Today we have Victoria with us! Welcome, Victoria!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the different cultures you are part of?
Hi! I’m Victoria Minks and I’m an ATCK. While I’ve accumulated a few years of living in the United States (my passport country) over time, I’ve spent most of my life in Japan. I returned to Japan as an adult to continue living and working here. I am involved in local church ministry and creative ministry – design and writing in particular. I’m also continuing my education and taking steps to start my own work helping women and children in need on my island by fighting human trafficking.
If you could choose one place from your travels as a TCK to revisit, where would it be and why?
When I was 18, I spent a month in Korea, and I’d love to revisit the place. It’s a neighboring country to mine, so it was fun to explore the differences while also feeling fairly comfortable due to the similarities. I’m a foodie, and I love exploring various ethnic cuisines. Korea has some amazing food! Also, the café culture there is fantastic.
What is the hardest thing about being a TCK?
One of the hardest things for me about being a TCK has been attempting to find my own identity and life path when transitioning to adulthood. Most TCKs will understand and relate to the idea of belonging both everywhere and not anywhere all at once, but that struggle to find roots can extend into your formative adult years as well.
If you grew up being close with siblings, navigating the shifting dynamics of leaving home can be especially difficult. Your journeys are now so different as each sibling goes their separate way, possibly continents apart.
Figuring out where you are supposed to be long term, how to learn who you are beyond the scope of your parents’ jobs, knowing which systems or social circles apply to you and which don’t, moving forward with a career (whether that includes adjusting to a passport country you barely know or working through obstacles to live abroad as an adult), maintaining relationships as distance increases (especially with family – who were often your closest community growing up), and just learning to step out on your own for who you are and wherever you need to be – those are all elements that add unique difficulties to maturing.
Finding your path can feel isolating and confusing. But at the same time, if you can stay open and curious, it can be a wonderful opportunity to really get to know yourself as an individual.
How has being a TCK helped you when interacting with people?
One benefit of growing up a TCK is how you can relate to people. I have found that growing up cross-culturally has allowed me to be more open to people from all walks of life and to their perspectives. I also feel comfortable in diverse situations and can adapt to accents, mannerisms, etc., which allows me to have fulfilling conversations with people from all over. Growing up “caught in between” has, funnily enough, helped me view the world with a more united mindset. People are people and, deep down, we are all the same – but each person’s culture, roots, and identity are a beautiful story of what makes them uniquely them.
How has being a TCK influenced your faith?
This is a very interesting question because I truly believe that my TCK nature has given both pros and cons in relation to my faith.
The cons: I grew up learning the gospel from a very Western mindset. (I believe this is probably the way most people have been told the gospel). I became a follower of Jesus at a young age and always believed in the gospel, but, without realizing it, it was very intellectual knowledge for me. It made sense in my brain, but it wasn’t until I was an adult and read a book on the gospel in the context of various cultures that things finally clicked.
When I read the presentation of the gospel for an Eastern/Asian culture, it was as if I was hearing the truth in my heart language for the first time. It was a hugely impactful moment for me and filled in gaps I hadn’t realized were there.
As a TCK, many assume you will think like your passport country and rarely consider that you may not understand things the way others do in your passport country. If you are a Christian TCK, I encourage you to pursue learning about the Bible and God from your multiple cultural angles. It’s amazing how leaning into all the sides of what makes you YOU allows you to get a fuller and richer picture of the goodness of God.
The pros: Growing up as a TCK, I was quite removed from a great deal of the social politics and peer pressure of religion, and this allowed me the opportunity to feel comfortable pursuing God and searching the Bible on my own. From a young age, my faith was personal to me. When I came to a point in my life where I needed to reevaluate my faith and test some of my beliefs against the Bible, I was equipped and confident to do it.
What is one thing you would like to tell your fellow TCKs?
It’s easy to feel like you need to have things figured out, especially as you approach adulthood and everyone’s asking you questions about your future. I certainly felt the pressure to conform to what was expected and to have all the answers. But please know: You don’t have to have it all figured out. The truth of the matter is that we grew up differently, so it’s only natural that our life course will continue to be a bit different.
You are allowed to grieve during the transitions, and you are allowed to feel confused as you’re trying to navigate what you’re supposed to do. Life is a journey, and, as TCKs, our journeys have been pretty unique ones so far – it’s okay if it takes some time to understand who you are, what route to take, or how to embrace your TCK-ness while also trying to find community and roots.
You’ll often hear that our identity is in Christ, and while that’s completely true as believers, know that it’s also okay to try (as you root deep into Christ) to find your identity here right now as a human. Everyone else has one! But through it all – know we have a good, good Father who is walking this journey beside you. He understands and He loves you. Not in pieces, but as a whole; not conditionally, but without reservation. He is home.
Thank you so much for sharing with us, Victoria!
Disclaimer: Opinions or views shared in this interview may not reflect those of the TCKs for Christ team.
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