People of the World
Ana’s Multicultural Household: Argentine and British Couple Living in Dallas, Texas
Meet Ana from Argentina! Ana, shown below at the historic train station of the town of Capilla del Señor in the province of Buenos Aires, is from Argentina but currently lives in Dallas, Texas with her British husband. Talk about lots of very different cultural experiences! Ana is a contributing editor here at Pocket Cultures, and also writes her own blog too, Ana Travels.
Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?
I’m currently living in Dallas, Texas, which is very different from where I grew up, Argentina. We moved to the US because of my husband’s job in the fields of telecommunications.
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India, as seen by Anu: A World of Cultures, Languages and Traditions, In Just One Country
Anuradha (Anu), our regional Pocket Cultures contributor from India, is a home- maker and a freelance writer who loves to travel. In Anu’s words “While I would love to travel around the world, I am so fascinated with my own country that I want to explore every inch of it and experience every bit of its rich and varied culture.”
Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?
My family originally hails from the southern state of Tamilnadu, but over the last 4 generations, we have moved all over India. I was born in the national capital Delhi which is in the north, and live in our commercial capital, Mumbai, which is in the west. I love living in Mumbai for the simple reason that its a melting pot of cultures and traditions. It attracts people from across the country and gives each one the freedom of following ones own way of life too!
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What’s a typical day like in Brasilia, Brazil? Let Carla explain!
Carla, our regional Pocket Cultures contributor from Brazil, is an English as a Foreign Language educator who loves cooking, photography and connecting with the world through social media. Carla is also a proud Brazilian, currently living in Brasilia. In today’s interview, we learn about the cultural and economic contrasts inherent in living in Brazil, and just why it’s so fantastic to be a Brazilian!
Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?
I’m now back to Brasilia, my hometown in Brazil, but I’ve lived for two years in Key West, Florida. When I was a teen, I lived as an exchange student in a small town near Seattle in the U.S., and also in Mestre, Italy, a 10-minute train ride from Venice.
Why is Malaysia called “Malaysia, Truly Asia?” LeX gives us the inside scoop!
LeX, one of our Pocket Cultures regional contributors is a student traveller, currently in France, but originally from Malaysia. Malaysia, in it’s own right, is a multi-cultural country, melding together the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. Read more to learn about why LeX joined the Pocket Cultures team, and how to easily detect a Malaysian speaking English!
Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?
I am a student traveller, LeX from Malaysia. Actually my real name is Tan Yih Liang (陈奕良/단익량 – Chinese/Korean) and LeX is what people always call me. Education and study are the motivation and direction that inspired me to move! South Korea was the 1st foreign country I stayed and currently studying in Europe and operating a travel blog call “LeX Paradise”.
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Do They Really Eat Garlic and Drink Wine All Day? Read On to Learn More About DeeBee’s Beloved France
DeeBee, born in Paris, has been living abroad for 20+ years, currently in the UK. Although DeeBee has been living outside of France for a long time and speaks mostly English on a day to day basis, DeeBee loves to share her home culture with us here on Pocket Cultures as a regional contributor and also on her personal blog: www.onlinetravelfrance.blogspot.com.
Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?
I left France a long time ago, spent nearly 20 years in Asia, and have been living in the UK for the last 3 years. Why did I move? To follow my husband’s various professional postings.
If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why. If you have kids, what culture do they most associate with?
I feel very French in my way of thinking but hardly speak French as most my friends and family speak English.
In fact I feel very European!
My teenage daughter was born and lived abroad for most of her life and feels that where she was born is “home” which is natural.
But despite having dual nationality she feels more English than French as English is her first language and she never lived in France.
Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?
I came across Pocket Cultures while reading someone whose blog is listed as a Blog of the World and thought that it was a very interesting and different approach to travelling and learning about foreign cultures
I also like the idea of contributing to a team work when I can.
Can you describe a typical day for you?
A lot of time on my computer as I am running my own web site and my blog
What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?
Best? Superb climate, architecture, cuisine, way of being…There is really a “French touch” as we are mid-way between the Italians and the English, we combine the best of these two opposite cultures!
Worst? Thinking that we are so perfect – but we are, aren’t we?!?!
What books or films would you recommend someone who’d like to know more about your country?
Films: Any from the 60s or 70s as they were produced by a very inventive and innovative type of producers and reflect quite well the way French are.
Books: Any historical or social novel from the late 19th century (when society went through a major transformation) to the present day.
What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?
That we don’t eat garlic from dawn to dusk!
That we don’t eat white bread as it is bleached and therefore is bad quality!
That Paris cafe waiters are very rude…even to us! Not good, but sadly true…
That French people drink less wine than people think or at least they drink less but better quality
That it can rain…even in France!
11-year old Eliana: What It’s Like to Be a TCK (Third Culture Kid)
Ever wondered what it’s like to experience a myriad of different cultures… but as a kid? 11-year old Eliana Silver, who writes the blog TC Kids (“For Kids by a Kid”) is doing just that, and in the process sharing her experiences with other kids. For a third culture kid, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and moving frequently is just a part of day to day life. Read here all about Eliana’s experiences and her advice for other third culture kids.
First off, please tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you currently live? Where are you from?
My name is Eliana Silver and I currently live in Miami,Florida, but in a few months I will be moving to Madrid,Spain.
On your blog, you describe yourself as a ”Third Culture Kid (TCK)” is. What does this mean to you? How do you think being a TCK changes your experience relative to your friends who have lived in the US their whole lives?
Being a Third Culture Kid means a lot to me because I get to see new things, and lots of different countries. I think that my friends who have lived in the US for their entire life are less adventurous than I am, and do not like trying new things. I really hope they get a chance go to different countries and explore the world.
Tell me a bit about why you decided to start your blog, TC Kids?
I decided to start my blog probably because I think that people would like reading about my life, and what it feels like to be a TC Kid.
You have lived all over the world, and therefore experienced many cultures. What culture do you identify the most with? American culture? Or another culture?
I probably consider myself mostly American, but I also feel a bit Russian because my mom’s side of the family is from Russia.
Tell me one of your favorite experiences from living abroad.
One of my best experiences was riding on a train to Ukraine from Russia and sleeping, eating, and living on the train for 24 hours. Russian trains are very comfortable, and make you feel right at home.
What do you like most about living all over the world? What is your favorite place that you have lived and why?
I love to move around because I get to see things that I have never seen before. My favorite country that I have lived in so far is probably Russia. I had a very small class in my school and not so many girls, so we were all friends. And also, most of the people in my school were also TC Kids because I went to an international school, and I felt I had a lot in common with the kids at school.
How do you feel when you move to a new country? Excited? Nervous? Intrigued?
When I move to a new country I feel really excited because I look forward to making more friends, and seeing more things. But at the same time I feel sad because I have to leave my friends behind.
Is there anywhere in the world that you want to live but haven’t yet?
I would really love to move to England. I love British accents, and I love how everything in England is like out of a fairytale, with all its unique little villages and comfy little houses.
What are the top 1-2 tips you would give to another kid who is about to move abroad? What do you know now that you wish you had known before?
I would probably tell kids not to worry when they’re moving because it is an honor to get to move to different countries, and since there is always email, Facebook, Skype, and more, you can always communicate with friends and relatives. I wish I had known before not to worry, so I would have been much more relaxed.
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