Showing posts with label atck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atck. Show all posts

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Third Culture Kid Spotlight: Meet Christina


1. What is your name?

Christina Hoag


2. Where were you born?

I was born in a small town in the South Island of New Zealand.

3. What is your heritage?

My mother is English and my father was from New Zealand, of Scots and Northern Irish ancestry. My parents met in Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia. I was almost born there but my parents left shortly before I arrived in the world.


4. Where have you lived & how long at each place?

It’s a bit of a travelogue! We left New Zealand and went to Fiji for a year, then we lived in England and Sweden for maybe two years. We moved to Lagos, Nigeria, when I was about three. I don’t have any recollection of these places. We moved to Wellington New Zealand, when I was about three. I remember that. When I was seven, we moved to Sydney, Australia. When I was 13, we moved to the USA, New Jersey specifically. I went to Boston University, then returned to New Jersey and became a newspaper reporter. In 1992, I moved to Spain because I wanted to live in a country that had a language other than English. I stayed there a year and then moved to Guatemala. I was there for a year and a bit, then headed to Venezuela, where I stayed seven years. In 2002, I moved back to the US (Miami) and in 2007 moved across the country to Los Angeles, where I am still. It’s the longest place I’ve ever lived!


5. What is your definition of "home" and how is it different from those around you?

As with most TCKs, I’ve struggled with identity and the concept of “home” my whole life. I have no hometown or home country. May parents were from different countries so I don’t even have that to hang my hat on. I’ve had many homes, and all these places I still hold great affinities for.  After much inner turmoil over all this, I have come to the simple conclusion that home is where I am currently. That’s really the best I can do. Most people have roots to one country, many to one town or state/province. I just don’t. Most people find this odd. They can’t relate to someone who grew up in multiple countries. I often get blank looks when I tell people my story. I may get a perfunctory question such as “was your father in the military?” but often the topic conversation is quickly switched to something else. People just can’t seem to wrap their heads around a childhood like mine. And they don’t seem even vaguely interested.


6. Where do you consider "home" and why?

Right now it’s Los Angeles because I live here. But I am not “from” here.  I’m really not “from” anywhere. When people ask where I’m from, I have to decide whether to tell them the long version or the short version (I just say New Jersey). It depends on my mood, whether the person looks receptive, how much I plan to invest in this relationship. For years and years, I just trotted out the short version. Becoming aware of the term “Third Culture Kid” just a few years ago was a huge watershed. I found out I belong to a group just like me! It’s helped me become more comfortable with my “long version.”


7. Do you have interests in the following: foreign languages, international relations, travelling, international politics, different cultures of the world, etc...  Yes/No If so, do you think your background has helped you develop these interests?
I’m totally interested in all those things and I absolutely attribute it to my upbringing! I love languages – I speak Spanish fluently and decent French. I go to a monthly French conversation club to practice and meet other international types. Very nerdy, I know! I follow international news closely and I travel – the more remote place the better. I’ve been to about 65 countries and definitely want to visit more. My house is decorated with things I’ve bought in all my travels. I love going to handcraft markets. People have said my house looks like a museum. Graham Greene is probably my favourite author. His books are set in different countries and are often about the outsider/the foreigner. I definitely relate.

8. What are your thoughts on globalization? Current political situation?
There are winners and losers in everything, globalization is no different. But no one likes to be on the losing end and now, after a couple decades of globalization, we are seeing the backlash. How this will play out, I don’t know as world economies are quite enmeshed. There’s really no unravelling of it. Politically, we are seeing more populist leaders in the West and more racial/ethnic tension under the guise of “otherism,” which is a step backward, in my opinion.

