Communication and Redefining Home and Identity: Autoethnography of a Filipino Third Culture Kid Belonging to a Returnee OFW Family from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study explores how communication has been interwoven in my third culture experiences as a member of an OFW family living in Saudi Arabia, and how these communication experiences allowed me to (re)shape my concept of home and identity as a third culture kid now residing in the Philippines. I used socio-cultural tradition as a theoretical lens and autoethnography as a methodology to create a chronology of my experiences based on personal memory data and artifacts. As a Filipino TCK, redefining home and identity through communication experiences is a continuous arduous process of preserving one's own culture, adapting to new cultural shifts and situations, and maintaining meaningful relationships. This requires having a good support system, consistent practice of the home culture, and embracing the host culture. Communication, whether verbal, nonverbal, in person, or online, plays an important role in shaping my concept of home and identity as a TCK. While there are many communication difficulties and challenges, communication must be consistent in whatever shape it takes to maintain one's pursuit of home and identity.