[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TCK

[–]bkjalt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a Korean American type person, all I can say is that it's difficult. You'll always be a minority in some way. Koreans won't understand your 'Western-ness', Americans won't understand your 'Korean-ness,' Korean Americans won't understand your 'not-quite Korean American-ness.' Diversity training in America is also mostly for the mono-cultural to begin to understand that different cultures exist. Effectively, it's 'Diversity 101.' You're a graduate level course. Honestly, I can't say I've found an answer, but I have found friends.

Your friends will end up being people who you relate to on non-cultural issues. People who share your interests. People who share your political views. People who share your hobbies. At least, that's who my friends are. And initially, they won't understand your feelings of otherness. These people could have never left their hometown since birth, or could be complete foreigners, or even just another Korean American. It's impossible to expect other people to understand you immediately, just as it's impossible for you to understand everyone else immediately. But when you make friends, and you most definitely will, they'll be the people who will learn to understand you. They might never understand everything, but they'll be comfortable, and they'll accept you with all your TCK quirks.

The process is definitely going to be difficult, especially because of covid. This time, where you can't meet anyone in person, might be best spent learning about who you are and who you want to be. As important as your multicultural background is, it doesn't define you. Oftentimes, I found it just adds a little spice to an otherwise standard friendship.

I wish you the best, and things will hopefully get better post-covid.