9. How are your thoughts on world affairs different from those around you?
I am far less judgmental and more broad-minded than the average person. I know what living conditions are like in many countries. I also know from my own experience how the world sees the United States – like the 800lb gorilla with a heavy foot! I think I see things from a more humanist perspective as opposed to a political one. I don’t believe there is any one right way of living or doing things. There are just different ways. We should celebrate those differences, learn from each other instead of always trying to prove superiority. Alas, the quest for power is human nature.                                                 

10. Do you plan on incorporating a large amount of travel with your career?

I already have. I’m a journalist. My dream in high school, where I discovered journalism, was to be a foreign correspondent, thus combining my two passions of writing and travel. After about seven-eight years of working as a reporter and editor at newspapers in New Jersey, USA, I grew bored. I knew the world was bigger and that was what I wanted. So I quit and ended up teaching English in Spain, then moving to Guatemala, where I got back into journalism at an English-language newspaper. I was covering fascinating stories involving human rights. I travelled all over Central America, as well. Then I moved on and landed in Caracas, Venezuela, where I started writing for major media outlets: Times, Business Week, New York Times, Miami Herald, Houston Chronicle, Financial Times, and Sunday Times of London, and many others. During my career, I reported from 14 countries around Latin America and the Caribbean. After seven years in Venezuela, there was a coup attempt and the political situation was shaky. I went to Miami and worked for the Miami Herald. I had accomplished my dream of being a foreign correspondent and it was the highlight of my career. I really loved it. It was an adventure every day.

Now I write fiction and do freelance editing.  I still travel widely and I’d love to write more books set in foreign countries but I keep getting told that American readers have limited appetites for foreign settings, which I find frustrating! But only 35 percent of Americans have passports. That says a lot.


You can find Christina on her website at www.christinahoag.com


If you would like to be featured on this series please drop me an email at ahdancecompany@gmail.com


Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Third Culture Kid spotlight: Meet Jesse


Sometimes you meet other TCKs online that have an interesting story to tell. Check out Jesse's story...


What is your name?
Jesse 


Where were you born?
Tokyo, Japan


What is your heritage?
Half Japanese, Half Caucasian 


Where have you lived and how long at each place?
Japan 1 year 
13 years in Seattle 
5 years in Japan by 18/19. 
And then College in US. 
In total: 24 years in US, 6 years living in Japan.

What is your definition of "home" and how is it different from those around you?
I'm now 31. If you asked me that when I was 20 I would have answered entirely different as I had a bad case of reverse culture shock. I slept in my car. The only time I felt "at home," was while in movement. As a musician, that meant feeling at peace while touring around the country. The moment I sat still was the moment I wanted to be somewhere else. Now, home is with my family- my wife and daughter. Anywhere we go will be centered around them and we'll call that place home. So, in essence, people.



Where do you consider "home" and why?
Seattle, Washington is my home because I overcame that part of my life that had such an intense grip on me. I talk about it in my book, but it was a very confusing time to come back to the US. Seattle though is where I met my wife, and we have roots here.

Do you have interests in the following: foreign languages, international relations, travelling, international politics, different cultures of the world, etc...  Yes/No If so, do you think your background has helped you develop these interests?

I used to have far more of an interest to a point where I couldn't really relate to people my age. Now, I still do in international relations, traveling, international politics, and especially cultures. I feel right in place within an international community.

What are your thoughts on globalization? Current political situation?
The current US political situation? Or my thoughts on globalization in general? I am constantly growing. Ask me 10 years ago, my answer would have been entirely different. Ask me 5, and it would have been different as well. Today, I love that we live in a digital world where everyone can connect. That said, there are obvious cultural differences, boundaries, rules of laws- that enable countries to operate in any way they see fit. I really wrestled with the United States for a while, but I've come out loving the US because of my experiences in various other cultures. The way the government is set up, the freedoms that we have, (and often abuse) are beautiful. 

How are your thoughts on world affairs different from those around you?
I have an actual world view, which often separates entirely from those around me. So when someone calls out a certain hot topic issue, my first question is often, "compared to what?" Our world today has shifted it's focus from ideas to surface level things. We want obvious rather than the philosophies of ideas behind them. It's a strange time to be alive politically, because people have a hard time separating emotions from ideas. It's why I've quit music, (for the most part) and become a writer. Writing has the ability to communicate ideas far greater than what music has become in my opinion. In the arts, for example, I find it fascinating that so many artists think exactly the same way on so many issues. As if creatives couldn't think creatively and have separate opinions. Therefore, when I talk to people I often times just observe what they are saying and ask them questions to get to the root of what they are saying. The difference is world experience, but also, being able to both relate and still come up with a take on life that isn't centered around experiences but of ideas.

