How a cross-cultural childhood can provide hope in the world | Aleka Bilan | TEDxJIS

By telling her own life story, Aleka Bilan hopes that others with a similar upbringing can identify the challenges and recognize the benefits that can arise from a cross-cultural childhood.

Opening-reel animation created for TEDxJIS by Alexander Finch with music performed by Ricky Tjitradjaja.

As a counselor, Aleka helps teenagers navigate cross-cultural transitions and interactions. As a parent, raising her own children overseas has meant reconciling the difficulties with the benefits of a cross-cultural childhood. She hopes that her own kids, as well as those she counsels, will go on to reach across cultural divides and help to bridge them. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx