For her personal project, 10th grader Jaden W. created a podcast series to illustrate what it’s like to be a third culture kid (TCK).
“This series was meant to help me understand my identity,” says Jaden. “By talking to people from different chapters of my life (Dubai, India, and Romania), I was able to see how these relationships shaped me, while rediscovering my past and looking forward into my future.”
She hopes that by publishing her own stories, it will inspire others to do the same—so they can get closer to answering one of the most difficult questions for a TCK: What does “home” actually mean?
Part 1, Dubai: Finding my footing in a foreign world
Part 2, India: Life through another lens
Part 3, Romania: Moving forward
To listen to these episodes all at once, check out our “Almost Home” playlist on SoundCloud.
*All images were created by 10th grade graphic designer, Eliza O.
Only listened to the last one so far and absolutely loved it Jaden. What a wonderful podcast and a great reflection of your journey as a TCK, and look towards the future. I hope a lot of our community gets an opportunity to listen and learn from your wisdom. Well done!!
Thank you! Im glad you enjoyed it.
Home is 100% your people. And your people can be found in every country, like you say, it takes time. Assess and relate. You are brave and curious, that’s a great foundation for life. This is such a great series, Jaden. Thank you.
Im so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind words.
Jaden, these podcasts are excellent! I am impressed not only in the professional quality and all your efforts. but extremely enamored with the content. Kirsten and I enjoyed listening to them as parents (so far we have listened to Dubai and Romania, India to come…), as we think about the two TCKs that we are raising. We hope they are on a journey to becoming just as thoughtful, open-minded, curious and caring as you are! You have certainly made AISB your almost home!
Thank you Mr Pontius! Im glad your family has enjoyed them. Im sure your kids will grow to love life overseas as well!
Loved it! Both the content and the editing. Can’t believe you are all grown up and able to take a complex topic and able to analyze it with Bella and Rosie.
Thank you! It was great to catch up with both Rosie and Bella again! Im glad you liked the podcast.
Lots here which I could relate to not only from seeing my daughter and other kids growing up as TCKs but also as an adult who, despite growing up in the UK, can’t imagine going back to live there as I feel more at home living in different places. The people make it! Great series, Jaden!
Im so glad you enjoyed it, and thanks so much for your kind words!
Expertly done, Jaden! I loved the cleverly simple and effective musical refrains in the background, and you definitely have the podcasters’ vocal cadence nailed down. There is evidence of so much thought, revision, and polish in all three episodes. I highly encourage all people to break out of the so-called bubbles they may be living in, and do more than just be tourists or voyeurs or temporary residents of the actual world they live in; and yes, as your first podcast points out, that starts right outside our own front doors, not two red-eye flights across the globe. As the father of a child born this past year–a child who will grow up with two passports, and who will be expected to represent three cultures (ones that she will never be fully immersed in herself), and who will likely never quite have anywhere to call ‘home’ except the present moment and the people surrounding her, I have taken your podcast to heart, and they have left me with a hopeful feeling about the future.
Thanks so much! Im glad to hear you enjoyed it. Im sure your daughter will love life as a TCK.