Twice a year my parents took me and my siblings to spend a week at the beach in a little town called Pangandaran. We packed our van with all the supplies we would need: food, snacks, towels, swimsuits, medicine for the inevitable minor injuries, games, pillows, and a table fan for Mom (the rest of us just had to figure…
For Third Culture Kids, the simple questions are often the most difficult to answer. I have a pocketful of answers, which one should I use?
“We should get matching sandals!” And other comments that Third Culture Kids hear but don’t believe. A peek into our minds…
Will I wish I’d gone to the ocean more… When I’m gone from here? I call it my happy place. I reminds me of childhood And comforting memories. It draws out peace from the depths of my heart. And contemplation. And happiness. But I just glance as I pass by because I’m going somewhere And the cars go fast on…
Time for recess! Why? Because the snack lady is here. She calls in the front door. “Cemil cemilan!” (pronounced chu-meel chu-meel-ahn) That’s Javanese for, “Snacks!” The snack lady walks the streets, balancing a large round double-decker basket on her head. Inside its woven walls lie treasures in the form of a variety of colorful snacks. Pink spongy cupcakes, brown sugary…
I can hardly believe I’m going to college. COLLEGE! And with my best friend too. Life feels so perfect right now. My name is Kerrie May and my best friend in the whole world is Mary Kay. No, not the make-up variety. In fact, I don’t think the person who chose her name even knew that “Mary Kay” was a…
The scent of cloves fills the air and, combined with the cool dusk breeze, it serves as a “caffeine high” that makes the sleek horses giddy. The black mare rears up on her hind legs and the brown one trots around, her hooves clop loudly against the stone cliff on the mountain. The black one neighs and then the two…
I don’t have training wheels on my bike anymore. Freedom! We’re cycling on the side of the road in our neighborhood. An occasional car rambles by, but mostly pedestrians, other bicycles, horse carts, and becaks. It’s not too busy though, or Mom wouldn’t have let me go. Today is special because Grandpa is riding with us. He and my big…
