We have been averaging 3-5 sunny (no rain) days/month for about the last 6 months. Seems like an extremely long (longer than usual) rainy period and it is supposed to go through June. Thankfully, we had 2 sunny days while the kids were off school for Labor Day! We took their class on a little trip about an hour north of here and road scooters through the mountains. We had planned to camp, but the campsite was flooded! So.much.rain.

There was a skit in the local dialect at the children’s library this past weekend. It’s amazing that our kids can understand and are fluent in Mandarin and they also understand the local dialect. Kylie really speaks it the best. She has no accent whatever. It still cracks us up to hear her speak in Guilin Dialect because it sounds so different from Mandarin.

1-2. Cream Puff is our new kitty that we have had for about 3 months now. She brings a lot life with her. The kids love her!

3-5. Some of my favorite eats right now: handmade noodles in a tomato/egg broth, espresso and ice cream, and mangosteen! Soooo good!

6-7. Thing you see hanging off electric scooters. Amazing.

I’m reading a book called Third Culture Kids that is really fascinating to me since I’m raising three “THIRD CULTURE KIDS” or “TCKs.”

By definition a TCK is “a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.”

I think originally, I actually believed (or atleast hoped) that my kids would be able to assimilate into these 2 cultures seamlessly. . . but after 5 years overseas and after reading this book I know it’s not possible. I should really sit down and write all about it to maybe help you understand more of what I’m learning and maybe you could even understand our kids better or other TCKs, but here are some benefits and challenges to keep it concise:

BENEFIT: Expanded Worldview CHALLENGE: Confused Loyalties
BENEFIT: Cross-Cultural Enrichment CHALLENGE: Ignorance of Home Culture
BENEFIT: Adaptability CHALLENGE: Lack of Cultural Balance (because of the mix of cultures they’ve been exposed to)
BENEFIT: Blending In (chameleon like – dress or accent) CHALLENGE: Really Defining their Differences (they know “I’m not like you!”)
BENEFIT: Less Prejudice (for most) CHALLENGE: More Prejudice (For some)

I know the choice we have made to live overseas is molding our kids. I’m not a TCK so there is so much I don’t understand. I think it’s great that they can see this great big world – from the wealthy to extreme poverty, experience so many cultures through our travels, taste so many different foods, and be fluent in two languages. It comes with set backs too though – They don’t have the same palette as a “true American.” They don’t know about baseball or football or many other things that are familiar childhood memories to me. Reading in two languages and getting the sounds and letters mixed up has been a battle for one of them. . . More importantly, they don’t get to grow up around their cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We miss the holidays (some more than others) just to name a few.

I’m not questioning our journey. . . I’m content and grateful. Just some thoughts as I parent these precious “TCKs.” And one more analogy: (colors referring to Westerner and Asian in a completely non-racist way)

In the States they are like an egg. They are “white” on the outside, but really more “yellow” on the inside.

Here they are more like a banana. They are “yellow” on the outside, but more “white” on the inside.

So. . . where do they fit in? Nowhere completely. But when a bunch of TCKs get together it is really an amazing sight- like a family reunion almost Because if you remember from the definition above “their sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.” They just have a magical connection, and it’s this group of people that make a “THIRD CULTURE” because they don’t fit into their home or host culture.

First off, I didn’t take these pictures. . . but it’s classic GL city during rainy season. It can make a beautiful picture, but everything is so so so wet.

My work visa is taken care of, but because of various complications David and the kids are still on the tourist visa. Hopefully that will get taken care of within the next few months though because visa runs every 60 days lost their “fun” about. . . 5 years ago. hahaha.

This past trip, we decided to tack on a day and go to Guangzhou which is only about 2.5 fast train from where live. They have a really cool Safari Park that we hadn’t been to before. There are so many animals! We spent the whole day and still didn’t see it all. Definitely made this visa trip more fun!

The kids school had a celebration for spring! Everyone wore traditional clothing, there was dragon dancing, games, tea, and some performances by each grade. Unfortunately Kylie wasn’t feeling well, so she and I stayed home. David took the boys though. Enjoy the pics!

This park is about 1 or 2 miles from our apartment and it has quite a high population of wild monkeys! They are super cute, especially all of the babies this time of year. . . It’s really fun to go walk through the park because of the monkeys – almost better than a zoo!

We love/prefer to be outdoors and climbing became a family activity after we moved to GL. It’s right out our backdoor and the kids can run, play, explore, and create secret hideouts for hours. The first picture is of the brothers climbing. Caden is on left and Colt is on the right. They are both quite good – they take after their Daddy. Kylie doesn’t love it so much, but she is a good cheerleader

Teaching English is such an available opportunity here.  Different people seriously ask.me.every.day. if I can teach their kids English.  I think this desire here to learn a second language is awesome!  I mean, I learned a little Spanish in high school, but these kids are learning English starting in preschool all the way through high school!  Unfortunately, they don’t have much opportunity to use it, and they use more of a textbook style of teaching than actual oral English. . . so they don’t really become fluent, but it’s better than nothing!

These past 5 years of homeschooling my own littles and now around 3 years of teaching English. . . I’m beginning to enjoy it The best part is when the kids tell me how much THEY are enjoying it!  It’s such a great opportunity to love on these kids and encourage them.