Keeping the Transition Tradition... Ben's Transition Story
"After 18 years of growing up and living in Mexico City, Ben attended Interaction’s Transition Seminar in the summer of 2001. There he met Josh who is a TCK and has volunteered along with his wife for several years at Interaction International’s Transition Seminars. Josh and his wife kept in contact with Ben during his time in college at a large state school because they happened to live in the same area. Not only did Ben stay in contact with them but they were the only connection that a TCK had in the demanding Architect program. During the first year of transition Ben mentioned that he would periodically take out the notebook he received from the Transition Seminar and look over the transition model and read about the common emotions described in the transition process. Ben understood what it was like to not have people around him that understood who he was as a TCK and his background, that didn’t stop him from making quality American friends. However the transition model did help in understanding what emotions and feelings were normal and helped him understand where he was in the transition process. This summer, Ben hopes to be a volunteer staff member at a Transition Seminar. When asked what he could offer TCKs in transition his response was “I know what it’s like to go to a big state school and have no one identify with the life of an TCK. I heard so much about the transition seminar from Josh and his wife that I feel like I am finally in a place where I could be a part of the seminar!” As Ben looks and plans on using a significant part of his vacation time from his job as an Architect to volunteer and be a part of the Transition Seminar he continues to be the gift that he received from Josh and his wife years ago."