TCKs and their tattoos
Recently I shared a lovely story about a TCK tattoo, and I mentioned that this was a topic I was really interested in and had written about in the past. So while I’m still on holiday, I’ve dug out an old blog post from over two years ago to share with you. Since writing this I’ve spoken to even more TCKs about their tattoos, what they mean and why, and as I went back and re-read this I saw that what I wrote here still holds up.
While I’d heard TCK tattoo stories for years, my interest deepened after I got my own tattoo - and especially after I repatriated to Australia and an adult, and was surprised by how much comfort my China-related tattoo gave me. As I spoke to more TCKs about their tattoos, I noticed that most fell into three general categories, representing different connections: to places, to languages, and to values. Often they combined elements of all three.
Some TCKs deliberately choose very obvious places for their tattoos, because when they are noticed, they give a reason to share part of their story. Others put them in less easily visible locations, to serve as a reminder that this part of their lives others don’t see is still real. Tattoos can serve as public identification, and as private consolation.
“I have a sleeve involving all the flags of the countries I have lived in. It’s helped me have a better understanding of moving around and trying to find my place in everything.” – Noah
Connection to places
Part of the TCK experience is connecting to places – usually more than one place, usually at least one place where you are not legally connected (no passport), perhaps a place where you are visibly foreign, perhaps a place you haven’t been to in many years. Whatever the reason, it’s very common for TCKs to have at least one place they feel a strong connection to which is not seen as a legitimate connection by others. A place that feels like home, but which they don’t feel completely justified calling home.
A tattoo representing a place a TCK feels a strong connection to gives them a TANGIBLE connection. A permanent mark. The place that is invisibly etched on their heart is now visibly etched on their skin. This can be an incredibly comforting thing.
Examples of place tattoos I’ve come across include:
longtitude/lattitude or GPS coordinates
maps (a country/region outline, subway diagram, stylised road map, etc.)
a list of countries/cities
passport stamps
flags
symbols of place (a local flower, native animal, etc.)
location/s in which tattoos were inked (rather than the content of the tattoo)
“My tattoo is a Chile flag wraparound a heart. The meaning was my heart will always be for Chile. It’s a constant reminder that while I have left the country and the culture my heart still wants to be in Chile.” – Alicia
“The outline of your spirit is etched on my skin. The grid that runs through my blood.” – Lara
Connection to languages
Language is a huge part of how we communicate with each other, and therefore it’s unsurprising that we often have strong emotional ties to languages. A language-based tattoo highlights a TCK’s connection to a particular language. It can also bring multiple languages together.
Not all TCKs are multi-lingual. Some carry guilt, sadness, or regret over languages they don’t speak (or don’t speak as well as they think they “should”). Even those who do speak more than one language spend much of their lives compartmentalising each language to certain people and places.
A tattoo in a language that is meaningful to a TCK gives them a permanent, tangible connection to that language – even if the place is far away, or their language abilities fade.
Examples of langauge tattoos I’ve come across include:
a word/phrase from a language the TCK feels a connection to
a single word written in several langauges/scripts
their own name, in one or more different scripts
names of places in the language of that place
a quote from one culture written in the language of another culture
“I have one that that means “to have found the place you call home” in Gaelic – very meaningful to carry a bit of home around with me on my arm!” – Iona
“After growing up in the city of 长春 in Northeast China from when I was 1-18 years old I decided to get this tattoo before I left as I did not know when or if I would ever be back.” – Daniel
Connection to values
Tattoos can also show the importance of certain values a TCK holds, values which may set them apart in certain settings. This is a category of tattoos that may not be location or language specific, but still connect closely to childhood experiences and emotional connections developed through international life. Those experiences create connections to certain concepts and values.
Value-based tattoos often serve as reminders of values TCKs cherish and want to hold on to, no matter what the life they currently live looks like. They can serve as reminders of experiences they’ve had or lessons they’ve learned at different times in their international journeys.
Examples of values tattoos I’ve come across include:
the value of having roots (shown with trees, or plants)
the value of travel (plane, airports, world map, compass)
cultural values
relationships (especially family)
“group” tattoos (where several closely connected people choose to get the same tattoo, expressing shared locations or values, as well as the importance of their relationships with each other)
“My tattoos are focused on what has impacted my life: my family, my Chinese origins, and Texas. I particularly love my Chinese Hanzi, which roughly translates to ‘loyalty to family’ with extremely strong character meanings. The placement was also carefully picked along the symbolic weakness of my Achilles tendon.” – Abigail
I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into the world of TCK tattoos. Next time you meet a TCK with a tattoo, consider the deeply held feelings it may represent - all the unspoken words and unshared feelings that lie behind that ink. Their connection to the place, people, and language it represents is as tangible and permanent as the tattoo - even if they can’t see or express it in their current life. It is love they have etched in their skin.
A version of this post first appeared on misunderstood-book.com
