Say What?
“You’re Cree? That cannot be, my friend
Your eyes are blue, brown hair, and then
You do not have that accent slight
We hear at work – I know I’m right.“And there, you said it once again;
This thought gives me a lot of pain,
For I spoke freely to a white –
Misapprehension – you set right.I’m “Creenglish” – mix of Cree and white –
A TCK – in that’s the light
You seek in darkness for your kids;
Misapprehension now it’s rids.“Third culture kids” are kids who grow
Up in a culture you don’t know;
For you were living overseas
Not “home” for you – that’s plain to see.Nor were you part of culture there;
Nor were your kids – so be aware
They grew up in a culture-mix
Of “home” (for you) and foreign tricks.But they know nothing of your home
Except your tales, as you all roamed
Around the world, “Third Culture Kids”
They are – and nothing rids –Them of that base as “TCK”;
Their “Echoland”, their “home”, where they
Know peace and comfort, as for you
When you “go home” when feeling blue.They feel at home up in the air,
As from a plane; in life they dare
To roam the globe – the world’s their home –
With TCK’s they like to roam.When you return to “home” that’s fine,
But know that they can’t cross that line,
For that’s not home to them, it’s yours –
To them it’s “Echoland” allures.An “Echoland” is place between
Two larger cultures – where they’ve been
As children – that bonds to their heart
As “home” for them – that’s where it starts.So help them own their Echoland;
And know somehow you understand
They’ll never fit where you have grown;
That Echoland’s an okay home.If you do that, they’ll love your care;
And if you’re lucky they might share
Some treasured part of growing up
In Echoland – which left its mark.“Bridge people” they will be between
Two larger cultures – it will seem
To you familiar, yet so strange
But “Echoland”, as bridge, won’t change.“World citizens” you’ve raised in them;
Let go and they’ll return again
As TCK’s; they are way ahead
Of peers back home, who seem quite “dead” –But in their way are okay too;
You know – for they are more like you –
And you’re alive and rising up
To meet life’s challenge – coaches stuff.navigation