JEMINA WATSTEIN has taught art all over the world, including Thailand, Germany, and the United States. She encourages all of her students—and now us—to lean into our innate creativity, sharing three simple activities that help us connect with our inner artist and feel more connected to ourselves.

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Jemina Watstein

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">JEMINA WATSTEIN shares how art can be both therapeutic and transformative for Third Culture Kids, individuals who live in multiple places over their formative years.</h4>Where are you from?&nbsp;In my early twenties, this question was easy to answer. Now, in my mid-forties, after living in Germany, Thailand, and the United States, it’s not so simple.For my children, who have now lived in eight different “homes,” this question can stir up anxiety and usually a pause as they look the asker up and down and decide just how deep they want to go.In 1963, the term “Third Culture&nbsp;Kid”&nbsp;(TCK) was coined to describe an adolescent who spends a significant part of their developmental years in a country other than the one listed on their parents’ passports. Over time, the definition has expanded, and new labels, such as&nbsp;chameleon, global nomad, and military&nbsp;brat, have emerged. Regardless of the label used, for someone who has grown up between cultures, the question “Where are you from?” rarely has a simple answer.Today, over 220 million people live in countries that are not their own, and this great “floating tribe” of TCKs represents the 5th largest nation on this earth. Growing up as a TCK comes with unique gifts such as bilingualism, <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/mindful-listening-reflective-responses-communication-skills" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cultural awareness</a>, and the ability to adapt easily to new environments. However, it also presents challenges, such as developing a clear sense of identity, struggling with feelings of belonging, forming lifelong friendships, and, of course, answering that one simple question. Where are you from?In a recent study titled The Power of the Visual Arts to Explore Who We Are and Where We Come From: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, I explored how TCKs feel about their identity after completing a two-year high school <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/cultural-identity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visual arts</a> course. My research focused on three significant areas: Who Are TCKs?, Themes of TCKs, and Supporting TCKs Through Visual Art Education.Long story short: TCKs move frequently, attend several international schools growing up, and may switch languages between school and home. Although this lifestyle can sound adventurous, it can be emotionally complex. A typical TCK story might include being told they will be moving at the end of the school year, packing up, saying goodbyes, and bracing for the unknown, only to arrive somewhere new. Experiencing new smells, new tastes, new customs as the new becomes the normal. They start at a new school, often as the intriguing “new kid,” make new friends, settle in, only to learn six months later that it is time to start the cycle again. Rinse and repeat. &nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Growing up as a TCK comes with unique gifts&nbsp; such as bilingualism, cultural awareness, and the ability to adapt&nbsp; easily to new environments.</h4><hr>Over time, the repeated moves take their toll. “Where are you from?” becomes harder to answer. TCKs carry experiences that can be difficult to explain to those who have never lived this way. Here, art can become a bridge. The beauty of the visual arts is that words are not required to express deep feelings, memories, or identities. In my study, I found that students who engaged in an inquiry-based art course and exhibited their work at the end of the program created pieces they felt proud of, often highlighting their multicultural upbringing. One young artist described her piece as a “multicultural bouquet,“ saying flowers capture the beauty of being intercultural and international. Another painted a “tribute to all of the places I’ve lived.”So, where are you from? What does that look like to you? There’s no single answer, and maybe that’s the point. For many of us, “home“ is not one place on a map, but a collection of moments, friendships, and cultures stitched together by memory and heart. When someone asks me where I’m from, I sometimes smile and wonder how much they want to know. If it’s small talk, right now, I say Kalamazoo. If they genuinely want to listen, then we might be here for a while, and I ask if they are ready to settle in.If you’re a TCK, or you love someone who is, remember this: you are not alone. You belong to a vast, floating tribe, millions strong and growing. And with every story shared, every piece of art made, we build a sense of home together, one that travels with us, wherever we go. &nbsp;

Third Culture Kids

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">JEMINA WATSTEIN has taught art all over the world, including Thailand, Germany, and the United States. She encourages all her students, and now us, to lean into our innate creativity, sharing three simple activities that will help us connect with our inner artist and feel more connected to ourselves.</h4>&nbsp;All too often I hear people say, “I can’t even draw a stick figure,” and my heart hurts a little because yes you can! And when you do, you probably smile and laugh a little at what you drew. That is the power of art-making: you feel good even if you aren’t an artist, although I would argue we are all artists in some capacity. If you give yourself the grace of taking a break from the daily grind, even for five minutes, to dabble with some art-making, you will feel good inside.I know what you are thinking: “This author is crazy. I’m not an artist.” Sorry, my friend, you are sadly mistaken. You are an artist and it is time to embrace your growth mindset and give it a try. Be curious!Here are three simple creative activities you can try at home:<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Start the journey</h4>Pick up a pen and paper. Keep it simple. Start with a spiral. Around and around you go. Take a mindful breath while you do it. Not so bad, right?Now make another spiral. Try overlapping them or use a different colored pen. You don’t like it? Throw it away and try drawing circles tomorrow. Be persistent. Set a timer. Five minutes every day and you will feel the positive benefits.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind2_829dd1006c.webp" alt="3activities-calm-mind2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_3activities_calm_mind2_829dd1006c.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_3activities_calm_mind2_829dd1006c.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind2_829dd1006c.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Embrace those mistakes</h4>Get yourself a sketchbook and a favorite pen. Perhaps you will have to buy a few pens to find out which is your favorite. Embrace your mistakes and learn from them. After a few days of spirals and shapes, you will be ready to kick it up a notch. It’s time to bust out of your comfort zone.Draw what you see. Where’s a great place to start? The cup you are sipping from as you read this article. Is it terrible? Turn the page and try again tomorrow. You will improve with practice and having all your sketches in one place will prove this to you over time.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind3_fcd14f1d66.webp" alt="3activities-calm-mind3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_3activities_calm_mind3_fcd14f1d66.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_3activities_calm_mind3_fcd14f1d66.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind3_fcd14f1d66.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">10 for 10</h4>Along with drawing from observation, there are many prompts to kick up the creativity and have fun. One is 10 for 10—10 drawings for 10 seconds—each using the same object or random shapes. How does each drawing change? Which one do you like the best?&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind4_8436ffed2d.webp" alt="3activities-calm-mind4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_3activities_calm_mind4_8436ffed2d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_3activities_calm_mind4_8436ffed2d.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/3activities_calm_mind4_8436ffed2d.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;There are numerous drawing prompts on the internet. Channel your feelings, experiences, and dreams for inspiration. Ready to tackle your self-awareness? Draw something that makes you smile whenever you think about it. Self-management? Draw a worry dragon that holds your concerns. Want to be silly? Draw yourself with your superpower.Drawing is meditative and great for the brain; you will also feel good inside. So many other media will too. My current favorite is weaving. I recently taught a fiber arts class and all the students commented how much they enjoyed the relaxing qualities of weaving. It is fun, and the fibers feel so soft in your hands. Weaving fosters mindfulness; through the repetition-over under, over under—you will feel calm and focused. It is easy to fix mistakes, or perhaps you will embrace them and consider them happy accidents.Making art is good for the soul. It gives us the opportunity to understand ourselves, our thoughts, and our actions.&nbsp;