Every once in a while, Mike will bring on an avid listener to 'hang out' and talk about their TCK experience. Today's guest, Rajni Ramachandran, is the daughter of a diplomat and has an incredible journey. She delves into meditation and the secret of staying in one place for 18 years.
Mike and Rajni find themselves on the outside in a movie discussion, ‘living under a rock’ (4:10). Mike sheds his nerdiness to impress the ladies in junior high (8:00).
(10:50) Mike asks the ridiculous question. Rajni says she’s from planet Earth. That’s a good start! :D Rajni is a diplomat kid who has been all over planet Earth. Mike and her compare revenge stories on their parents (12:00).
Ranjni describes her 18 years in Delhi and her secret to not moving. (15:20)
Mike asks about the discipline she has acquired in meditation. (16:50), and he discovers what meditation is not.
We talk about being an Indian TCK and a diplomat’s daughter, moving every three years. Food, accents, and doubting her own Indianess (23:00).
The podcast has given Mike a new community that helps him understand our unique place (30:00).
“There’s like an inner voice that says, you know you’ve moved around enough, but you need to be here and possibly use those experiences you grew up with and help India a little bit in any way you can.”
Rajni crashes the party a bit, bringing up (33:00) the reality of our loss as TCKs and our ‘silly dreams.’ She drops the mic on her way out and tells us what hope we have ‘beyond the labels.’
Of course you can find Mike on his website, here:
