Not From Here, Nor From There: Navigating the Middle Eastern TCK Experience

Join Us in Exploring What It Means to Live!

Between Cultures, Memories, and Media Narratives.
For Middle Eastern Third Culture Individuals (TCIs), identity is often a tug-of-war between two powerful forces: how their heritage is broadcasted on the nightly news, and the deeply nostalgic stories passed down by their families. Lets discuss what happens when your "homeland" feels more like a beautifully preserved museum or a geopolitical headline than a place you can easily touch, visit, or call home? How do we build an authentic sense of self when the world's version of our culture clashes with our own lived reality?

Discussion Topic:
1. Can you feel homesick for a place you’ve never truly lived? How do family stories and generational memories shape your identity?

2. How do you navigate the differences between Middle Eastern communication styles, such as Tarof, and more direct Western culture?

3. How do you reconcile media portrayals of the Middle East with the warmth, poetry, and hospitality experienced within family and community life?

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Sana'a Cafe, 22621 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630
(Also please see attached Meeting Spot photo)

Looking forward to an open and thoughtful discussion with everyone. See you there!