Do you plan on incorporating a large amount of travel with your career?
My wife has her Masters in Social Work. Our dream is to do plenty of work all across the globe. Our passion centers around Thailand where we want to start coffee farms. I've been there a couple times and also do business there. Besides that, we'd love to have the opportunity to continue to travel. She's Laotian and has traveled more than I. We have a heart for people in South East Asia, but we want to go to other countries such as Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Short answer, yes. 


Follow Jesse on social media and his blog: 
http://www.jesselmcdaniel.wordpress.com

If you would like to be featured on this series please drop me an email at ahdancecompany@gmail.com

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Third Culture Kid spotlight: Meet Daniel


Its always a pleasure to meet other third culture kids around the world. Daniel is an active member of the TCKid communities on social media and that is how I got to know this globe-trotting TCK (aren't we all global nomads!?) 


What is your name?

Daniel 


Where were you born?


Houston, Texas, USA


What is your heritage?


Both my parents were Vietnamese, and moved to the US essentially as a result of the war, and met there. 



Where have you lived and how long at each place?


Houston, Texas for 3ish years (as a baby though) 
Jakarta, Indonesia for 14 years
Ann Arbor, Michigan for 2 years
Switzerland for about 3.5 years, though alternating between Zürich and Wallis
Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 2 years
Took a few months back in Switzerland, but in Biel. 
Took a little under a year off for backpacking around Asia, of which most of it was spent in Penang, Malaysia. 
Back in Zürich, Switzerland for the past 5 years. 




What is your definition of "home" and how is it different from those around you?


Home for me really depends on the people around me, because places can change. It's not so cut and dry, though. Places are important too, and ultimately home comes from that combination of places that you feel comfortable in, with people you like having around you that help you feel at home. And yes, this can be more than one place. 


Where do you consider "home" and why?


Right now it's Zürich. In contrast to the rest of my adult life, I've lived here consistently for a long time now. It's been long enough to make friends, to become familiar with my surroundings, to acclimatise. It's the kind of consistency I haven't had for a long time, but to be honest it's still tempered by knowing I'm still legally a foreigner here. So while it feels like home, there's a very good chance it can't be home. We'll see. 

I felt more or less at home when I worked in Fort Lauderdale, because of working and the people I had around me. I did realise that as time went on those people largely changed by moving around, and with it the sense of home got lost. In that case, it was very dependent on people. By contrast, Penang felt quite home-like when I was there, though I didn't have many friends there at the time, so it was more tied to the place. 

So basically... it depends. 



Do you have interests in the following: foreign languages, international relations, travelling, international politics, different cultures of the world, etc...  Yes/No If so, do you think your background has helped you develop these interests?



Very much to all of these. I grew up interested in history, which became an interest in politics. While my experience wasn't necessary to create these interests, it definitely helped. Growing up in an Indonesia which was under a dictatorship and transitioned to a more-or-less functioning democracy has, honestly, defined my political perspective and interests. Travelling and being able to compare, first hand, didn't places, cultures, and political systems, has given me a perspective that others I meet still can only learn from media. 





What are your thoughts on globalization? Current political situation?

The reason I had the life I did was because my dad worked for an international company. It has, mostly, been the reason we moved around between the US, Indonesia, and Switzerland. So it's safe to say that we have been beneficiaries of globalisation in a much more tangible way than most can claim. It's likely, however, that the expatriate lifestyle, at least through those means, is probably fading. Developing countries can't really justify bringing foreigners over and giving them the expatriate life. 

One of the benefits of being this kind of TCK though, is that you get to see both sides of globalisation. You get to see how it can make developing countries grow, like Indonesia, you get to see how it can make countries rich, like Switzerland, and you get to see the backlash against it, like in the US. It sort of becomes difficult to look at it in the local terms most people do. 



How are your thoughts on world affairs different from those around you?

This has really varied depending on my company. There's a popular perception that Europeans are more globally aware than Americans, and it sort of correlates, but awareness doesn't necessarily equal wisdom. I have met blind idealists, pragmatic cynics, and everything in between. It's pretty good overall, since at least there's awareness and interest. I can't quite say the same in some other places I've lived. But there are different kinds of ignorance you can find just about anywhere, as well as different kinds of awareness. I find that the best approach is just to look at everyone with an open mind and to listen first and form impressions as you accumulate information, not before. 


