Third culture kid now a graduate of Avondale

Friday, December 18, 2020
Alumna draws on family upbringing and Aussie surrogate family in pandemic hurdles

Having spent no more than a couple of days away from her family during the first 19 years of her life, Francheska Sandoval apprehensively boarded the plane in Thailand. The Sandovals are close knit. They’ve navigated nerve-racking life challenges, served in more than 10 countries, and cultivated a deep dependence on God and each other. Francheska’s father, Ronald, who has worked for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) for 31 years, boarded the Australia-bound flight with her. Desperately upset, mother Eisia and younger brother Ronald David remained home, unable to get visas. Francheska had packed all she could in the allocated 25 kilograms for the next four years of study.

The question, “Where are you from?”, doesn’t have a defined answer for Francheska. She experiences a mini-identity crisis each time the question is asked. Born in the mission fields, Francheska lived in Bolivia for only three months before her parents moved to Peru. Two years later, they were off to Mozambique. Francheska considers herself a “third culture kid” (TCK), someone “who has spent a significant part of their developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.”[1] Francheska’s mother is from Panama, her father from Chile. The storyboard of her bilingual childhood is layered with recurring culture shock and faith adventures.

Prayer has been a foundational lifeline with Francheska absorbing her parents’ servant nature and reliance on God. Her time in Africa further solidified that foundation. She remembers watching her parents pray in the car for safety in Kruger National Park, South Africa, where they could have been crushed by elephants. She doesn’t remember being nearly abducted. As her mother preached at their local church in Mozambique, the alarm was raised that Francheska had left with a stranger. With this out-of-character behaviour and the local reputation of child abduction for trafficking, her father ran out of the building and spotted her just before see turned a corner while following an unknown woman. He called her name but she did not turn. Catching the two, he grabbed Francheska’s arm. “Let go,” she said, eyes staring unknowingly into his. “This lady is my mum.” Ronald scooped up his daughter and carried her back to the church. Seeing Eisia snapped Francheska out of whatever trance in which she’d been placed. “This moment and many other instances like it have strengthened my belief in God’s love, mercy and guidance,” says Francheska.

After some time in the United States, Chile and five-and-a-half years in Kenya, the Philippines became home—Eisia completed her master’s in public health and Ronald continued his PhD in business. In India, as her high schooling years came to an end, Francheska pondered her future. With the local Adventist church needing a children’s Sabbath school class, Francheska set about creating lessons. Her ability and interest did not escape her father’s eye and he encouraged her to consider teaching.

Francheska searched tertiary institutions worldwide for a teaching degree that included her love of art. The options quickly narrowed: even with the challenge of converting homeschooling results to Australian educational requirements, Avondale University College would be her new home. The family booked a flight in faith—Francheska’s visa arrived only three days before departure. One week after stepping onto Avondale’s Lake Macquarie campus, Francheska tearfully farewelled her father.

Experienced in adaptive skills, empathetic and open minded, Francheska navigated her way through yet another foreign culture—although one with less diversity, more cliques and more privilege that those with which she’d been accustomed. She attributes much of her survival skills to her parents. “It is through their example of faithfulness to Him that I have been able to thrive in an unknown land,” she says. And while her time at Avondale has been one of joy, spiritual cultural challenges also surfaced. “I confronted the question of how to keep the Sabbath. I was used to my family traditions and understandings, while others around me interpreted Sabbath-keeping differently,” she says.

Her years of study were peppered with visits to family, now living in Lebanon, but the COVID-19 pandemic has kept her separated from family for nearly a year. The changing government guidelines left Francheska and many Avondale students scrambling to find alternative off-campus accommodation. She found herself studying online and staying with an acquaintance in Sydney without the means to pay rent. A thoughtful call from an Avondale academic, Professor Maria Northcote, brought a silver lining. Francheska was invited to live with Associate Professor Peter Kilgour, Avondale’s newly appointed Dean (Research) and wife Sherrylee. “Francheska, Sherrylee and I didn’t know each other that well, but she was stranded with COVID and needed not just a place to stay but a family,” says Peter. “She made friends with our own kids and has become part of our family in every way. She has even reorganised our Tupperware draw.”

Despite these unforeseen obstacles, Francheska graduated with distinction from the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) course and received the Teachers Mutual Bank Excellence Prize. “My entire extended family—some in Chile, Panama, the United States—watched the live stream, made posters saying congratulations and stayed awake despite time zone differences. Gracias Mami, Papi y Ronito. Los amo.” Francheska has accepted a call to teach at Gilson College in Victoria in 2021, where she looks forward to sharing her stories and faith in the classroom. “My time at Avondale has been one of incredible personal and academic growth. I am so thankful to all the staff members who were faithful mentors. I am especially blessed with Maria and Peter and Sherrylee’s Christ-like concern and love. I could not have successfully completed my degree without their help.”

[1] Pollock, David C.; Van Reken, Ruth E. (2009). Third culture kids: growing up among worlds, Rev. Ed.. London: Nicholas Brealey. p. 13.

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Rachel Humphries
About the Author

Rachel Humphries

Rachel Humphries is Alumni Relations Officer at Avondale University College.