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growing up in Kenya
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People interested in the third-culture kid experience, personal growth stories, and the impact of living abroad on one's worldview.
TL;DR
A Korean student reflects on his formative years growing up in Kenya as a third-culture kid. He shares how navigating identity crises, diverse friendships, and cross-cultural service projects fostered resilience, humility, and a deeper appreciation for life.
Key Takeaways
- Growing up as a third-culture kid creates a complex identity crisis, as individuals often feel they do not fully belong to their home culture or their host country.
- Sports serve as a universal language that bridges cultural and linguistic gaps, allowing people to build meaningful connections and friendships even when they cannot communicate verbally.
- Exposure to diverse international environments fosters open-mindedness and empathy, helping individuals develop a greater capacity to support others who are struggling in foreign settings.
- Engaging in charitable field work in developing areas provides a stark perspective on privilege, encouraging individuals to stop taking basic comforts for granted and appreciate small details.
- Witnessing environmental degradation firsthand can transform a person's mindset, shifting them from apathy to a belief that small, individual contributions toward sustainability can make a significant difference.
- Overcoming the isolation and mental challenges of living abroad builds resilience and humility, ultimately maturing a person's perspective on their own capabilities and their place in the world.
In This Video
- 00:00Growing Up in Kenya
A Korean student shares his unique experience of moving to Kenya during elementary school and the lasting impact it had on his life.
- 01:21School Life and Sports
Attending an international school and playing soccer helped the speaker build friendships and navigate the challenges of living in a foreign country.
- 01:56The Third Culture Identity
The speaker reflects on his identity crisis as a third culture kid, feeling like he didn't truly belong in either Korea or Kenya.
- 03:50Adapting and Gaining Perspective
Over time, the speaker embraced his environment, becoming more open-minded through diverse cultural interactions and learning to appreciate his own life.
- 05:02Charity and Environmental Awareness
Field trips to local communities and witnessing environmental issues in Kenya shifted the speaker's values, fostering humility and a sense of global responsibility.
- 07:16Reflecting on Personal Growth
Looking back, the speaker realizes how his time in Kenya matured him, teaching him resilience and the importance of maintaining humility.
Questions & Answers
What is it like to grow up in Kenya as a Korean?
Growing up in Kenya was a confusing but eye-opening experience. It involved navigating an identity crisis as a 'third culture kid,' adapting to a new culture and international school environment, and eventually gaining a more resilient, humble, and open-minded perspective on life.
What are the challenges of being a third culture kid?
The speaker describes feeling like they didn't belong anywhere, struggling with a lack of a fixed identity, and feeling 'stuck in the middle' while trying to balance Korean heritage with an international school environment and life in Kenya.
How did living in Kenya change the speaker's perspective?
The experience made the speaker more resilient, humble, and appreciative of small comforts like hot water and food. It also fostered a deeper awareness of environmental responsibility and a desire to be open-minded toward different cultures.
How did the speaker make friends in Kenya?
The speaker found that playing sports, especially soccer, was the easiest way to make friends. By working hard and sweating together on the field, they were able to build memories and connect with people from various backgrounds despite language barriers.
What was the impact of cultural field studies in Kenya?
Field studies involved visiting local communities and orphanages to help with manual labor and charity. These experiences were eye-opening, showing the speaker how people with fewer resources could still be joyful, which led to a greater appreciation for their own life.
Key Terms
- Third culture kid — A person who has spent a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents' culture, often leading to a complex, multifaceted identity.