Erin E. Martin 

WHO AM I

Our experiences help to shape who we become. So let me tell you about the most important things that helped shape who I am today. I received my first passport at 2 years of age when my parents became missionaries to Taiwan (I love to travel and be in airplanes). These were very crucial years in my development. While my parents went to language school, I would have an amma (nanny) take care of me. My parents were trying hard to learn the language, so they practiced whenever they were at home. When I was around 3 years old, I wanted to go to Chinese Kindergarten. As a result of spending most of my time with those who spoke Mandarin, it became the language I was most comfortable with at an early age.

 

My parents tell a story of how they heard me outside yelling at one of the neighbor kids I was playing with, but didn’t understand what I was saying. The next day they asked their language instructor, and they were informed that I was using not nice words. Even though I didn’t learn these nasty words at home (or understood the meaning), as a child being around the neighborhood, all I knew was that you used these words when you were upset at someone. Even though I may have sounded like a kid from the Chinese neighborhood, I stood out like a sore thumb with my extremely white skin and bright red, curly hair. My thought process and speech may have been Chinese, but I looked like a white American. Anytime we traveled and met new people, they would pinch my checks and say, “yang wa wa, yang wa wa”.

 

Since my early years were spent in the Chinese kindergarten, I learned to speak, read, and write Chinese before I did English. I remember the day very vividly when my mom and the American Kindergarten teacher decided to hold me back for a second year of kindergarten in the International school. I didn’t know the alphabet, and I still opened a book backwards. It took me several years in the International School before I started to automatically open a book the American way. While at the International School, I met some Americans, but I had friends from all around the world. Even then I wasn’t exposed to an American culture to incorporate it in my thought process and behavior. Even today my husband would talk about a movie or a song from the early 80’s and I’ll have no clue what he is talking about. If we didn’t have churches in the U.S. send us video tapes of commercials or shows, we were clueless. Only some of the movies and music made it to Taiwan, and when they finally got there, they were already several years behind.

 

During my high school development, my parents moved to New Jersey to help with the Chinese Churches in the metropolitan area. I quickly incorporate the mannerisms of the New Jersey culture into my speech and dress. I had friends who would provide guidance in how to fit into the area and not stick out with how I dressed and talked. I tried hard to fit in, and stopped speaking Chinese. Unfortunately, today it is now difficult for me to fully and fluently communicate in Mandarin. I can understand only partial conversations. However, it is fun to hear something in a movie not accurately translated.

 

The difficulties I experienced and observed with family and friends who returned after being overseas is what prompted me to do my dissertation on reentry adjustment issues for third culture kids (TCKs), and especially missionary kids (MKs).

 

WHERE AM I FROM

Not a question to ask a TCK, since they usually have a global address. However, since most of my family lives in Missouri, and I have actually lived in a house for more than 4 years in Missouri, it is safe to say that I’m from Missouri.

 

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since I really didn’t fit in anywhere, I looked to school and accomplishments in the classroom. As a result, I obtained several Honors: Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society; Golden Key National Honor Society; Psi Chi Honor Society.

 

I have a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Psychology. Also during my academic achievement I obtained teaching certifications for 1-6 grades, and 7-12 grade Science.

 

Besides Science and Psychology, my other passion is music. I love performing, as well as just breaking out into song. I was privileged to participate in the Messiah Project which does a musical production for Christmas.