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January 2024

Speaking to a fellow TCK with roots in Japan about being an international educator, my TCK story, and navigating cultural differences between family members.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5puAbAvXUNXrxtl0N0b9Qc?si=aJs7Mw-rQVyDnJ7x0tYDIw

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November 2020

How has my upbringing influenced my dream to be an educator?

https://youtu.be/lTwQWJSL5gQ?si=4TpEB7i1h1XfhQFU

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www.kanakosuwa.com

Find resources on a bunch of topics in my website! I needed a place to keep collection of resources so it’s not polished but there’s a lot there… 😂

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This section is a collection of blog posts and articles written by TCKs where they share their stories

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This section is a collection of blog posts and articles written by TCKs where they share their stories

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This section has resources for teachers, schools, and families of TCKs

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This section has resources for teachers, schools, and families of TCKs

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Third Culture Kids: the impact of growing up in a globalized world | Ruth Van Reken 

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Third Culture Kids: the impact of growing up in a globalized world | Ruth Van Reken 

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https://youtu.be/vrVWHfEQz6A

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Third Culture Kids: the impact of growing up in a globalized world | Ruth Van Reken | TEDxINSEAD

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December 2023

Sharing my story as a queer Asian TCK🏳️‍🌈

Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nZlL4RjSJUduJs2VB6y0r?si=36W7d1jsQkS0fUiXJtieOA

Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wnUvhw2c7VTsAAhxE29Q3?si=gN8aBy3nQtunjrpYftGnwg

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Third Culture Kids - Growing Up Among Worlds

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Third Culture Kids - Growing Up Among Worlds

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This was the very first book that contained comprehensive information about TCKs and have been known as the "TCK Bible" in the TCK community. Since its publication in 2001, further research has been conducted and the book has gone through multiple re-publication to contain the most recent information.

https://books.google.co.th/books/about/Third_Culture_Kids.html?id=Y6-7jDEtn2cC&redir_esc=y

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TCKs share their stories - Course Survey Participants

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TCKs share their stories - Course Survey Participants

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TCKs who kindly responded to the survey I used to make this EduSpark course shares more about their thoughts on different TCK topics. You can see how diverse the TCK community is!

https://padlet.com/mskanakosuwa/eduspark-tck-padlet-53esowyi39qqinjw

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https://iscresearch.com/

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The winners of the International School Awards 2024 were announced by ISC Research during an online event on Wednesday 24th of January. 245 applications were received this year from international schools around the world. Read more

20 educators and education professionals are recognised as Edruptors of 2023 for their impact on the international education community through social media. ISC Research spoke with some international education influencers who share good practice and advice for their peers. Read more

When you think of innovation and creativity in learning, you might be forgiven for picturing something high-tech, cutting-edge and expensive: something beyond the reach of many schools; something perhaps attributed to the mantle of the computer science expert. Audrey McLean tells us about an interdisciplinary approach to innovation that involves adding value through cross-curricular connections. Read more

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ISC Research supplies the most comprehensive, current and objective data and intelligence on the world's international schools market.

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TCK Workshop at the Chiang Mai City-wide Professional Development Day (March 2023) 

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TCK Workshop at the Chiang Mai City-wide Professional Development Day (March 2023) 

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https://youtu.be/gpWfUnXyxIA

Link to the slides used in the presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HeKpChlFWVKNvlomwDcuiY0eJ5w21V2RvthwFYqQ9ek/edit?usp=sharing

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Third Culture Kid Identity | Seiji Yamazaki | TEDxYouth@ASIJ

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Third Culture Kid Identity | Seiji Yamazaki | TEDxYouth@ASIJ

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https://youtu.be/WLesUWiV07Q

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Third Culture Kid Identity | Seiji Yamazaki | TEDxYouth@ASIJ

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Being Culturally Homeless | Crystal Singh | TEDxYouth@BIS

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Being Culturally Homeless | Crystal Singh | TEDxYouth@BIS

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https://youtu.be/98hBmTy2_mo

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Being Culturally Homeless | Crystal Singh | TEDxYouth@BIS

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Navigating life as a third culture kid | Vicky Schdeva | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

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Navigating life as a third culture kid | Vicky Schdeva | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

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https://youtu.be/Hf0LvUaMNr8

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Navigating life as a third culture kid | Vicky Schdeva | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

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Establishing a New Normal as a Third Culture Kid | Dayoung Nam | TEDxYouth@ICS

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Establishing a New Normal as a Third Culture Kid | Dayoung Nam | TEDxYouth@ICS

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https://youtu.be/2nHo_m4QOTg

