Third Culture Kids Home | Page Title Feature Article -    "Third Culture Kids", by Lesley Lewis

As more cities and companies become increasingly international, there is a growing number of children that are creating thier own sub-culture.  Often referred to as TCK's (Third Culture Kids) or Global Nomads, these students have a tremendous impact on the global community.  They are "raised in the margin of mosaic" and learn to balance worlds from within. ... So who are these Third-Cultured Kids?  They are not a new phenomenon.  As one looks back over history, there is a realisation that certain groups of people have led highly mobile lives, a key factor in describing TCK's.  They often relocate to new home and/or countries.  They are exposed to new cultures and to other people in the community who also move constantly.   Dr. Ruth Useem, who received her Ph.D. in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Psychology, and Psychology from the University of Michigan, was the first person to coin the phrase Third Culture Kid.  Dr. Useem's study of Americans living in India led her to define TCK's as "Children whose parents work abroad to live".  (Useem, 1960).  More recently, she redefined TCK's as "Children who accompany their parent's into another culture". (Useem, 1970).  David C. Pollock and his co-author Ruth Van Reken, describe a TCK as   "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 of any.  Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK's life experience the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of a similar background." (Pollock & Van Reken, 1999)   TCK's represent many countries and cultures.  Their numbers extend into the hundreds of thousands and are increasing.  Ease of travel and constant relocation of people through multinational companies and global business links contribute to this trend.  The following points are helpful when identifying the Characteristics of TCK's: A life filled with high mobility - TCK's know an airport better than most people Traveling is a way of life - many holidays are taken outside the home country Politically astute - TCK's tend to read the newspaper and watch the news more often than other children.  They are great debaters.  They are often aware of the background of political decisions and implications for the people concerned. Speak more than one language - often 3 or 4. English may be one language they function in, but they can think and feel in several. Establish relationships quickly - they cut through many of the initial levels of diffidence when forming relationships. Prefer to socialise with other TCK's as they enter adulthood - often become expatriates themselves. Privileged lifestyle - their socio-economic lifestyle tends to be higher due to the expatriate status offered by some companies or the advantages of relocations (eg. they have access to helpers, drivers, club memberships and money). Converse well with adults. More mature in their social skills. Culturally astute/cross-culturally enriched, less prejudiced. Adapt quickly to unfamiliar countries and people. More welcoming of newcomers into a community. Educational achievers - a high percentage will attend university and obtain advanced degrees. Live more in the present/live more for the moment(Pollock, 1999) Make great culture bridges - they have multiple frames of reference. Excellent observers of other people -  often TCK's become too observant and sensitive These are characteristics that are generally attributed to TCK's but should not be used to sterotype them.  Even though the world of the TCK often appears glamorous, exotic and sometimes unreal, there are some challenging developemental issues that need to be considered: The Challenges of being a TCK: The elusive concept of Where is home?  The sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere. Difficulty with commitment to people, places, schools, or school systems as these constantly change. Uncertain cultural identity. Problems with decsion-making. Loss of relationships, loss of community/school = loss of their world. Feeling different from others, difficult in forming peer relationships; occurs more often at university level or when returning to "passport" country, where they are misunderstood by their fellow countrymen. Rootlessness and restlessness.  The frequent need to change countries and homes. Powerless - A feeling that they have no control over events and that these are often taken out of their hands anyway by the inevitability of the move. A crisis of identity - "Who am I?" The question "Who am I?" is frequently asked by TCK's.  They have accumulated a host of cultural identities, lived in many countries and have been introduced to a variety of global people.  They are not the culture of their parents.  TCK's position themselves by integrating a huge pool of values, norms, behaviours, beliefs, mannerisms and thoughts in order to identity self. As you enter into the world of TCK's, one might suspect they are no different. But it is clear, after spending only a short time with them, that they bring a deep knowledge from within and a special ability to compare international and local issues.  They are the future cross-culturalists and hopefully future politicians, diplomats, multi-nationals, government employees and educators.  TCK's have a deep understanding of human rights.  They certainly encounter a differeing lifestyle compared to their mono-cultural peers but we can draw on their global and professional lives.  So, whatever one chooses to label the international students as TCK's, Global Nomads, Expatriates or Global Souls, we will reap unbelievable rewards and a true sense of satisfaction. Colors by Whitni Thomas, MK (1991) I grew up in a Yellow country But my parents are Blue. I'm Blue. Or at least, that is what they told me. But I play with the Yellows. I went to school with the Yellows. I spoke the Yellow language. I even dressed and appeared to be Yellow. Then I moved to the Blue land. Now I go to school with the Blues. I speak the Blue language. I even dress and look Blue. But deep down, inside me, something's Yellow. I love the Blue country. But my ways are tinted with Yellow. When I am in the Blue land, I want to be Yellow. When I am in the Yellow land, I want to be Blue. Why can't I be both? A place where I can be me. A place where I can be green. I just want to be green.   Lesley Lewis has an M Ed in Psychology, a Masters in Cross-Cultural Psychology and a Bachelors in Public Adminitstration.  She is an education psychologist who studied in the US. She's been living in Hong Kong for over 16 years. She works in private practice as a personal, maritial and family therapist and is a consultant and trainer to private business and gov't agencies.  She has been working with TCK's for over 30 years. She is now researching the adjustment of TCK's in in'tl schools. She is a founding partner of Global Sage Alliance, a company specialising in executive coaching, leadership/assertiveness training and cross-cultural development with a focus on individiuals within the context of organisational developement. ***** 4'11 and 3/4....think about calling more often! frosty - u're damn jealous of sideburns....i caan feel it kat! - oh man u're awesome. winkz- thats my aunt, not mom.

