Culturally Confused

Can you explain in four words or less where you’re from? Not what it _____________ (1 – to say) on your passport, but where you’re really from. If it _____________ (2 – to take) more time than ____________ (3 – to drink) half a glass of wine, then chances are you’re a TCK – a Third Culture Kid.

TCKs are children with a home and host culture who create their own blend-in – a third culture. They have common traits: often multilingual, they share acute social skills and a keen awareness of the world. They tend _______________ (4 – to have) an ability for _______________ (5 – to adapt) to lifestyles and language nuances, a skill that stays with them throughout life. It makes them very skilled at _________________ (6 – to fit in).

Signe Bruun Jensen is in her mid-twenties and __________________ (7 – to live) abroad for most of her life. __________________ (8 – to move) from Denmark when she was three, she grew up between the US and Europe, went on __________________ (9 – to work) and study in countries from Asia to Latin America, and eventually came to Brussels, where she works for a policy think tank.

“My father is in finance and his career meant a lot of relocation,” she says. “Moving around __________________ (10 – to give) me the skills ________________ (11 – to handle) changing surroundings and the courage ________________ (12 – to take) chances. _________________ (13 – to see) a bit of the world as a child drives me to see even more.”

There are, however, downsides to ______________ (14 – to split) between worlds: confused friendships, lack of identifiable culture and restlessness. For instance, when _______________ (15 – to move) around, children don’t develop much commitment towards people or places and they see their parents ____________ (16 – to do) the same. TCKs seem unwilling to commit because ____________________ (17 – not / to tie down) is part of their personality. For them it’s easier to tune out and focus on meeting new people rather than ____________ (18 – to feel) sad about what they ______________ (19 – to leave behind).

For a TCK, not feeling especially ________________ (20 – to attach) to a country or culture is common. Ninety percent of them end up ________________ (21 – not / to live) in their passport country.

(After Peter Philp, The Bulletin, March 2006.)

b) Answer the teacher’s questions.

4. a) Read the text filling in the gaps with the proper words.

franchise ['frWntSaIz] – a formal agreement for someone to sell a company’s products or services in a particular place, in exchange for a payment or part of the profits

arduous ['Q:djuRs] – extremely difficult and involving a lot of effort

to tame – to bring something under control

nomad ['nRuLmWd] – someone who belongs to a group of people who move from place to place in order to find food and water for their animals and themselves