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Establishing a New Normal as a Third Culture Kid | Dayoung Nam | TEDxYouth@ICS

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Food: A Third Culture Kid’s Sense of Identity. | Eric Pak | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok

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Food: A Third Culture Kid’s Sense of Identity. | Eric Pak | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok

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https://youtu.be/yJIVqrqfZjU

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Food: A Third Culture Kid’s Sense of Identity. | Eric Pak | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok

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Being a Rootless Third Culture Kid | Benjamin Self | TEDxUofL

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Being a Rootless Third Culture Kid | Benjamin Self | TEDxUofL

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https://youtu.be/9Vc6nEgZOs8

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Being a Rootless Third Culture Kid | Benjamin Self | TEDxUofL

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Power of TCKs | Mark McElroy | TEDxYeongheungForest

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Power of TCKs | Mark McElroy | TEDxYeongheungForest

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https://youtu.be/GTSmPne279c

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Power of TCKs | Mark McElroy | TEDxYeongheungForest

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Building Identity as a Third Culture Kid | Erik Vyhmeister | TEDxAndrewsUniversity

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Building Identity as a Third Culture Kid | Erik Vyhmeister | TEDxAndrewsUniversity

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https://youtu.be/8RCmgMKJRy8

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Building Identity as a Third Culture Kid | Erik Vyhmeister | TEDxAndrewsUniversity

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Between Two Cultures | Smrithi Ram | TEDxUCincinnati

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Between Two Cultures | Smrithi Ram | TEDxUCincinnati

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https://youtu.be/qv_UfDBNWI8

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Between Two Cultures | Smrithi Ram | TEDxUCincinnati

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Third Culture Kids | Growing Up Global | Short Documentary by MONT'KIARA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

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Third Culture Kids | Growing Up Global | Short Documentary by MONT'KIARA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

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https://youtu.be/-X6iOwIjHdw

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Third Culture Kids | Growing Up Global | Short Documentary

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Third Culture Kids | Alice Fernandes | TEDxNewarkAcademy

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Third Culture Kids | Alice Fernandes | TEDxNewarkAcademy

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https://youtu.be/qDNpv6TKgVQ

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Third Culture Kids | Alice Fernandes | TEDxNewarkAcademy

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https://sciencenorway.no/children-and-youth-family-politics/new-study-on-the-difficulties-facing-children-of-diplomatsthe-hardest-thing-about-being-a-diplomats-kid-was-without-comparison-returning-home/1966571

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"These families live a life that looks very nice and grand. While they're abroad, they have means to spend money, their children attend private schools, some have au pairs, they get to see many different parts of the world and do completely different things than what regular Norwegian kids do," says Ragnhild Bjørnsen in a press release from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (link in Norwegian).

In her doctoral thesis on the subject, A privileged childhood? : Autobiographies of growing up in the Norwegian Foreign Service, she has interviewed 43 children of diplomats. The youngest was 19, the oldest was 78.

According to Bjørnsen, the travelling childhood of diplomat kids is seen as a privileged one. However, it also poses a lot of challenges that are difficult to handle for children and youth.

"Being seen as privileged becomes a label, where difficult emotions like grief, fear and anger are not socially accepted. This is why there are many stories here of children who hide difficult experiences, even from their own parents," she says.

Nina, 30 years old, told Bjørnsen that: "I told the teachers that I was ill, and my mother had to leave work to come and pick me up. I didn't dare to tell my parents about the anxiety I was feeling, so I chose to fake illness at home as well."

Where is home?

The 43 informants talk about the challenges of always having to adapt to a new cultural context, a new language, a new country.

It's common for those who work in the foreign services to change countries every second or third year - sometimes to another country abroad, sometimes going back to Norway.

Lisa, 31, remembers the difficulties of returning "home":

"I particularly remember a day when my brother in a fit of rage yelled that he longed for "home" in Sri Lanka. My mother grabbed his shoulders and screamed back at him: You are Norwegian, you are Norwegian, this is your home!"

"When a world that you have known, and that you have mastered, all of a sudden is taken away from you, for a child this can be a very difficult situation and lead to feelings of meaninglessness," Bjørnsen says in the press release.

Bullied in Norway

Coming back to Norway was named as a particularly tough experience by many. They were teased and bullied in the Norwegian schools for being different and found it difficult to start over and get new friends.

The children were met with an expectation of feeling at home in Norway, but more often than not felt completely foreign.

"The hardest thing about being a diplomat kid was, without comparison, returning home. Or, returning "home". I view that one year in Norway as the worst year in my life so far," said Frida, 21 years.

