The man and the plastic cup

"Can I haaaaave... Ice caramel... Coffee?"

"With ice cubes or ice blended?"

  "Blended please,"

"Size.."

"Regular please,"

  

   "Regu-?"

"I meant medium.... Take away please."

"Having here or take away?"

   "Take away. . ."

His weak, barely audible voice. . .

My friendliest smile fails to crack his stoic expression. His bored eyes remain unfazed by the world. 

  A small man. 

It's as if his very soul has plunged out of his dark eyes and jumped straight inside a jar, probably sealed and tucked behind the shelves of the kitchen (wherever it is)

   

As he presses the button of the blender with his slender fingers,  the blocks of ice cubes spin and spin. In seconds they are crushed relentlessly and blended into million rocks just like his emotions of hatred, regret, sorrow and longing. 

   As he pours the mixture of coffee, caramel and ice, reality starts flowing into the transparent cone container. The brown liquid of broken dreams and unreached destinations swirl and gradually settles inside the plastic cup. 

  And then, all his handicapped dreams are squeezed  and condensed as he presses the lid tightly over the cup. He throws in a green straw, hoping someone might taste the story he wanted to write, a different picture he wanted to paint- another life he wanted to live.  

"For the people who walked away from their dreams."

-Gummy Sonam 

10 Unreasonable Birthday Wishes of an 18 year old TCKid

Oh  meeeeeer geeeerd!!!

Who doesn't love birthday posts??!!!

Greetings Earthlings and TCKs, reporting from Doha is now the changed and matured by a day, 18 year old Sonam who regardless of her special day is being worked to bones by her elder sister (since she is no longer protected by child protection agencies and child labor laws and is just there in society, a fresh meat for cheap labor.) 

Few months back I was so excited about turning 18 and no longer having to fill in sections of forms that have 'for below 18 years, parents approval'.

  However, for this past week, I have come to a realization, I am now liable for killing people with my awesomeness and might even end up in a real-adult prison. 

So today's post as stated is going to be my birthday wishes... (If adults are reading this, I hope they get the 'hint') 

1)World Peace 

    Thanks for all the 'be nice to your neighbor' talks during kindergarten. Now, if you re done hating, let us make peace. 

   (So TCKs can travel the world without hassle about war-zones, 

2) Website domains 

   Can governments be more considerate towards TCKs who want to start online businesses? No, I don't want to buy my website name from a specific country and abide by their laws when I am ten million miles away from that country!

And plan on 'gypsing' my way out of the current one. 

3) Visa on arrival for TCKs?

    Yes, your country is beautiful and I would love to visit it but the procedure is killing me. Why are you so worried? I like your country but I have no intention of becoming an illegal immigrant over there. Thanks. 

4) Shipping costs. 

     I am sick and tired of having to pay double for the shipping cost than the actual content of my parcel. Either they lower the price for shipping or I begin my mission on creating a teleportation device >:( 

5) Yakuzas 

    If you are reading this post, just two words, " MARRY ME!" I m now of marriageable age. *flutters eyelashes*

6) One Ok Rock 

     Three words, " MARRY ME NOW!" 

Plus heeeey, it's Ryota's birthday too today. There is something great about being born on the 4th of September. (Beyonce, Ryota, Yuichi Nakamaru and of course Alexander III of Scotland) I can already smell the greatness that I have yet to awaken.

7) Mars 

    Yes, I would love a ticket to Mars without having to go through the selection process and physical tests. 

8) Tuition fees 

   If the world is trying to dumb down its population. I think it's doing a great job. In a world where guns and war machines are cheaper than education, whoever is in charge needs to give a full explanation for why the rise in tuition fees somehow correlates to the increase of dumb and ignorant people. (No hates) Our ancestors have fought over centuries to make education (a privilege for the high class), a neccesity for all classes of our generation yet some greedy prick turns up and decided to sell education for a higher price every semester. 

9) Asian actors for Asian Scripts 

 Hollywood, yes I m looking at you. I am not proud of you with what you did to

Dragon Ball Z but nevertheless, here is one more chance to prove your worth. Do not disappoint me. 

10) A World with one SIM card! 

     I am tired of changing phone numbers everytime I go to another country and getting a new number is such a hassle.  I have to beg to get readded into my group conversations over whatsapp and even after I do,I can no longer see the history of the conversation and how hilarious I was. 

Yep, there you go. 

I do have more on the list but can't be too greedy. I stil have many birthdays to go so I'll take it one step at a time. 

And remind me to wish for "An Asian appreciation day" on my next birthday where all chinkey-eyed Asians are given discounts and day off work 

Happy Legally doing things I have been doing since I was 5 years old. 

-Gummy Sonam 

    

Launching of TCK Syndrome

"When you have a dream, be prepared to fail," 

 

A whole day of running around dodgy places, taking public transports and encountering stingy people has now finally let me see a glimpse of my new dream become reality.  

 

Starting a business is tough. 

Negotiating is even tougher- 

But despite all that, I won't let these little things rain on the parade of my TCK Syndrome's tshirt line. 

Introducing the first debut shirt!

[Yes, my own face that comes in three different colors.]  Only 13 pieces of which I own 2, this shirt is limited edition because this is to celebrate the birth of TCK Syndrome. 

 

[the second version of the print] 

Within this two days of dealing with 'business', I have definitely learnt a great deal and I have made enough mistakes to learn from it. 

  

Guess creativity isn't all when it comes to selling. The price, the resources and all come to account. 

At least I m two days wiser 

[Contemplating over ocha and Katsu Don after traveling around KL with my friend the whole day in search of shirt printing stores].

  Keep screwing up and learning, , 

-Gummy Sonam 

My mission and me

"Don't feel sad about leaving a place behind,
  Feel excited about getting to a place ahead."

The first post always makes the first impression, right? 

But I have never given anyone a strong first impression so I would rather you take time reading my blog than judge me based on the content of my first post. 

(Nice way to promote my blog, right? Hehe)

Why T.C.K Syndrome? 

What's T.C.K? 

T. C.K stands for 'Third Culture Kid' who grew up away from their parents' culture. A Normad/ gypsy is what one is normally called. 

[Yes, take a moment- Wikipedia 'T.C.K' and learn more about our kind]

 

Being a T.C.K is to constantly fret over the future you can't picture, having difficulties connecting with non t.c.k's but above all, having a knack for traveling and being plain exotic.

To have a home yet not have a home. 

Originally Bhutanese, my developing years was spent going through my rebellious stage in the Middle East.  (Qatar to be exact) 

I grew up among a community made up of more T.C.Ks and less non t.c.ks. 

And at seventeen, I have been allowed to run wild in places without my parents or anyone else to put me on a leash. (Like Malaysia- my current destination)

  There is more to me that just this (i swear i am not lying) but I always find it bothersome to write about me. 

Now to why T.C.K syndrome? 

 

I want to reach out to other third culture kids who feel like they don't have a home and studies show that although T.C.Ks do better than their non TCKs friends in school, they have the hardest time choosing what they want to do in life. 

I want to create a home within the Internet space and a platform for displaying the unique fusion of cultures TCKs have collected( like pokemons) all around the world.  

This blog is to keep track of my travels, fashion, food, photography, my friends and my philosophical thoughts. ( yes, I have my deep moments) and also to discover other TCKs. 

I also want to show the Bhutanese youth the real world outside of the T.V. 

So spread some love and get infected with the TCK syndrome. 

- Gummy Sonam

This blog is currently under constuctions- till I am done with my exams, that is :)