Do you plan on incorporating a large amount of travel with your career?

I hope to, but it really depends on how my career works out. And where that ends up being. 


Thank you Daniel! Follow his ongoing TCK journey through social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbnguyen85/

If you would like to be featured on this series please drop me an email at ahdancecompany@gmail.com

Friday, April 20, 2018

FIGT conference 2018: Reconnecting and connecting with other ATCKs and Expats


Coming home to my "tribe" of people who just "get it"

In 2009, I wrote to a lady named Tina Quick (Author of The Global Nomad's Guide to University Transition and Survive and Thrive) about being an Adult Third Culture Kid. At the time, I was in the midst of resurrecting some choreography from my senior thesis production of "Third Culture Kids" to create "Chameleon, the experiences of Global Citizens" dance production and the start of this blog. She told me about a conference called Families in Global Transitions that happened annually.

A whole conference with Expat writers, researchers, and TCKs!?!!! Whoa...

Ruth Van Reken who wrote the TCK 'bible' book "Third Culture Kids" with David C. Pollock was one of the pioneers and started this conference 20 years ago.

I sent in my conference proposal to showcase my simple documentary film "I am a TCK" which would later be used as the backdrop and catalyst for the dance production and proposed to perform my short solo as an excerpt and do a little movement improvisation workshop with the large "jewelry" chains that TCK Jewelry designer, Natalia Krasnodebska created specifically for Chameleon based on her own TCK experiences.

Chameleon Project- TCK Arts in the Community from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.


Little did I know that my proposal would get accepted into the conference in 2010! That was such a busy year for Chameleon with the premiere at University Settlement, Capital Fringe Festival, International Childrens' Festival, and multiple excerpts performed in smaller festivals in the NYC Tri-State area. I received my first grant from Singapore International Foundation...the list goes on and then receiving a scholarship for me to attend and present at FIGT 2010 in Houston.

THAT was 8 years ago... life was so different.

The subsequent years of 2011 and 2012 rode on the hurricane of 2010.

Then I moved to the other side of the world halfway through 2012. It was tumultuous and dramatic.

My life changed so dramatically.

Ok, I can do this... I thought. I've lived here before. Why is it so hard? Reverse culture shock hit me hard. I felt really lost. Life events happened that changed the course of my life in a dramatic way and it took me a long time to find my feet again.

A really long time...

6 years later, I found myself at FIGT 2018 conference in The Hague.

I missed "the tribe" and reconnecting with all the faces and friends whom I've stayed in contact with over the years via Facebook and email really left me glassy-eyed. They "get it". Words cannot express what a wonderful group of ATCKs, Expats, writers, researchers, trainers, coaches, educators that comprise the family at FIGT are. The organisation and the conference has grown tremendously and more people are coming in droves.


For a group of Global Citizens its hard to navigate the cultural landscape of the world sometimes. People will judge you and label you a certain way that will often make you feel misunderstood. Returning to FIGT after all those years was refreshing for me and talking to people about their experiences and my experiences was like therapy.


There were some familiar faces and they welcomed me with open arms. The new faces were plenty and inspiring. The sessions I chose were really hard to sit through because they hit so close to my heart. I really needed space to recover.

I caught myself crying in a corner a few times.

Pull it together Alaine....

My co-presentation about telling stories with Olga was very technical and we gave clear examples how one can tell our stories: the good, bad, ugly about growing up as a TCK and living around the world as an expat.

A shout out (and many hugs) to Isabelle Min, Arnie Krogh, Katarina Holm-Didio, Eva Laszlo-Herbert, Amanda Bates, Olga Mecking, Tina Quick, Ruth Van Reken, Judy Rickatson, Kaye Rickatson, Kira Miller, Alice Wu, Kristine Racina, Marilyn Gardner, and so many more... I miss the tribe!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Third Culture Kid Spotlight: Lisa

A fascinating woman who I've come to know through the TCK networks and has lived all over the world. Meet Lisa! 