Kristin, now 45 years, was bullied upon her return to Norway.

"I didn't know what bullying was before that. I came from another world that nobody could imagine what was like. From 6th grade and onwards, I stared into the ground. I gradually pulled away from everybody around me," she shared with the researcher.

Short-term relations

The informants who shared stories of a good childhood, were usually those who had managed to make long-term friends despite constantly moving.

"Many of the informants reflected upon the impact this lifestyle had on them as adults. For instance not knowing what it means to have long-term friendships and relationships," Bjørnsen says.

For those who did not have this, having a short-term take on friendships could pose a challenge. They felt it was not safe to lean on others, as their life so far had taught them that people disappear.

Jonathan, 43 years old, shared that he is constantly prepared that his friends may one day not be there, or that he may not be there for them.

"I have noticed that my take on friendships is more fleeting than it is for many others," he said.

Some of the informants also talked about the fact that their parents had diplomatic immunity when abroad. Some of them would have benefited from more support and follow-up, according to the researcher.

While diplomatic immunity may protect the children if something were to happen in the country they are in, say a war or another unsafe situation, it also prevents the children from getting help if the challenges are within the family.

"Nobody caught on to this," Silje, 35 years old shared.

"And no wonder. It's hard to discover anything when a child is in a place for 2-3 years, and then is gone. And on the big international schools with 2000 students," she said.

Will be used by the foreign services

At the same time, the informants are also grateful for many of their experiences. Time spent abroad has made them more tolerant to being different, and to people with different cultural backgrounds. They also have a strong commitment to global issues.

"Even if it has its advantages and disadvantages, insecurities and paradoxes, being a foreign diplomat child is something I have been blessed with," says Lars, who is in his forties.

"It has strengthened my independence, confidence and most importantly my tolerance for the world," he says.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have worked with these issues for decades, according to the press release from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. But the new thesis is the first piece of research on the topic that they will now use in their work on family welfare.

"Increased knowledge and understanding is always important. We want to use Bjørnsen's research to further develop our support to our employees, and in the best manner possible make their stays abroad with their families as good as they can be," says Tord Tukun at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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New study on the difficulties facing children of diplomats:'The hardest thing about being a diplomat's kid was, without comparison, returning home'

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Constantly moving to new countries can pose a difficult childhood in various ways, research finds.

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Who are Third Culture / Cross Cultural Kids?

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Who are Third Culture / Cross Cultural Kids?

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https://www.crossculturalkid.org/who-are-cross-cultural-kids/

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FIGT is an organization that works to support families who live a globally mobile life. A definite recommendation of resource to share with families!

https://www.figt.org/

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Growing Up in Transit - the politics of belonging at international schools by Danau Tanu

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Growing Up in Transit - the politics of belonging at international schools by Danau Tanu

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A must-read for international teachers and adults who went to international schools. This book really helps examine your internalized racism and bias.

https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/TanuGrowing/loc

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View Table of Contents

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The Politics of Belonging at an International School
296 pages, 4 illus., bibliog., index

ISBN 978-1-78533-408-5 $135.00/£99.00 / Hb / Published (October 2017)

ISBN 978-1-78920-795-8 $29.95/£23.95 / Pb / Published (December 2020)

eISBN 978-1-78533-409-2 eBook
https://doi.org/10.3167/9781785334085
Request a Review or Examination Copy (in Digital Format)Recommend to your Library Available in GOBI®
Reviews

"Growing up in Transit is a welcome addition to the emerging literature on elite schooling in the Global South. Its rich ethnographic details, critical but sensitive rendering of the lives of privileged youth, and attention to contemporary political economy present a nuanced and evocative analysis of privilege. The book will be of interest to anthropologists and sociologists of education." * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (JRAI)

"This well‐written and engaging book gives new interesting information and fresh analytical perspectives on an increasingly common phenomenon that has not been widely studied among anthropologists until now...[It] can be recommended to anyone interested in multiculturalism and migration; looking at the more privileged migrants provides food for thought also for scholars studying migration in less privileged contexts." * Social Anthropology

"The pace of the book is methodical and thorough. Following an admiring Foreword from Fazal Rizvi, the 18-page preface is an enlightening and necessary account of the author's own heritage, life and intellectual development, establishing her authority as a quadrilingual emic researcher in several of the student communities... It is its objectivity and methodology that facilitates it which make this book so original...This ground-breaking book offers a foundation for studies in the new generation of international schools." * Journal of Research in International Education

