Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds

I was a Third Culture Kid and I found this book helpfull in understanding who I am 40 years later. (I found the TCK phrase awkward but could think of none better.)I also think this would be of use to people whose childhood was similar to the TCK's. Especially children who had little stability while growing up. Divorce, parential deaths, and especially children shunted off to boarding schools.Many boarding schools provide a fairly good life and a substitute family, but when it's over, it's over. and then who am I?

Really loved that book, the first time I felt understood in a very long time. I grew up in Peru and Spain, studied in the USA then moved to my "home country" Germany-(now I live in San Diego!). You really grasp every single feeling one experiences and the examples mentioned in the book could very well be me! .................... Saludos H.

My husband and I have been international educators since 1988 and both of our daughters were born overseas. As parents who intend to remain abroad throughout our children's educational career we have found this book to offer valuable advice as well as points to ponder. However, the authors do us a favor in not romanticizing the prospect of raising children abroad. Indeed, perhaps the most beneficial information can be found by paying heed to the potential pitfalls outlined that may impact the uninformed.Additionally, through reading this book our professional observations gained while teaching in four countries on three different continents have been taken on greater significance. The insight the authors share regarding issues hitherto acknowledged have contributed to a better understanding of the challenges that our students face as second- and third-generation Third Culture Kids (TCKs). I highly recommend this book for all parents and teachers living abroad as well as TCKs who are wondering if their capacities as `cultural chameleons' means that there is something wrong with them.

A must read for anyone who spent their childhood abroad. Finally, there are words to express what I already know. I highly recommend it.

This is an excellent book. It should be read by everyone who is living and working overseas, away from their home environment, especially those who have their children with them. Succinctly, with erudition, and with an easy-to-read style it examines and explains the problems experienced by a person who spends, or has spent, a significant part of his or her development years outside their parents' home culture. It contains much practical advice on how to deal with these problems. The term third culture was coined in the 1950s by Drs John and Ruth Useem, when they made a study of Americans who lived in India as foreign service officers, missionaries, technical aid workers, and business representatives. It was realised that there were expatriates from other countries who were undergoing similar experiences even though from different origins, styles and social stratification systems. There was a shared common lifestyle that was different from either their own or their host culture. The book is a result of much research that the authors have undertaken since that time into the effects of this third culture on the children of overseas serving ex-pats. However, the experiences so neatly described pertain not only to what they call third culture kids (TCKs) but also to adult TCKs. Furthermore, the wisdom and advice displayed in this delightfully readable book is also fully appropriate for those working and living overseas without children. It makes it clear why so many people who do a spell overseas get "bitten by the bug," and are drawn back to the place where they did their tour, often permanently. An overseas duty can be an emotionally exciting experience, but it can also be and emotionally disturbing one. This book explains why this is so, as well as explaining how the disturbances can be dealt with.