids

Family BackgroundHeavily involved in politics and

international affairs:My mother’s father was

Governor of the Colombian state of Tolima, member of an underground liberal radio network, Ambassador to Canada, UN Special Envoy to India, and CEO of the power company.

My mother’s mother was a Senator in Colombia.

My mother was asked to be a special advisor to the President of Colombia, Virgilio Barco (1986 – 1990)

Family BackgroundHeavily involved in politics

and international affairs:My father’s father, a

British citizen, worked for Shell Oil in Cuba in the 1930’s. He was also an agent for Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

My father, an economist by trade, worked for the Organization of American States and the United Nations

The Story at a Glance

Birth

0 – 3,16+

3 – 9,12,

14-16

9 - 10

10 - 11

12 - 13

Ages 3 – 9 : ColombiaGrew up on a

strawberry farm outside Bogotá, Colombia.

Not much exciting to report. Strawberries, cows, and dogs.

1979 – 1983 : The Five-Year MissionMy father took on a 5

year contract with the United Nations as a specialist in urban and regional planning.

Consisted of 5 one-year contracts: Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Bahrain (2 years) and the Marshall Islands.

1979 : Saudi ArabiaFirst contract, my

father went to Saudi Arabia by himself for a year.

Due to restrictions in the Muslim culture, he was not comfortable having my mother and me with him there.

So, more strawberries, cows, and dogs for a year.

1980 : Sri LankaFormerly Ceylon, a

British Colony.Located in the Indian

Ocean just south of the tip of India.

Predominantly Buddhist culture.

1981 – 1982 : BahrainSmall Emirate island in

the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.

Name comes from Arabic Bahr meaning “sea” and –ain, suffix meaning “two”.

Most liberal of the Arab countries in the Middle East.

Predominantly Islamic culture.

Major US military presence.

بحري  ن

1983 : The Marshall IslandsUS Trust Territory in the

Pacific.Major military significance:

Kwajalein, Bikini.Coral AtollsMicronesian culture

1984 – 1987 : ColombiaAttended Colegio

Nueva Granada for high school.

Invited to Junior Scholars Program, Western Kentucky University, 1987.

Questions?