"[This volume] makes a riveting read... Danau Tanu delivers an exceptional, genuinely interesting, thought-provoking account of her experiences in a secondary school in Jakarta... [that is] tightly researched and presented in lucid prose,... [and] a must-read for all leaders of international schools because it presents the opportunity for them to question the most fundamental purpose of what they do, i.e. shape the contexts in which identities develop." * International Schools Journal

"The book is an exceptional contribution to the theory and practice of cosmopolitanism among privileged students with high mobility in transnational spaces such as an international school... The author's unique experience growing up as a Third Culture Kid enabled her to breathe life into the ethnographic data, making sophisticated concepts and complicated processes discussed in the book engaging and relevant." * Asia Pacific Journal of Education

"This book is the first that not only allow insight into the mechanism of cultural reproduction of transnationality with western norms set by International Schools, but the author goes beyond her perspectives from inside and, not least through her appealing and relaxed style, allows the reader to participate." * Anthropos

"This ethnographic study offers a valuable correction to our understandings of the 'third culture kid' phenomenon." * Huon Wardle, Centre for Cosmopolitan Studies, University of St Andrews

"This book offers profound insights on how class and race can play out among globally mobile children. I highly recommend it." * Ruth E. Van Reken, co-author, Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds

Description

"[R]ecommended to anyone interested in multiculturalism and migration....[and] food for thought also for scholars studying migration in less privileged contexts."-Social Anthropology

In this compelling study of the children of serial migrants, Danau Tanu argues that the international schools they attend promote an ideology of being "international" that is Eurocentric. Despite the cosmopolitan rhetoric, hierarchies of race, culture and class shape popularity, friendships, and romance on campus.

By going back to high school for a year, Tanu befriended transnational youth, often called "Third Culture Kids", to present their struggles with identity, belonging and internalized racism in their own words. The result is the first engaging, anthropological critique of the way Western-style cosmopolitanism is institutionalized as cultural capital to reproduce global socio-cultural inequalities.

From the introduction:
When I first went back to high school at thirty-something, I wanted to write a book about people who live in multiple countries as children and grow up into adults addicted to migrating. I wanted to write about people like Anne-Sophie Bolon who are popularly referred to as "Third Culture Kids" or "global nomads." ... I wanted to probe the contradiction between the celebrated image of "global citizens" and the economic privilege that makes their mobile lifestyle possible. From a personal angle, I was interested in exploring the voices among this population that had yet to be heard (particularly the voices of those of Asian descent) by documenting the persistence of culture, race, and language in defining social relations even among self-proclaimed cosmopolitan youth.

Danau Tanu is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University and an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia.

Author's Website:
https://www.danautanu.com/
Subject Codes
LC: LC46.94.I64 T36 2017

BL: DRT ELD.DS.209324

BISAC:
SOC002010 SOCIAL SCIENCE/Anthropology/Cultural & Social;
EDU020000 EDUCATION/Multicultural Education;
POL003000 POLITICAL SCIENCE/Civics & Citizenship

BIC:
JN Education;
JH Sociology & anthropology

Contents
Expand ToC
Figures

Preface
Acknowledgements

Introduction: Unpacking "Third Culture Kids"

Chapter 1. Being International
Chapter 2. The Power of English
Chapter 3. Living in "Disneyland"
Chapter 4. Chasing Cosmopolitan Capital
Chapter 5. The Politics of Hanging out
Chapter 6. Invisible Diversity
Chapter 7. Race and Romance
Chapter 8. Whose United Nations Day?

Conclusion: Transnational Youth

References
Index

Download ToC (PDF)

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immigration international students migrants international education first generation immigrant cosmopolitanism eurocentric education international ideology serial migration third culture kids culture and class identity transnational youth cultural capital anthropology serial migrants anthropology

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Growing Up in Transit: The Politics of Belonging at an International School | Berghahn Books

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31278542-misunderstood

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Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the...

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Read 27 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Over 200 million people currently live abroad; more than 50 million are temporary residents...

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22678959-between-worlds

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Between Worlds: Essays on Culture and Belonging

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Read 42 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. Between Worlds will resonate with those who have lived outside of their passport country, a…

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39962376-finding-home

https://rachelpiehjones.com/finding-home-third-culture-kids-in-the-world/

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Discover and share books you love on Goodreads.

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60568464-you-are-a-global-citizen

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You Are a Global Citizen: A Guided Journal for the Cult...

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Read 48 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. So you're here. The world dealt you a random card, and you're dealing with it. Maybe right...

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56791624-the-grief-tower

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The Grief Tower: A Practical Guide to Processing Grief ...

