Cross Cultural Kids Everywhere

I'm the son of Missionaries and later moved around the world on business with my parents. Based off the shallow questions I don't think they should have omitted military or missionaries. Those questions probably would have applied to anyone who has ever moved a lot, not just overseas. It's also pointless to ask someone if they're depressed without ... See Moreasking why. This survey failed to do that and definitely pressed you towards the negative.

What is the point of a survey if you're not actually looking for truth? There's a lot of successful and happy TCKs out there too! If you publish an article saying that TCKs are more likely to be dissatisfied with life because all you are asking is "are you somewhat satisfied or are you not really satisfied", you're just going to shine a bad light on the parents who take their kids overseas. It's made me a stronger person in a lot of ways and weaker in others, but I wouldn't trade it for anything...

These questions did not strike me a particularly negative. Rather, they seemed quite standard to this sort of research.

In regards to excluding missionary and military kids, I'm guessing this may have been done due to their being believed to have a more stable support network... or possibly due to the assumption that many are raised with stronger 'roots' in the form of politics or religion (generally speaking).

Other groups unspecified would include the children of those running the international schools circuit- that's a fairly large chunk of people. And I have a number of friends who fit into none of these tidy group classifications. Just because it's not so easily defined, doesn't mean the survey only accounts for diplomat/business brats.... See More

Finally, it's good to see so many people surprised at the possibility of a higher rate of depression in the internationally mobile- I wonder what went differently in these circles from those I've known. Would be good to learn from! Personally, I've long speculated that my fellow TCKs do seem to have a higher incidence of depression, particularly those yet unmarried and/or who first returned to their country of nationality in their later teen years. On the surface we've all been very good at adapting and appearing to fit in, but belonging everywhere and nowhere at once can get trying in time... particularly if there aren't any who 'get it' in whom you can confide the various challenges many of us (TCK and not) face.

Love Heidi's comment .. yes God doesn't live in one country!!! The ability to see out of others eyes. The knowing that there is more than "one way" of doing anything. The ability to see humans as humans not "others".
Can understand English language learners speaking English without the subtitles and be patient with them because we have been there ourselves. Yes, I'm proud to be a TCK.

Amen to Heidi's and Melissa's comment. Can't add anything better to theirs.

I didn't know she had died! I met her at Global Health Meeting in 1997 - she was incredulous that I was an adult and a Third Culture Kid - thought is was amazing to hear how the Peace Corps had taken families in the seventies, and that kids had also led the volunteer life. I wonder what she would think of the third culture grandkids and greatgrandkids...R.I.P.

Norma worked with me when I was producing a documentary some years ago and graciously let me use "Global Nomads" as a series title. We discovered that not only had we both grown up in a number of countries, but we were also Kodai alumni. She and another long-time friend, Barbara Schaetti (one of the kindest souls on the planet) came to visit me in ... See Morethe place I was passing through at the time, Vancouver BC, and we had a most edifying time together. Then I did what I seem always to do - moved on. I only found out recently from Barbara that Norma had left the planet in 2008, and that was sad news. I am sorry I am not better at staying in touch, and that I did not get to say goodbye.

Great article. I would also appreciate a copy of Nancy's marketing materials or a website.....Nancy,.do you negotiate into contracts the need to get leave time....the comment on the article about leave policies and conflicts TCKs will experience with employers is really common. I know many who have quit jobs over this....if you work for a European... See More company it shouldn't be much of a conflict due to the long vacation periods but US companies are so different. Any US companies with good track records on this issue?

Great article! It reads how my life has gone. Of German parents I grew up in Taiwan attending a American school. Then off to the US for University. Further studies in Switzerland. Now I am working for a company back "home" in Germany that moves expats around the world.

I like this I wanted to vote for love your international neighbor month and compassion letter- both are good and could be combined. Its a small world I believe we can work in peace

I have signed the pledge, forwarded the challenge to 50+ of my TCK friends, and made a donation in gratitude for all Brice and the other volunteers tirelessly do to provide this important platform to us all. I encourage YOU to also get involved! :-)

Mali, these guys are looking for music by TCKs and other stuff, check it out. Love, mama

Thanks for the feedback everyone! We took your suggestions and added 2 new options based on your ideas. Vote here: http://www.tckid.com/group/vote-our-facebook-logo-picture/

I LIKE THIS PICTURE BEST- IT SUMS IT UP NICELY!!