The section is dedicated to the topic of Third Culture Kids (i.e. “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 frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture may be assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.” def. by David C. Pollock)
The life as a Third Culture Kid or a Adult Third Culture Kid has many advantages but also some disadvantages. In my posts in this section I try to point out the major aspects of this kind of lifestyle.
I am always interested in learning about other cultures’ habits. I usually am quite understanding, but there some aspects I can understand on a rational level only, and have troubles accepting them on an emotional one. Especially when children and families are involved, I tend to have a […]
Like many international families we tend to spend our summer holidays in a country where our children can meet family and discover something of one (or all) of their parents’ cultures. Since several years we spend a few weeks of the summer holidays in Switzerland for exactly this […]
The end of the school year is the toughest time for expats or internationally living families. To the usual change of class the change due to friends moving abroad is the one that affects us the most. We begin early to build a R.A.F.T. and say goodbye over […]
Latest update 2.7.2015 / Dernière mise à jour 2.7.2015. We can find many books and articles about Third Culture Kids – in French: Enfants de Troisième Culture – but little has been published in French up to now. This is why I’m setting up this bibliography that I […]
We all experience culture shock to some extent and at some point of our lives. No matter if we spend only some weeks in a foreign place or if we stay for longer. Even when we repatriate after living some years abroad, we will get through this phase. […]
We can find many suggestions about how to support our children to become bilinguals* when they are toddlers, in preschool or primary school. But what happens when they are teenagers and young adults? Can we still support them with their family languages or other languages they’re learning along […]
When I found this infographic about TCKs on fb a few weeks ago, I was really glad and thankful to find so many positive aspects of a TCK in one picture in a great guide “from A to Z” about how to embrace the positive facets of being […]
A few weeks ago I found a very useful map about British Schools Abroad and shared it on social media. I’m now glad to publish Luke Rees’ very insightful post about it here. *** Parents who are planning to move abroad face a number of initial challenges. To […]
Expat Since Birth – A Life spent "abroad" 