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Read 21 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Children who grow up outside of their parent's passport country, Third Culture Kids (TCKs),...

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This book is a great read for addressing grief surrounding transitions.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56791624-the-grief-tower

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The Grief Tower: A Practical Guide to Processing Grief ...

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Read 21 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Children who grow up outside of their parent's passport country, Third Culture Kids (TCKs),...

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9554411-home-keeps-moving

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Home Keeps Moving: A Glimpse Into the Extraordinary Lif…

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Read 5 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. Home Keeps Moving follows Heidi and her missionary family on their many moves through the ey…

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9690731-third-culture-kids-sense-of-community-in-the-online-classroom

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Third culture kids' sense of community in the online cl...

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Read reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Using both asynchronous and synchronous communication tools, virtual schools have enabled thir...

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https://readingmiddlegrade.com/middle-grade-books-about-third-culture-kids/

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Afoma Umesi ·
Please Note: This list is sponsored by Kaleidoscope, an online community for third-culture kids and their parents. Kaleidoscope understands third-culture kids, helps them use their advantages to become global leaders, and consistently guides them through their journey. This post may contain affiliate links.
Middle grade books about third-culture kids are becoming more popular, but the third-culture kid experience is far from new. Many kids have had to move from their places of birth to a new country (not as immigrants) but temporary residents, either because of their parents' jobs or for a period of cultural immersion. These aren't just summer vacations, but months to years living abroad. It's quite a niche category.

If you've been on the hunt for stories that portray the third-culture kid experience, you'll enjoy these 11 books. I've also added three YA picks that are perfect for an older audience.

Middle Grade Books About Third-Culture Kids

Here are 11 best middle grade books about third-culture kids (+ some YA):

Glitter Gets Everywhere

Young Kitty and her older sister are transplanted from London to New York City when her dad takes a new job there after her mother's death. This middle grade book manages to balance the grief of losing a parent with the excitement of moving, the challenges of assimilation and a lot of desserts, courtesy of The Great British Bake Off.

Across the Pond

Calliope's parents have inherited a castle (yes, a castle!) in Scotland. Callie is happy to move from the US to Scotland for reasons of her own - besides the castle. But when she arrives, she struggles with making friends and adjusting to new surroundings. With a few unlikely friendships and hobbies, however, Scotland soon begins to feel like home.

All You Knead Is Love

Alba's mom has shipped her off to Barcelona to live with her Abuela. There she finds comfort in learning to make sourdough bread in a neighborhood bakery. But just when Alba begins to settle in, the bakery comes under threat of closure.

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

Dini loves all things Bollywood, but she is not pleased when her parents announce that they're moving to India for two whole years! Worse yet, they're not even moving to Bombay, but to a small town called Swapnagiri where nothing ever happens. But what she finds in Swapnagiri is ... a pleasant surprise.

How to Make Friends with the Sea

Pablo is an anxious tween whose divorced mom is always moving. Right now, they live in the Philippines. His dad is not very present and Pablo is a bit lonely as well. When his mother begins to foster a young Filipina girl named Chiqui, Pablo's world starts to expand.

Somewhere Among

Ema has always lived in both Japan and the US, spending her summers in California. But this summer, her mother is in Japan to be close to her father's family while she's pregnant after multiple miscarriages. Adjusting to school in Japan with a prickly grandmother, 9/11, and a sick grandfather, this novel in verse is chock-full of tough emotions and interesting details.

More to the Story

In Hena Khan's Little Women-inspired middle grade book, the girls' family friend, Ali is a typical third-culture kid. With Pakistani parents who have moved him from the UK where they live to the US. The kids at school definitely fawn over his accent.

While I Was Away

This non-fiction title is Waka T. Brown's experience of being sent to live with her grandmother in Japan to improve her Japanese. Waka spends five months in Japan reading and writing kanji and trying to bond with her often distant Obasaama.

Young Adult

A Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Ben Philippe's debut YA novel follows Norris Kaplan, a French-Canadian teen who moves with his mom to Austin, Texas. At first Norris uses his clever, cynical ways to keep the other kids at a safe emotional distance, but eventually, Texas and his schoolmates begin to grow on him, cultural differences and all.

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna is ready for her senior year in Atlanta where she's all set up with a job, a best friend, and a crush who may become more. Suddenly, her dad, a popular novelist decides that a year abroad - in France - will do her some good.
There they are: 11 best middle grade books about third-culture kids! In partnership with Kaleidoscope, you can also download a printable of this list via their website here. The printable also includes a Bucket List challenge that encourages creativity and helps kids (third-culture or not) create their own story.
Anna is ready for her senior year in Atlanta where she's all set up with a job, a best friend, and a crush who may become more. Suddenly, her dad, a popular novelist decides that a year abroad - in France - will do her some good.

