There is this one question that one should NEVEREVEREVER ask Mks or Tcks. Mks as in missionary kids.. and Tcks and in third culture kids.
"Where are you from?"
This is THE question that I have to say, ALL mks have trouble with. Okok, maybe new mks might not.. but it's such a difficult question to answer.
In my situation.. My parents are Korean.. they immigrated to the States a long time ago and then met and got married and I was born.. in the states.. with an American passport. However.. When I was barely 3, I came to Albania, a country in Europe where most people don't know where it is. Sometimes, people ask. ' So, how's it over there in Alabania/Alabama/Albany? ' Hellooo! We're talking Europe here.. hehe. But's it's no big deal. Albania is not so much of a famous country. It's more like a 'background' one.. you know? Like Mother Theresa was Albanian.. although many people find it unbelievable.. and Illyria.. Dat was Albania's old name. It's also mentioned in the Bible. So, what.. many people don't know where Albania is let alone know it exists. OKOk, I think I'm gonna carry on this discussion for another topic.. it's so off point... oh well.
Yeah, that's where I am. now, I can't say I'm from America.. cuz I am from there but it doesn't feel like a home.. It's like more of a vacation place where we go for summer breaks.. ugh. Then there's Korea.. Korea? haha Never been there. Yup, you can gawk and act all surprised.. Nope, never been to Korea. and yet I speak Korean. I know enough to be able to communicate, read, write and understand. After all, it WAS the first language I learned. Except I've never really taken Korean language classes. I just learned at home and with my friends... And then writing.. dat's another story. But overall.. I was born in the States, lived in Albania all my life, but never been to Korea although I speak Korean, look Korean(duh), think in Korean, and etc... It's like.. so, where am I from?
Yeah, the hardest question ever. Don't ask dat to a Mk or Tck EVER. It gives us such a hard time.. hehehe. OH well... So, I came to a conclusion... I wuz born in the States, making me a Korean-American. I know how to speak, write, understand, etc. both languages fluently(although Korean I'm not too much of an expert.. but enough to surprise people who think I wouldn't know as much,.) and then I lived most of my life here in Albania. Albania's home. But's it's not where I'm from.. hahaha. There's a biiiiiiig difference, you see? So, I won't decide where I'm from and I'll leave the figuring out to anyone who asks me the question.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The ONE question you should NEVER ask MKs... or TCKs
Posted by maiichan at 3:03 PM
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