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Third Culture Kids
33
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  • 1. Third Culture Kids

2. There was no funeral.
No flowers.
No ceremony.
No one had died.
No weeping or wailing.
Just in my heart.
I cant
But I did anyway,
And nobody knew I couldnt.
I dont want to
But nobody else said they didnt.
So I put down my panic
and picked up my luggage
and got on the plane.
There was no funeral.
--Mock Funeral by Alex Graham James
3. Definition of Third Culture Kid
A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCKs life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background. (Pollock and Van Reken, 1999)
4. Examples of TCKs
Traditional TCKsChildren who move into another culture with parents due to a parents career choice
Bi/multi-cultural/and/or bi/multi-racial childrenChildren born to parents from at least two cultures or races
Children of immigrantsChildren whose parents have made a permanent move to a new country where they were not originally citizens
Children of refugeesChildren whose parents are living outside their original country or place due to unchosen circumstances such as war, violence, famine, or other natural disasters
5. Examples of TCKs
Children of minoritiesChildren whose parents are from a racial or ethnic group which is not part of the majority or ethnicity of the country in which they live
International adopteesChildren adopted by parents from another country other than the one of that childs birth
Domestic TCKsChildren whose parents have moved in or among various subcultures within that childs home country
Children are often in more than one of these categories at the same time.
6. IDENTITY
7. HOW MANY IDENTITIES DO YOU HAVE?
HOW MANY IDENTITIES DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE?
8. WHAT IS IDENTITY?
Identity represents the process by which the person seeks to integrate his/her various statuses and roles, as well as his diverse experiences, into a coherent image of self. (Epstein, 1978)
9. Answering the question Who am I? is one of the biggest tasks of the adolescent (adult?) years.
However, some adolescents may become overwhelmed by the task ofidentity development and neither explore nor make commitments.
10. CULTURE
Culture consists of the values, traditions, social and political relationships, and worldview created, shared, and transformed by a group of people bound together by a common history, geographic location, language, social class, and/or religion. Nieto (1999)
11. SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE
When we have stayed in a particular culture long enough to internalize its behaviors and the assumptions behind them, we have an almost intuitive sense of what is right, humorous, appropriate, or offensive in any particular situation. Being in the know gives us a sense of stability, deep security, and belonging.
When we are having to learn and relearn the basic rules by which the world around us is operating, our energies are spent on surviving rather than thriving; struggling to understand what is happening rather than fully participating in the event.
12. SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE
When people first go to another country as adults, they experience culture shock and need a period of adjustment, but their value system, sense of identity, and the establishment of core relationships with family and friends have already developed in the home culture. Their basic sense of who they are and where they belong are intact. Children and adolescents who move among different cultures are doing so before they have formed their own personal and cultural identity.
13. The Generic Stages of Cultural Identity Development Models
First Stage: Lack of awareness of the importance of culture
Intermediate Stages: Psychological discomfort, self-examination, association with dominant culture, rejection of dominant culture, over-identification with own culture
Final Stage: Self-acceptance and appreciation of own culture (which may now be an integration of several other cultures)
14. Pros of Being a TCK
Greater understanding of other
cultures builds sensitivity and awareness (flexibility, tolerance, respect)
Reflective thinkersknowing that there are many ways to approach a given situation and that their way may not be the best way
Quick, adaptable thinkers who are used to thinking outside of the box
Stronger practical skillsobservational skills, listening skills, cross-cultural skills, social skills, linguistic skills
15. Pros of Being a TCK
Globally minded and have a keen understanding for what is happening in the world around them
Develop sensitivity and empathy at an earlier age and at a deeper level
Mature (in some areas) more quicklyearly autonomy, relationship to adults, broad base of knowledge
16. Pros of Being a TCK
International schools offer enhanced and enriched academic programs and have good links with many universities around the world
Increased opportunities to travel and experience new cultures first handauthentic learning experiences
Drawn to careers associated with service to the community or the world
17. Cons of Being a TCK
Lack of a home base means its hard
for TCKs to have an identity of where they are from or what nationality they truly are, which can create a feeling of emptiness. The rootless and restless syndrome. I dont belong anywhere.