Parachutes

Kelly Yang's first YA offering follows kids whose parents send them off to Asia to study while they remain in the States. As Dani and Claire attend high school in Shanghai, they are thrust into several uncomfortable scenarios that force them to define who they are. Heads up for sexual harassment and rape in this mature YA novel.

Pin This Post - 11 Best Middle Grade Books About Third-Culture Kids

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11 Relatable Middle Grade Books About Third-Culture Kids

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11 best middle grade books about third-culture kids i.e. kids who have to move to and live in a new country for an extended period.

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Facebook group for TCKs based in Asia

https://www.facebook.com/groups/534360407360223/

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Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550732688491675

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https://www.hercampus.com/school/uc-london/a-guide-to-coping-with-homesickness-through-the-lens-of-third-culture-kids-tcks/

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Her Campus | Created for Gen Z, By Gen Z.

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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC London chapter.

The TCK isn't a relatively new phenomenon. It has been around since the 1950s. We may attribute its rise in popularity to the advent of social media-allowing this community to become more accessible to others in search of similar individuals. The term "Third Culture Kid" (TCK) was coined by the American sociologist Ruth Usee in the 1950s and describes a child who:

"...has spent a significant part of their formative years outside their parents' culture. People who fit that bill have a tendency to mix and merge their birth culture with their adopted culture, creating one of their own: a third culture." ( The Guardian)

Being a TCK involves this struggle to fit in with a singular culture as they have been immersed in more than one. They may have a hard time identifying with the culture through which they were born-unlike the natural affinity, others would have endured having spent longer within a particular culture. They may even have moved around to different countries constantly.

As a TCK, I can testify to the immediate internal struggle when someone asks where I would call home. Constantly moving around and being surrounded by an array of cultures makes it harder for us to possess a singular identity, but we still encounter homesickness, and as usual, we find unique ways to cope and make our unique situations work.

To gain better insight on how varying TCKs handle their homesickness, I interviewed four friends I met around the time I moved to London, three of whom I met thanks to TCKGlobal's Discord and Instagram!

LAURA:

Born in Colombia as an only child, Laura had moved between Panama, India, Colombia, and El Salvador and spent her formative years/teens in Malaysia. Now based in both Switzerland and London, she encounters a different form of culture shock taking shape through rules and societal manners differing greatly from what Laura had been accustomed to. She found London's internationality particularly comforting. When I asked her how she copes with missing Malaysia as one example, her answer was simple:

"If not cooking, then just finding it...it doesn't even have to be Malaysian food, but because..in Malaysia, there was so much Chinese food...Korean... It would remind me of me and my friends going to Korean barbeque...Asian supermarkets, buy my childhood snacks there...sit down, and watch my Korean dramas... It's very comforting for me...it's what I did in Malaysia..building that little bubble for myself of the stuff from back then."

Chiara:

Born to a German father and a Filipino mother, with a younger sister, Chiara grew up in Hong Kong, The Philippines, and Germany. She describes spending her formative years in Hong Kong from age 11-15 and from 15 onwards in Germany. Adapting to high school in Germany for Chiara was a challenge. Most often, for her, it felt like a step backward, without the digital or sports or after-school activities. Fitting in was a struggle, and she felt unmotivated. Therapy helped Chiara develop coping mechanisms and work through her emotions. It even posed as guidance when her parents weren't around. Even more, Chiara channels her homesickness through her hobbies:

"In dance, I started meeting...people who were half-something-people who were born in different countries-they were more open. Our line of performing...you get to travel a lot, you meet people from other countries, you compete with other countries-they're more open-minded-that's when I began to build my footing in Germany....still my friends today. Even watching shows that I used to watch as a kid...MTV shows, like Jersey Shore... every time I miss certain aspects of home, I would watch those old reality tv shows from the 2000s."

Jordan:

Jordan moved from Namibia, Kenya, France, Ghana, Switzerland, and Tunisia, as a child before settling in the UK, where he currently resides. Jordan describes his family as blended. A Kenyan father, a Namibian mother, a French stepdad, and eight siblings in total. Growing up with parents who hold such diplomatic jobs calling for countless moves, Jordan found another solace:

"Aside from food, music is my number one way of dealing with homesickness. Our household listened to tons of music. Every time we moved to another country, they'd listen to music from the country, events, and arts of the country cuz they loved it. So for me, I cope with music because it's easy to access. I feel cradled by art and music...safe and not scared, nostalgia is there but not painful as much anymore."

