Dubai — Stories

Worship in Sri Lanka

“Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu” is how we usually end Buddhist chants, or ‘gatha’s,’ many of which are recited in set groups of verses…

Raising The Bar

The scene of a Muslim family decorating a built-in home bar at Christmas felt normal to me at the time…

Making Americans Great Again

Are white, American men going to keep steamrolling over our cultures with their incorrect ideas about who we are and how our differences could harm them?

Sri Lankan TCK Sex

I wasn’t keen on my first time being as awkward and fumbling as the house-party sex stories I was hearing about from my peers…

Her Wedding Purse

Even though my grandmother has been diagnosed with dementia, she still proudly kits up with her 'wedding purse' on her way to the bank, or to the grocery store…

Cooking Up The Courage To Move Again

I recognised my discomfort for what it was quickly enough. I love challenging myself by meeting new people and throwing myself into new environments and experiences as often as I can, but that doesn’t mean I find it easy to do…

FearBy Ava Senaratne (From Sri Lanka, Dubai & Melbourne. Living in Sydney)1 June 2019TCK TOWN, TCK, Tck, moving, moving countries, disappointment, Australia, Middle East, challenges, judgement, Melbourne, life lessons, cooking, Dubai Comments

The Haunted Ice Rink in Deira

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL:

The golden part of the evening, though, was trick-or-treating. For those of you who may have already thought ahead, yes oh yes, that meant the building became a 31 storey candied lolly-land, with at least 20 apartments on each floor to choose from—though chose we did not—we made sure to pay a visit to every single one…

Traditions & CustomsBy Ava Senaratne (From Sri Lanka, Dubai & Melbourne. Living in Sydney)31 October 2018tck, TCK, Tck, third culture kid, Halloween, Dubai, Deira, U.A.E, home, apartment, childhood, childrenComment

Water Hopper

From old theatres to laneway bars, I walk the Yarra with boys and cars.
With double tongues, I watch bright lights, as I explore and devour the night…

Where Are You From?By Ava Senaratne (From Sri Lanka, Dubai & Melbourne. Living in Sydney)5 September 2018where are you from, TCK TOWN, tck, TCK, third culture kid, Identity, cross cultural, culture, Tokyo, Bahrain, Dubai, Melbourne, Tasmania, Sri LankaComment

Depression Mist Does not Ghost You

Mental illness is not like a date on Tinder or an ex-lover; depression doesn’t ghost you. It takes a lifetime’s work to not let it consume you completely…

Mental HealthBy Eisha Gupta (from India, Dubai and Melbourne. Living in India.)19 August 2018TCK TOWN, TCK, tck, depression, Western illness, Dubai, Australia, India, psychology, angst, suicide, wellbeingComment

Krishni, the Creative from Sri Lanka

Krishni spoke Arabic and French and English with her classmates. They snacked on dates and learned about sushi and exchanged sandwiches for lunch...

Bridging WorldsBy Ava Senaratne (From Sri Lanka, Dubai & Melbourne. Living in Sydney)9 September 2017English, French, Dubai, Japan, TCK, Bahrain, Melbourne, Tck, thathi, Arabic, ammi, third culture kid, TCK TOWN, art director, bridging worldsComment

To Exchange, Rearrange and Live Estranged.

I easily adapted to the parts of her culture that were were new to me; I ate squid for the first time out of her lunch box and nodded with interest when she introduced me to weird-looking creatures she loved — the first Pokemon!

AVA

My floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the city street doesn't stop me boogie-ing alone in my underpants at home. Melbourne's ideals about acceptance, love and normalisation of a woman's body have helped me shrug off nakedness as no big deal...

But I Don't Have A Footie Team!

I imagine if you're not a third culture kid, the second of hesitation after the question "Where are you from?" must look a little misplaced.

I usually size up the person who's asking...