The emotional upset of having to say goodbye to people and places on a regular basis
Finding it difficult to make new connections and friendswhats the point if were going to move on again soon anywayseparation anxiety, loneliness and isolation
18. Cons of Being a TCK
The anger felt toward parents for plucking them away from their home
The guilt felt that is associated with being angry at parents
Family disharmony
Culture shock
Unidentified learning disabilities
19. Cons of Being a TCK
Educational gaps due to different curriculums being followed at different schools
May not deal well with conflicts. It has always been easier to outwait them, knowing another move is coming soon
Seen as unpatriotic if a TCK tries to present another cultures potential viewpoint
Confused loyaltiessense of confusion about complex things such as politics, patriotism, and values
20. What can schools do to help?
Ensure you have counselors
Ensure you have enough counselors for the number of students in your school (1:250)
Transition programs
Orientation programs
Advisory programs
21. What can parents do to help?
Involve your children in decision-making during the move (to the extent possible)
Allow your children choices to establish a sense of control in their lives (where to have dinner , what movie to see, etc.)
Provide time for children to grieve and be supportive of their needseach move is a TRUE loss for them
Validate and acknowledge (and at times this may include educating and labeling) the emotions and feelings your child is experiencing; for many people simply discovering that there are legitimate reasons for their feelings not only helps them understand themselves better, it also normalizes their experience.
22. What can parents do to help?
Have a home base in what you consider to be your home, that you visit at least once a year where your child has their own room.
Talk about your home culture and keep connected with family still living in your home base
Build strong ties in each community in which you live
Set aside special family time and establish family traditions
Provide opportunities for your children to express their grief/anger (journaling, scrapbooking, etc.)
Seek help from your schoolor outside counselor
23. What can children do to help themselves?
Research where you are going before you get there
Be involved in family conversations and decisions about where you are moving to
Learn about the new country you will be living in prior to moving there
Connect with your new school via the counselor or a student
24. What can children do to help themselves?
Have someone you can talk to about your feelings
Know that its okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure
Become involved in after school activities, clubs and community events
25. Interesting Info
TCKs tend to have more in common with one another, regardless of nationality, than they do with non-TCKs from their own country
TCKs link, bond and look to their peers for norms and acceptance much more readily than they will do with adults???
TCKs generally are much more successful in higher education and in attaining high level jobs
26. TCKs becoming TCAs
What happens when your TCK grows up and goes home?
27. Where to go?
Feeling different from others may cause difficulty in forming peer relationships even more often at the university level or when returning to a "passport" country, where students feel misunderstood by their fellow countrymen.
28. My lack of understanding of common topics of conversation such as TV shows and politics was embarrassing. My gap of knowledge in the modern culture with regard commercials, programs/activities growing up, and that my peers did not understand my experiences, was a constant reminder of my time away from the norm. Reverse Culture Shock does exist.
Warren Heaps, TCK
So what are the options?
29. ACOs (American Colleges Overseas)
Pros
Cons
Student bodies are approximately 50-85% internationals, many ofwhom are TCKs
Diversity and tolerance are the norm
Peer-to peer support / mentoring
International Networking benefits as an Alumni when they become expats themselves
Closer to home sometimes locations are near family/parents, easing the transition
Lose the opportunity to reconnect with home in a concentrated and controlled environment
Harder to gauge the relative value of some ACO diplomas/schools
Prolongs the TCK culture so that the transition into a non-TCK culture is significantly delayed
30. 31. Go someplace new!
Pros
Cons
Feed the inner nomad
Experience new cultures
Grow a language
Embrace the international identity
Often a new system of education
Potential loss of personal identity
Feelings of helplessness can make this move difficult
32. Return home and reacclimatize
Pros
Chance to reconnect with home culture and learn what it means to be from a certain country
Reconnect with family
Far more schooling options
Challenge of new school environment
Community opportunities
Cons
Sense of not belonging
Ill-equipped to deal with transitions on own
Superiority/inferiority complex
Can be far from parents
Often not recognized as international by university
33. Questions??