Dan:

Coming from a Vietnamese background, Dan grew up most of his life in Indonesia, then Michigan-later moving to Switzerland, Florida, and back to Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia), then Poland, where he now lives. Facing an array of cultures, from attending an international school and experiencing one culture in the home and another outside, or even what Dan deemed the 'average American experience,' carried its challenges. For Dan, coping with homesickness solidified through friendship and acceptance, even watching food bloggers.

" Reconnect with people sharing the same experiences...being aware of your feelings, giving yourself space to feel them, and dealing with it. The more places that you move to...the more places you miss... Learn that you're allowed to feel it... You left for a reason. Prepare for your nostalgia to get a little overboard, and remind yourself that it's not that easy. Also, Asia...has a million food bloggers, so if you're missing these things... They will walk around the streets and try different foods...you'll be like, "Hey! That's connecting a little bit with home!" You'll hear the language as it is spoken on the streets, you'll see the food, you'll see the streets...how things are...my Instagram is filled with food bloggers...like 60% of what I have on my Instagram feed are Asian food bloggers."

Interviewing these 4 TCKs sheds light on how similar yet different our understandings and cures to homesickness can be. There seems to be a particular attachment we feel as TCKs during our formative years to certain countries. Maybe it's tied to this unique point in life as teenagers where we thrive more in social spheres and are in the middle of finding our place in this world. It was even quite amusing to hear how out of the four TCKs I spoke to, there was a general consensus among the three of how London really helped them feel more at home despite not having spent time there as children. The city carries a uniquely international aura that helps them feel like they're not alone and can bond with others of similar backgrounds, other TCKS!

These interviews enabled me to reflect on how I cope with my own bouts of homesickness. Music played a primary role. It could be playing my favorite song, "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie, keeping up-to-date with the San Francisco Chronicle, or watching my favorite Youtubers based in Hong Kong, or TCKs. Another go-to would be visiting Chinatown Bakery in Chinatown, and grabbing my childhood favorites, like the Hong Kong-style milk tea, and cocktail or pineapple buns.

Being a TCK is no easy feat, but it only shows how unique we are. We learn to adapt quickly to new environments. We find ways to tie our individual passions and memories together-to those cultures we miss. They expose and bring us back to our nostalgia.

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A Guide to Coping with Homesickness, Through the Lens of Third Culture Kids (TCKs)

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The TCK isn't a relatively new phenomenon. It has been around since the 1950s. We may attribute its rise in popularity to the advent of social media-allowing this community to become more accessible to others in search of similar individuals.

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Morales (2015) Factors Affecting Third Culture Kids (TCKs) Transition

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The effect of global mobility on third culture kids

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Third Culture Kids, their diversity beliefs and their intercultural competences _ Elsevier Enhanced Reader

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https://tsl.news/opinion-third-culture-kids/

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"Third culture kid" is a term I first learned at my international school in Singapore. We were taught that it meant growing up in a culture different from your parents'. During my school days, I just nodded along in class, not really grasping the gravity of its meaning in my life.

Trips to my city in India were often reluctant. I wasn't fond of the unfortunately familiar scent of manure and fried food that constantly hung heavy in the air.

Since I was a toddler, I would grudgingly leave my city life to retire to rural living. I had to go from my clean Singaporean rain shower to those iconic bucket baths taken in full view of toilet rats. The adjustment was difficult and only seemed to get harder as I grew older and realized how to complain.

The inevitable diarrhea would hit hard, perhaps from drinking milk straight from a cow that I was forced to watch being milked - you know, in case there is an apocalypse and I needed to know how to milk a cow at the ripe age of three.

I got to visit beautiful traditional temples to learn about my heritage. There, I stepped in actual warm cow poo barefooted, had my slippers stolen and almost left with another Indian family I thought was my own.

I got to play with cute and friendly animals, but then I got bitten by a dog. ( pet the "family dog" that apparently hates you and was picked up from the road last week; many injections will follow.)

Despite my clumsiness and constant food poisoning, it was only in Cuttack, India where I could feel the love of a big family. I was surrounded by an abundant amount of cousins and relatives. There were cultural differences, but when the Amul cheese and Hide & Seek biscuits came out, I knew it was home.

Back in Singapore, I had my nuclear family and other TCK friends from all over the world. Despite my passport saying I am Singaporean, I felt confused inside.

Coming to Claremont, I initially felt the same disjointed routine but weird sense of belonging. I couldn't quite fit in with all the incredible-sounding mentor programs because I wasn't sure where I identified myself.

