There is no doubt that growing up as a TCK, changing worlds/language/school/culture has had a great impact on who I am as a person and has sometimes exacerbated my indecisiveness about choosing a home.

But what I have gained in the process, is priceless.

I realise, looking back, that I have much more to be thankful for. My parents have not only allowed me to see different parts of the world, but they have brought me up to be an open-minded, ’embracing’ human being. Taking the best out of everything and celebrating life and what the world has to offer.

By helping me learn the various languages, sending me to Colombian/Brazilian school, meeting and befriending locals… celebrating Colombian Christmas with Villancicos (typical Christmas carols), trying whatever food (yum, yum – feijoada, ajiaco, crocodile burger, ‘big ass ants’, piranha, kangaroo, laksa etc etc), seeing the natural beauty wherever we were (Barrier Reef in Australia, Amazonas – Brazil and Colombia and many more), learning about the history and culture of a place, they have opened up my eyes, my mind and my heart to so much. And they have also given me the ‘itchy feet’… and this is one of my biggest challenges being stuck home… 

I carry these memories of moments, PEOPLE, places, scents, music (I listen to salsa and samba when I’m happy)… and we somehow manage to relive them together, from time to time.

It is only natural that I continue these home-grown ‘traditions’ and I embrace the place I live in. Yes, I have foie gras and seafood for Christmas, I watch the Meilleur Patissier on TV and I celebrate what ‘speaks to me’ from the French culture. Food being one of my favourites, as you would have realised from my previous posts. 

My Christmas with family includes a  French dinner and a Romanian Christmas day – food wise, while listening to Colombian and Romanian Carols, and some classic English ones. We write to all our family and friends all over the world… and I feel at those moments I have a tiny bit of everything. And that is what makes me happy. What makes me complete.

I love that in this whole process, and although I consider myself a world citizen and a TCK, I still have my Romanian roots. That I, although alone this Orthodox Easter, I managed to paint the traditional eggs and cook some lamb. (would have posted a picture but it’s not loaded on my laptop). 

I am who I am, also because of you, so thank you.