Welcome! So Lovely to meet you
About US
Introducing the Culture Birdies: Thriving Across Continents and Raising Kind, Curious Kids
We’re a family straddling two continents, Europe and the US, defying the challenges of long-distance living to craft an extraordinary adventure. At least that’s what we have to tell ourselves to make it sound fun and exciting, rather than stressful and complicated (ha!). Amidst the complexities of international life, from managing schools, finances, and careers to nurturing our relationships with loved ones who don’t all live in the same place, we’ve embraced each hurdle as an opportunity to grow closer and expand our horizons. We’ve learned that despite all of the challenges we’ve faced personally in life (bad stuff happens) and the extra challenges of living in two different places, there are good things that come out of hard times.
The Highs…
In our journey, we’ve raised a trilingual, culturally savvy child who embodies the beauty of diversity from his earliest years. At almost 4 years old, he now speaks in Chinese, German, and English.
We now appreciate each other’s cultures and families a lot more, too. We understand each other so much better now, having experienced the cultural intensity and diversity.
The Lows…
Alongside the triumphs, we’ve weathered hardships, from personal loss to professional setbacks, emerging stronger and wiser with each trial. It’s hard to witness our parents aging and their health declining so quickly. It’s heartbreaking that every grandparent has left this world, some peacefully and some in pain. It’s maddening how depressing the job market is, in nearly every country but especially in the US where layoffs and RIFs (“reduction in force”) are unfortunately rampant and too commonplace these days. And, we’ve experienced pregnancy loss too many times in this lifetime. There is no deeper grievance than losing a loved one, especially a child.
Whether high or low, just go with the flow!
Through our blog, we aim to share the invaluable lessons we’ve learned from living a global life, offering insights, tips, and best practices for navigating the intricate craziness of multicultural family life. Join us as we figure things out and learn to live a balanced life between continents, while staying true to our values of being kind, curious, and resilient always.
Welcome to our world of cultural exploration and empowerment! Let’s thrive together, across borders and beyond, and not let adversity bring us down! Visit our blog whenever you need a quick dose of inspiration or guidance for living and flourishing in a multicultural world. We’re constantly looking for inspo and tips on how to raise an open-minded, always-curious family, and we love sharing the good nuggets we find. So, this space is dedicated to the multicultural hearts and minds seeking connection, growth, and belonging.
So, fasten your seatbelts, join the journey, embrace the adventure, and let’s grow together!
xo,
The CB Fam