1/3 - Growing Up a Cross Cultural Kid: Nicole Gilbert

A cross cultural kid is person who is living, has lived, or meaningfully interacted with two or more cultural environments for a significant period of time during the first 18 years of life. This term was coined by American author Ruth Van Reken . CCKs are everywhere just like TCKs and their experiences and cultural knowledge adds diversity to the country.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Gilbert 2020.

Nicole Gilbert is 22-year-old American citizen who has experienced life in Costa Rica, America, and Portugal all before the age of 18. She was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and then raised in Escazu, Costa Rica located near where she was born. She has extended family members in the United State, so she visited America about twice a year.

At age fourteen, she moved to Portugal and learned to fluently speak Portuguese. She also took ballet classes. After a year of dance and a new culture, her family moved her to Colorado to try out American high school classes. Homesick and stressed, she came back to Costa Rica to finish her education.

By late 2017, at age 18, she gave America another shot and found a new calling – snowboarding. She lived in Aspen and taught children how to snowboard for the winter season. Her interests did not stop there, she wanted to keep experiencing new languages and cultures. After a year of snowboarding classes, she moved to Milan, Italy for a while to learn Italian and expand her cultural knowledge. After a few years of that, she went back home to study speech-language pathology at the University of Santa Paula. She missed Colorado and her curiosity eventually brought her back in 2020. Since she has been saving up to continue her college education. Today, she speaks Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese

After a few years of that, she went back home to study speech language pathology at the University of Santa Paula. She missed Colorado and her curiosity eventually brought her back in 2020. Since, she has been saving up to continue her college education. Today, she speaks Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Gilbert’s Meaning to Life:

Nicole “Nikki” Gilbert has spent quality time in Costa Rica, Italy, America, and Spain. While she had a complicated living situation, she is very grateful for her travels.

“It can be really difficult to make long-term friendships because the traveling changes whenever my parents move,” she said.

Through her experiences through dance and teaching snowboarding, she has found meaning in relocating. It brought her an artistic and active outlook in life and allowed her to continue living a full life despite the struggles of being so mobile.

“Meeting people who come from other countries and speak a multitude of languages really brought comfort. I have found a home through the different people and jobs I have had. Costa Rica will always be my safe place to return but I am lucky enough to have found a sense of belonging in all the different places I have lived.”

As a result of her travels, she feels like she has a better sense of understanding people even through the many culture shocks she experienced. While everywhere she goes she learns something new she also has the power where she can carry all her cultural knowledge with her making her a more understanding and aware person.

“It was a hard ride as a child but now I am an adult who can make more conscious decisions. I have lived in Colorado by myself almost for a full year now working as a server in different restaurants and bars. I’ve learned so much about people even being in one location and have been able to share my experiences with others. I’ve been able to maintain what I hope are lasting friendships and there’s nothing I really regret.”