I guess my school teacher was right; it's difficult to know what is home when home doesn't exist for you. The BBC describes TCKs as "citizens of everywhere and nowhere."

Talking about my experiences occasionally makes me feel like I'm talking too much. It's difficult for me to try to insert my experiences into conversations that often focus around America, where I have chosen to submerge myself into yet another new cultural environment.

It was only after leaving my actual home country that I started to feel truly Singaporean. In Singapore, most people originate from other Asian countries, so we get an interesting melting pot of cultures.

I have felt my identity becoming more salient while I am amongst people who mostly identify as Americans, who have comfort in where they belong. However, I still don't feel true to myself; it feels like I am camouflaging based on only one of my cultural identities.

Although it can be isolating to not have a sense of unity with your peers or a singular home country you feel attached to, it has been found that most TCKs have useful skills , such as speaking at least two languages, being more interculturally sensitive and entering adulthood armed to handle change .

Due to globalization, third culture children are becoming increasingly common. For example, Barack Obama was a TCK . His father was Kenyan and his mother American, but he moved to Jakarta after his mother married an Indonesian man.

Therefore, it is a phenomenon that we must familiarize ourselves with so that we can better support the community around us. We should try to better facilitate a discussion of our cultural experiences and also recognize that where someone appears to come from is not necessarily the place they call home.

In our diverse community at the 5Cs, this is our chance to expose ourselves to new experiences and learn from those around us.

Part of my nuclear family has now been relocated to Turkey, which means new adventures, experiences and another place I get to call home. I may never truly fit in, but to me that's part of growing up and becoming an adult. You have to find confidence and comfort in yourself and the people you love.
Avika Jindel PO '23 is from Singapore. She has a self-deprecating sense of humor which extends to the hometown that she actually loves.

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OPINION: Living as a third culture kid means not knowing where you belong - The Student Life

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Third-culture kids, or those whose culture is different from their parents, face unique challenges growing up and in going to college.

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Learn more about our original research on Adverse Childhood Experiences and other childhood trauma exposures, through a survey of 1,904 adult Third Culture Kids who experienced globally mobility in childhood.

October 2023 we released the most recent research findings in White Paper #3!

We ran two 3-hour live online workshops in August 2022 in which we discussed findings from our research and how to apply these insights in TCK care. The recordings can now be purchased from our archive, either individually or bundled together for a discount.

We have also published a series of blog posts focused on the different sub-groups identified and discussed in our white papers. Find all of these posts through the links below. You may also like to read our article on Seven Reasons for Hope: A Foundation for TCK Care, which outlines why we believe a TCK upbringing can wonderful, even at the same time that we advise preventive care.

Our research on TCKs and Adverse Childhood Experiences has also been featured in a number of external publications. We have arranged these features into four categories below: resources for adult TCKs, parents & caregivers, resources for educators, and resources for/about missionary kids. There is some overlap between categories, but hopefully this will help you quickly find helpful information discussing and applying our research. (The most recent features are at the top of each list.)

One of our core values here at TCK Training is that all of our programs and services are grounded in research. At many times, we and other TCK Caregivers around the world are seeing things in our professional capacities that we find no research to speak into. For this reason we began to plan our own research projects, to answer questions that impact our work with Third Culture Kids of all ages, as well as their parents, other caregivers, and supporting entities.

In 2022 we created the position of Research Director and hired Tanya Crossman to fill the position. Tanya has researched TCKs for 10 years and was instrumental in the creation of our TCK ACEs survey. Investing in on-going research through staff hours is part of our commitment to contributing new research insights to the global TCK caregiver community. Research is and will always be the foundation of what we do at TCK Training, and we want to share what we learn with the whole community.
Click here to learn more about ways to support us, and our research.

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Learn more about our original research on Adverse Childhood Experiences and other childhood trauma exposures, through a survey of 1,904 adult Third Culture Kids who experienced globally mobility in childhood. October 2023 we released the most recent research findings in White Paper #3!

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https://www.figt.org/page-1114038

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Mailing address: Families in Global Transition C/o Campbell Rappold & Yurasits LLP 1033 S Cedar Crest Blvd Allentown, PA 18103 USAadmin@figt.org

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TCKid is a non-profit organization that serves the community of third culture kid (TCK) and cross culture kid (CCK) adults and youth across geographical boundaries. We also serve to inform the non-TCK and non-CCK, general public and those who serve this community.TCKid's mission is to increase and support the individual and general awareness of the TCK experience and unique gifts by facilitating connection and community engagement.