1. What is your name? 
Risa but I go by Lisa (it does make a difference! Read more about it here: https://melibeeglobal.com/blog/2012/12/cultural-lessons-in-a-name/)

2. Where were you born? 

Tokyo, Japan

3. What is your heritage? 

100% Japanese 






4. Where have you lived and how long at each place?


Tokyo, Japan: 8 months
Sao Paolo, Brazil: 2 years
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 2 years
Seattle, WA, USA: 4 years
Bronx, NY, USA: 3 years
Mexico City, Mexico: 9 years
Pullman, WA, USA: 4 years
Seattle, WA: 6 years
Farmington, NM, USA: almost 3 years

5. What is your definition of "home" and how is it different from those around you? 
My definition of 'home' has changed these last couple of years. It used to be that 'home' is wherever my parents lived. My parents continuously kept the inside of our houses the same wherever we lived, so it never felt different.  Sure, the outside and layout of our houses/apartment were different depending on which country we lived in, but the inside never changed.  After moving out of my parents' house, living on my own, I've slowly shifted the definition of home to where I feel I can make it on my own.  Many TCKs I know can't pinpoint one location as home, and I can agree.  "Home" is not a location, it's more of a state of mind, or feeling.



6. Where do you consider "home" and why? 
Whenever a world event is occurring like the Olympics or World Cup, I always root for Brazil, Japan, and the US.  I suppose that's because I've lived there, and will always be my homes.

7. Do you have interests in the following: foreign languages, international relations, travelling, international politics, different cultures of the world, etc...  Yes/No If so, do you think your background has helped you develop these interests? 
Yes to all.  I think my background as a TCK really developed these interests as it's always been a part of my life and who I am as an individual. 

8. What are your thoughts on globalization? Current political situation? 
I think the term globalization has come and gone throughout the years, but the concept remains.  It's come to a point where it's so fluid within our daily lives, that not many step back to see what's really going on.  Technology at times blends the idea we may be closer to one another than we might think, but, we have a long journey ahead to really see how globalization affects us on a societal level.  We need to be aware and understand what's going on around us, not just internationally but locally--ask questions, and dig deeper to understand others' points of views.



9. How are your thoughts on world affairs different from those around you?  
Some of my thoughts are the same as Americans, and other times, slightly different.  We have all led different paths of life, so there's going to be similarities and differences.  The important part of all of this is to be able to create spaces that allows for a free form of dialogue.  

10. Do you plan on incorporating a large amount of travel with your career?  
I'd love to be in a career that allows me to travel as part of my job, but in the mean time, I will always take time to explore the unknown. 



Thank you Lisa for sharing your story!! If you would like to be featured on this series please drop me an email at ahdancecompany@gmail.com



Tuesday, November 7, 2017

TCK Identity: Leaving it all behind and in search for home






As a TCK, we find ourselves changing with each new location. As a digital nomad, I live in many places at once. The luggage, trains, planes, trams, and automobiles is so much flurry that it doesn't leave me a second to grieve. A proper farewell. 

Its important to be able to have a proper farewell to the places and faces we once loved. 

When you grow up mobile, the sense of identity and home is skewed because its never a constant place. Sometimes TCKs associate their previous homes as places but some associate them to the faces. The people they forged real connections with. I think its important to be able reflect and grieve properly on those physical places and people once they are gone. 

Like a proper break up.

I met up with a TCK friend of mine recently and she was telling me about her weird break up with a man she had been dating for a while. She told me that she felt shattered because it felt like a part of her sense of home was pulled from under the rug. She found solace in the people she chose to get close to for a sense of home and normalcy. It got me to thinking about my own friendships and romantic relationships. I was in a long distance relationship with a man for a few years and recently had to make the decision to tell him that I couldn't keep flying to his town anymore. Long story short, I felt terrible but then we had a couple days of saying a proper goodbye. We visited my favorite  places in town, reminisced about all the good times we had traveling together and the first time we met halfway across the globe, they were all good memories. Memories are my home. 

I found solace in creating memories that would mark time periods of my life that I felt at home. Home is not a physical place for me but I get these questions a lot by well meaning family and friends. 


"Where do you want to settle down?"
"You need to find a permanent place to settle down."
"Just pick a place and settle down." 
"Where do you see yourself permanently?"
"Are you going to keep traveling?"
"You can't keep on traveling. You need to set down roots" 

These are all valid concerns and questions by all the people that have said them to me. To be honest, I can't answer the questions. I feel very conflicted because in my heart I have places and countries I would love to live in for a long period of time and settle for a while BUT then its a challenge to live there due to logistical, political, and visas. Believe me, I have tried to apply for jobs and live in my chosen places. I have struggled for so many years. 