11:36 PM

just some pictures....from grandfather's birthday.

9:26 AM

do i look like a beefmaster?why would anyone want to fight me?i say lets drink instead.

jeez.

 

3:23 PM

another round of postcards just went out.....i think some of u might even get 2 at once this time.

10:37 PM

BE A MENG...DO DA RIGHT PHING....

http://rack1.nethosters.com/~charles/russell/russell.ram

 

9:20 AM

Shit bricks and urine

 

Didn"t take long for me to adopt the title "man of leisure" for myself.  I used to give out yielded, long-winded answers as to why I am the solo lonely planet auditor, but now the words flow convincingly eloquent out of my mouth.

"what are you doing now?" 

"I'm a man of leisure..."

 

I arrived in Hong Kong the morning of the January 27^th, checked into Langham Hotel in Mongkok and was puking and pissing on the hotel room floor by Friday night. It's customary to definitely get a good night out and leave behind gastric juices to vandalize an "I was here" but surely, puking was too early in the trip for me not to do it again. Here's the recap and pictures to follow. 

 

27^th - 4 cognac.

28^th - 4 cognac (hazed by uncle), hammered at LKF, puke puke puke

29^th - hungover in a rolls royce. You'll see the andy lau pictures below

30^th - 3 jwblack on the rocks.

31^st - macau 4 bottles of chivas

1^st  - 3 jwblack on the rocks @ TST

2^nd - 4 beers @ dinner.

3^rd - club ING ??shit bricks and urine to follow

4^th - fong, volar, hei hei, 2 macallan's, 1 dr pepper, 2 flaming lamborghini's (thanks Daniel)

5^th - hei hei (that stamp is soo hard to get off), dip - had schwarma and dumplings

6^th - karaoke buy 6 get 3 free buds

7^th - sick and dying.

 

Weight gain update - as this subject line has flooded my email box in recent days, I'm gonna need to put my own little spin on this topic.  HK is typically a place where people gorge and really enjoy chinaman's finest asian cuisine.  I however, could only ingest my first meal somewhere in the late PM after the furious rage of hangover had subsided. By which I would almost need to puke after dinner because I had tried to compensate not eating all day and at the same time freeing up room for liquor.  Talk about gluttony and hedonism. - or bulimia for that matter (u'll like that line lax.)

 

...and to think I'm in Taiwan for New Years, I'm gonna die. 

 

-- Captain Good-Time

1. rather than posting my own picture, here's a buy one get one free superstar treat.

2. me n kimbo in macau.  great night.

3. this one claimed that he wasn't going to eat....

4.  SHIT BRICKS AND URINE

5. best host in the whole world - thanks for everything lana~. SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE (haha i wouldn't be surprised if andrew that i was the biggest homo in the world)

6. you guys don't understand the absolute FEAR i had when i saw this guy...(i honestly thought i was gonna take it easy that night) 5 minutes later...dr pepper.

7. i think this picture is from saturday...i do not remember this at all.

8:48 AM