Call them world travellers, can-do-it-all-people, someone from everywhere and nowhere. We may speak several languages, we may adapt to different cultures quickly. But we also struggle with the feeling of having no home, with moving between the worlds, with saying hi and bye on a regular basis.
So what’s the deal with Third Culture Kids (TCKs)?
“A third culture kid is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside their parents’ culture.” (Pollock& van Reken)
You know you’re a TCK when…
…“Where are you from?” has more than one reasonable answer
…you flew before you could walk
…you speak two languages, but can’t really spell in either
…you wince when people mispronounce foreign words
…you hear a noise in woods and your first thought is “snake”!
…you get homesick reading National Geographic
…you like to negotiate prices
…you have an urge to travel
…you know how to pack
…you have friends all over the globe
…you’re an expert in converting time zones and have a map of them next to your phone
…you feel like you belong everywhere and nowhere