Falls Church is infamous for being a melting pot of people who have lived all around the globe. With the city’s close proximity to Washington D.C., many parents with government jobs choose to move here for the good schools and sense of community.
Mustang Talks, started by junior Nicole (Nicky) Benya, holds talks about different subjects once every month on a Tuesday during Mustang Block. It is very individual and each member can talk about any subject they choose. They were not featured in the Club Fair in September 2015, but they have been having meetings since the beginning of the school year. Benya chose to talk about Third Culture Kids (TCK’s) because she has spent much of her childhood in Romania and Macedonia. The club is not limited to just “TCK” students, in fact all GM students are welcome to join the discussions. The club’s next talk will be after finals and official announcement will be announced over the morning announcements.
A third culture kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a large portion of his or her youth in a country outside of their parent’s cultures. For Americans, this means living overseas, but to foreigners, America is foreign territory.
“You can’t really relate with anyone because even though [other TCK’s] have lived overseas, nobody has the same pattern of countries that you have lived in, everyone’s experiences are all different,” said Junior Sam Steger.
TCK’s can relate to the culture shock that comes from moving back to America from living overseas. After spending a significant amount of time in a new environment, it is difficult to return home because each move changes you as a person.
Locals have noticed patterns with new TCK’s who move to Falls Church.
“I’ve noticed that many TCK’s, when they come [to GMHS] tend to form friend groups among themselves. I wondered if it because they have more things in common or [if there was another reason]?” said Junior Manon Diz.
In response, one TCK shared her perspective on friendships after moving around for most of her life.
“I think TCK’s form friendships with other TCK’s because when we come [to Falls Church] we feel like other people already have their set friend groups and they already know who their best friends are. It’s easier to make friends with people who are in the same situation as you than to try to be part of a group [that is already established]” said Junior Dacia Munteanu.
Being a TCK is extremely challenging because you have to move around the world so much and adapt to new situations and environments. However, it is very rewarding to see old friends in the most unlikely places and be able to have an instant connection with people that share the same lifestyle as you.