My passport pulls me back in many respects and I have not been able to accept it. It has to do with something greater than just me. It becomes a power struggle of politics, privilege, and current affairs. 

But all I know is this. People and places that make me feel welcome feel like home. Sometimes there's a gut feeling that you just feel so comfortable there. Its like falling in love. I remember when I fell in love with a city. I made it my home for as long as I could until I had to leave. It broke my heart. 

Home is a feeling. A memory. And a comfort. 

I don't know where I'll be but I will know when I am home. 
It will be a place of comfort, love, support, and warmth to me. 



Wednesday, September 13, 2017

TCK Identity: I have never been a local anywhere



A house boat in Rotterdam - I sometimes wish I could live on a boat and just choose where to live depending on the seasons! (This will probably not happen as I can get terribly seasick if the water is too choppy!)

I have lived in a number of places, traveled and revisited places where I know the streets, BUT I have never been a local anywhere. As a adult third culture kid and avid travel blogger (Check out my travel blog! www.travelwithalaine.com), I often come across posts with titles that have "... from the eyes of a local", "Explore ..... by a local", "A local guide's to ....", or something of similar titles. I wish I could tell you how much I would love to write "...from a local's perspective" but I can't because it would seem like a fraud. I can tell you about my experiences from that place. Especially if its a place I've lived in and discovered as a local resident.

Experiencing a place as a traveler is so different that living in a place as a resident. Your needs are different. There's an adjustment period that can be challenging. From feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, loneliness, fear, to elated happy feelings, satisfaction, acceptance, and peace. Its a whole gamut of experiences.

As far as "local guides" go, I will probably never write one because it would feel a bit disingenuous to my readers. When I do meet people who have lived their whole lives in that place, I ask them for their recommendations and tips because that is the best way to discover a place whether you've moved there or traveling there.

Wandering the streets of Delft

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Monday, July 24, 2017

Third Culture Kid Spotlight: Miyon



1. What is your name?
Miyon

2. Where were you born?
South Korea



3. What is your heritage?
Korean

4. Where have you lived and how long at each place?
Not in a chronological order due to travels between countries:
Korea - 6 years
Japan - 6 years
Hong Kong - 2.5 years
New Zealand 0.5 years
U.S.A. - 8 years


5. What is your definition of "home" and how is it different from those around you?

Home is where I feel most comfortable. it is a place where I can meet my friends in the local area. It doesn't have to be a home from childhood, but it is the good memories that make me nostalgic and I call them homes.



6. Where do you consider "home" and why?

I consider my currrent home to be where I am now and where my friends currently live. Wherever I go, it is my being that carry with me. It is the relationships with others that tie me to the common experience associated with them.

7. Do you have interests in the following: foreign languages, international relations, travelling, international politics, different cultures of the world, etc... Yes/No
If so, do you think your background has helped you develop these interests?
Definitely. I am majored in international studies and I speak 3 languages fluently and took foreign language courses in 3 languages during college years. I studied abroad and traveled on my own, and am usually the first one to welcome new people (both international and domestic) that I meet on campus.

8. What are your thoughts on globalization? Current political situation?
Globalization is not something new. It's been there for thousands of years, if not longer. but I see that third culture kids are increasing in number and that will change the political dynamic as it already has including the Obama administration team.



9. How are your thoughts on world affairs different from those around you?

That world affairs is related to borders and how we define borders is tied to the political economy.


10. Do you plan on incorporating a large amount of travel with your career?

I will ultimately. I plan to work in the US and later in China, but I also would like to travel extensively in the future years that follow

11. Any last comments to future Third Culture Kids/Cross Culture Kids, any words of wisdom?

TCKs are unique but we are human just like everyone else. We all have a need for belonging and certainty. When we can embrace both the blessings and challenges from the place of grace, we can unleash the inner power to better serve the humanity. Be gracious to the process and don't forget to follow your passion. You are a gift to the world.



Thank You Miyon!!! If you would like to be a part of this series, please drop me an email at ahdancecompany@gmail.com

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