Marilyn R. Gardner's Blog, page 52

The Expat’s Ten Commandments

Filed under: Cross-cultural, Cross-cultural Adjustment, Expat Tagged: Cross-cultural, Cross-cultural adjustment, Expat, Global Nomad

Observations and Thoughts on the Third Culture Kid Perspective

I just returned from a two-week trip to Cairo, Egypt where I was invited to speak at five different schools, to five different parent groups, and be a speaker ata youth retreat. I found the research specific literature to be invaluable in assisting me in my talks. Here are some of my observations from the [...]

A Bigger Picture

I arrived back from Egypt yesterday, bleary-eyed after hours of travel. Having coffee in Cairo, sahlep in Istanbul, and mint tea in our Cambridge living room reminded me yet again of how connected our world is. We fell asleep and woke up on the other side of the world. The trip was a gift that [...]

The Welcome Prayer

I have to admit I’m really struggling this week. I’m angry at some recent news from an organization close to my heart. I’m disgusted by the political situation in the country where I live. I’m horrified by the people that excuse sexual indecency and the language of predatory sexual assault. I’m embarrassed by those Christians [...]

It’s Complicated!

For the past week I’ve had the privilege of spending time with third culture kids and their parents. It has been an amazing gift and I have learned so much from the people I’ve met. Over the weekend, I met a teenager who will be moving on to university next year. As I asked her [...]

So…Where are you from?

[with thanks to International School Tumblr]Filed under: Expat, Identity, Third Culture Kid Tagged: cross cultural kid, identity, Immigrant, Third Culture Kid

Widening Our Embrace

Ronald Rohlheiser, in his book, Sacred Fire, addressed especially to older pursuers of the faith has a short section entitled, “Be Wide in Your Embrace.” We are constantly being overwhelmed by otherness. Nothing is safe for long. More than any previous generation, we are being stretched beyond what is familiar. Often that is painful and [...]

It Takes a Long Time to Grow an Old Friend

Friends – I am in Cairo, Egypt on a speaking trip. It is a gift to be here in a place that has meant so much to me through the years. Though things have changed, there is a sweet familiarity all around me. It is in the palm trees and dusty roads; in the call [...]

Conversation and Laughter at a Funeral Home

The New Comer Funeral Home is in a primarily residential area in Rochester, New York. It isa one story, unassuming building and the only indication that its business is death is the word “funeral.” We arrived at the funeral home on a bleak and rainy Friday afternoonfor anappointment at 1pm. No one had died. There [...]

Here’s to the Lonely Ones

Here’s to the lonely ones, sitting at airports on Sunday nights. Here’s to the tired ones, weary of travel and goodbyes, idly eating granola bars and sipping coffee from styrofoam cups. Here’s to the mom, traveling with kids, weary of meeting the needs of little ones who are out of their habitat. Here’s to the [...]