当我们习惯性追问这些“第三文化孩子”到底是哪国人，期待他们对某一文化的绝对认同时，是否想过在这个文明交融的时代，人们的文化身份早已超越简单的地理归属，呈现出更加复杂的可能性。与其执着于为每个人贴上确定的文化标签，不如以更开放的心态理解这一现象，欣赏多元文化交融带来的无限生机与活力。

对海外华人及其后代来说，了解和学习中国文化，可以开启一段独特的自我发现之旅。无论是学习汉语，还是参与文化交流活动，那些看似平常的文化体验，都可能在某个瞬间唤醒血脉深处的记忆。我们期待海外华人加深对中华文化的理解，也希望他们以其独特的跨文化视角，促进不同文明间的平等对话与相互启迪。当多元文明能够和谐共生、彼此滋养时，人类才能共同书写更加美好的未来篇章。

责任编辑：何博媛

Flowing Belonging: Identity Recognition in the Era of Globalization

Editor's Note: Driven by the wave of globalization, migration and transnational marriages are increasingly common, leading to the gradual growth of the "Third Culture Kids" (TCKs) demographic. In environments where multiple cultures intertwine, their upbringing often comes with identity confusion. However, through personal experience, they gradually realize that identity is not an either/or choice, but a continuously evolving process of self-discovery. This innate cross-cultural identity gives them the advantage of "passing" between different cultures.

At the Junior Cultural Ambassadors international exchange event hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, we met Lin Miyang, a Chinese-Spanish mixed-heritage boy. He is 14 years old and comes from Madrid, Spain.

"I had been to China many times with my mom before, but this is my first time in Beijing," Lin Miyang shared earnestly before the interview, having just finished his visit to the Forbidden City. "Visiting the Forbidden City was a really cool experience! There are no buildings like that in Spain. I love listening to the guide explain the history and unique construction methods of those buildings."

During the interview, Lin Miyang answered consistently in fluent and natural Chinese. He explained, "I started learning Chinese when I was little because my mom is Chinese." Throughout the conversation, his mother quietly stayed by the camera, occasionally reminding her son to sit up straight. This simple gesture reflects the unspoken understanding among Chinese mothers.

"I've practiced Chinese Kung Fu, and I'll continue learning it when I go back to Spain." He paused, then added, "Chinese food is great too, but it's a pity I can't find authentic Chinese dishes in Spain." Although he grew up in a foreign country, through his mother's daily words and actions, the seeds of Chinese culture had already taken root in this young boy's heart. He is particularly fascinated by China's five-thousand-year history. "China has such a long history, which is rare in other countries." Lin Miyang takes pride in this long and glorious civilization. This pride is not only a recognition of "Mom's homeland" but also provides him with a clearer answer to "who I am."

"As a mixed-heritage person, I am often asked if I am Spanish or Chinese. This question used to bother me," Lin Miyang said. Although his Chinese is very fluent, language ultimately cannot eliminate all cultural barriers. But now, as his interactions with China gradually increase, Lin Miyang is realizing more profoundly that he doesn't need to choose between the two cultures. His very existence is the most vivid interpretation of cultural integration.

Lin Miyang's story is not an isolated case. Around the world, millions of overseas Chinese and their descendants are completing their cultural identity narratives in their own ways. James Hsu, a Chinese American, also spoke about this topic as a guest on the English interview program "The Honest Drink." Although he tried to maintain his Western identity for a sense of stability before the age of forty, after coming to China, he found himself leaning towards becoming a "true Chinese." James said, "There's a reason we are who we are; don't fight it." We cannot demand that overseas Chinese or mixed-heritage individuals naturally possess a recognition and resonance with Chinese culture, but when they are truly immersed in it and no longer deliberately search for Asian faces around them, they may gain an unprecedented sense of comfort and belonging.

As "Third Culture Kids" gradually overcome the anxiety of either/or cognition, they begin to discover the unique value of their cross-cultural identity. The special experience of moving between different cultures gives them two distinct thought systems and ways of thinking. At the same time, while this identity might limit their complete integration into one culture, it grants them a dual perspective for observing the world – not merely comparing phenomenal differences, but being able to understand the intrinsic logic of different civilizations at a higher dimension. In today's increasingly interconnected world, this cultural adaptability helps them discover more new possibilities at the crossroads of civilizations.

When we habitually press these "Third Culture Kids" about "which country they belong to," expecting their absolute identification with a single culture, have we considered that in this era of cultural convergence, people's cultural identities have long surpassed simple geographical belonging, presenting more complex possibilities? Rather than stubbornly trying to label everyone with a fixed cultural tag, it is better to approach this phenomenon with a more open mind and appreciate the infinite vitality and dynamism brought about by multicultural integration.

For overseas Chinese and their descendants, understanding and learning about Chinese culture can initiate a unique journey of self-discovery. Whether through learning Chinese or participating in cultural exchange activities, those seemingly ordinary cultural experiences may, at a certain moment, awaken memories deep within their heritage. We anticipate that overseas Chinese will deepen their understanding of Chinese culture, and we also hope that they will use their unique cross-cultural perspectives to promote equal dialogue and mutual enlightenment among different civilizations. Only when diverse civilizations can coexist harmoniously and nourish each other can humanity collectively write a more beautiful chapter for the future.