Meet the TCK: Ashley Teague

Meet Ashley! Ashley grew as a TCK in Niger, West Africa and we attended the same international school. Read about the ways that a traumatic family event opened her eyes to the reality of where home truly is. Listen to ways that having friends who have shared life experiences has changed her life.

What country did you spend the most time in? What country feels the most like home?

"I lived in Niger for 16 years, so it felt like home most of my life. The past decade I would say the US has felt more like home but in a different way than Niger ever did. I still feel homesick sometimes, but I think living and working here and finding my place independently is what helped me make the transition."

Can you briefly share your TCK background (where you grew up, your parents' nationality, and where you currently live)?

"Both of my parents are American. My mom was raised in Oklahoma and Kansas. My dad's family is from Texas, but he was raised in Cote d'Ivoire because his parents were missionaries. My parents actually met in Togo where they were both missionaries for a time. I was born in Texas, and my family moved to Niamey, Niger when I was two. We lived there in the same house most of my life. When I was seventeen, my parents moved to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. While I did make the move with them, I lived with another missionary family in Niamey during the school year so that I could finish out my time in high school with friends, so I didn't really live in Cote d'Ivoire long. My parents have been there since then though. After graduating from high school, I moved to the US for college. I attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University, now Nelson University, in Waxahachie, Texas. After graduating, I got a job at Waxahachie High School, where I've worked the last decade."

What's one TCK experience or memory that really defines your TCK journey?

"When I was 11, my dad and those traveling with him were robbed on the road. He was shot twice and left for dead. He survived and was medically evacuated to France and then the US. Then we lived with family in the US for 9 months during his recovery. During that time, one of my biggest fears was having to move back to the US permanently. There were several family members that thought we should and would ask me if I was scared to go back, but Niger was home. I counted down the days until we could return and never felt fear despite the trauma my family had endured. I think for me, that experience really showed how strongly another place can become a person's home and the place they want to be even if it isn't where they were born or where they hold citizenship."

What has been the hardest part of growing up between cultures?

"I think the hardest part is finding a sense of belonging. Regardless of where I was, I felt like an outsider. While in Niger, I was always seen as a foreigner. In the US, most people learned pretty quickly that I was raised in Africa, which always led to Mean Girls quotes. It was a big part of my identity to others, not just me, and I didn't always get references or know the popular music, movies, or current events. So I always felt like an outsider trying to blend in as best I could regardless of where I was."

What has been the greatest gift or strength you've gained from being a TCK?

"I think growing up overseas definitely gave me a bigger worldview. I learned about other cultures, countries, and religions. I think always having to adapt and learn also made me pretty open-minded as well."

What advice would you give a fellow TCK?

"I would say to make friends, especially with other TCK's. The one place I always remember feeling comfortable and welcome was the international school I attended. My friends were all TCK's and even though we were from all over the world, we had that in common. We understood each other. Having that community made all the difference for me."