TCK Feature: Karis Sustar

Meet me! I figured that since you are taking the time to read my blog, I would give you a longer introduction. So here it is!

My parents were missionaries with the International Mission Board for over 20 years. They served first in Senegal, where I was later born, then we moved to Niger before I even turned 1 year old. We spent the rest of my life there until I graduated high school in Niger. I spent all of my life in one country, not moving around too much, which was a blessing. Every 4 years my family would return to the US for furlough (extended vacation). That year was a time to rest, recover and see friends and family again.

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

I grew up in Niger, West Africa in the middle of the Sahara Desert. My parents were both born and raised in the US, my dad in North Carolina and my mom in Texas. I currently live in Greensboro, NC where I went to college and built a beautiful community.

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

My junior year of high school defined my TCK journey. The year prior, my family was in the US for furlough, and I attended a charter school where I was able to play sports I had always loved. I joined my school's softball team and loved every minute of it. I had been playing for about 3 years already and I wished I could spend all my time on the field.

When I returned to Niger for my junior year, I decided I wanted to put in the hours to really train and see if I could have a shot at playing in college. That became my new dream. There were so many challenges that presented. In this season of my life, I was reminded of the opportunities I was missing out on because of where I grew up. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how beyond blessed I was. I had opportunities in Niger and at my school that my friends in America could only dream of having. I learned in that moment that living a global life comes with many challenges, but it also brings beauty beyond compare.

How has being a TCK shaped the way you see identity, home or belonging?

Being a TCK has taught me that belonging does not look just one way. I have made some of the best friends of my life in college, and only two of them understand what it's like to live a global life. But I know I belong. When you find truly authentic community, you see that you can truly be yourself and express all the cultures that make up your worldview without the fear of being judged. The most freeing experience of my life was fully being myself in all my TCK nuances and having those close to me accept me and love me.

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

The hardest part of growing up between cultures is feeling like I'm disappointing people because I don't understand the slang they are using, the pop culture reference they pulled off the dome or the American holiday I have yet to learn about. It can be so hard to try and keep up with all the current things, so you understand what in the world people are talking about. I have learned even in these moments that it's okay not to know. It's ok to just nod or even to ask and be ok with people's response when they realize I truly have no idea.

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

The greatest strength I have gained from being a TCK is the ability to meet and interact with people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Growing up, I never met one person who was like the other and I learned the skills it took to really invest time in building relationships with people who are not like me. This strength has carried me in college, and I believe has given me so many opportunities that I would not have had otherwise.

How do you stay connected to the cultures that shaped you?

My college dorm and place now are covered in pictures from the life I miss more than anything in Africa. I keep in touch with some of my childhood friends and remember the good times we had. I have friends I met in college who I can speak French with and reminisce about the days living in Africa and all the joys that came with that.

What advice would you give a fellow TCK?

Fully embrace your life and experiences as a TCK. You have so many beautiful experiences and stories to tell. You have gained so many strengths that will take you far. But never forget that there is always more you can learn from others. Even as you meet people who haven't lived a global life like you, remember that they have so much to teach you in addition to the stories you have to share with them.

If your life were a movie, book, or playlist, what would it be called?

It's Not Normal, and That's Ok.