TCK Part 1 Chapter Notes
Chapter 1: Where is Home? Key Points of Erika’s Story
To Erika’s parents, home was where they were born and raised.
The united States. To Erika, home was at first in Singapore,
then, she realized it was nowhere. TCK are raised in a
“neither/nor” world. They do not fit totally in any world. After
returning to Singapore, Erika realized she did not belong there
either.
Chapter 2: Define TCKs
Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant
part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’
culture
Third Culture refers to a way of life that is neither like the lives
of those living back in the home culture nor like the lives of
those in the local community. But a lifestyle with many
common experiences shared by others living in a similar way.
TCK experience being raised in a genuinely cross culture world.
This means they are not observing or studying the culture but
live daily in different cultures. They also share the experience
of being raised in a highly mobile world. This means the people
in their lives frequently change and the backdrop of physical
surroundings may often fluctuate as well.
Expected Repatriation-expected to returned to the parents home
culture.
Distinct Differences- Clear foreigner by looks, language or both
Privileged Lifestyle-perks offered by companies and
organizations -- military is the commissary, PX or military
benefits. Could also be company housing that is higher
standard then what they would have had in the parents’ home
culture or the culture they live in.
System Identity-Identify with the system that placed you in the
foreign culture-- military, missionary…
** Updated definition***
A traditional third culture kid is a person who spends a
significant part of their first eighteen years of life accompanying
parents into a country that is different from at least one parent's
passport country due to a parents choice of work or advanced
training.
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Chapter 3: Who are CCKs
A cross-cultural kid ( CCK) is a person who is living /has lived
in -or meaningfully interacted with - two or more cultural
environments for a significant period of time during the first
eighteen years of life.
Ch. 1: How might you apply information in chapter one
personally and professionally?
Personally, The story resonated with my past. I am half black
and half Japanese. I will never be wholly one or the other. I
carry with me traditions and customs of both cultures. I will
always be looking into one culture while having my foot in
another.
Professionally, being a TCK gives me a personal perspective on
understanding the complexity of living in dual cultures and
feeling a sense of loss of the old and apprehensions of the future
and new world.
Ch. 2: TCK Characteristics –Apply Personally/Professionally
Personal- I was born and raised in Okinawa Japan for the 14
years of my life. I went to a private Catholic school where my
family was the only black and Japanese students who spoke
English and Japanese fluently. English was spoken during
instruction and when I spoke with my father. I was distinctly
different than the majority of the students. When I walked
around, people started and wanted to know why I spoke
Japanese so fluently. When I was on based, people stare
because I looked different I understand how it feels to belong
and not belong.
Professionally- I understand that just because someone has an
accent, or do not speak the main language, this does not
diminish their intelligence or their ability to understand. .
Chapter 3: Compare/contrast TCKs and CCKs
CCK - encompasses the TCK children. CCKs can be from
bi/multicultural parents. CCK do not have to have lived in a
different country. It is not dependent on the question of where
CCKs grow up. The CCK and The TCK interact with more
than one culture in ways that have meaningful or relational
involvement.
Chapter 4: Explain pros of Cross Cultural Childhood
High mobility means great opportunity to travel, independence,
losts of friends, many options, language acquisition,
adaptability sense of confidence
Chapter 5: Explain High Mobility
Some move to a different country every two or three years with
parents who are in the military or diplomatic corps. If not then
it is the mobility of their friends and family that come and go.
Apply TCK Part 1 Personally/Professionally
Chapter 6
The ability to effective straddle cutture. The exposure to
different cultures and ideas give the benefit of being able to
understand abstract concepts better and to look at the “Big
picture” At times you can feel as though you belong anywhere
that you are in the present. The ability to find common ground
to be able to relate to those around you.
Chapter 4: Explain cons of Cross-Cultural Childhood
The grief cycle-denial, anger, sadness, bargaining, and
acceptance.
Hidden losses,-loss of their world, loss of status, lass of
lifestyle, possession, relationships, role models, system identity,
past that wasn’t, that was
Ch. 5: Effects of High Mobility
Chronic cycles of separation and loss far more often than the
population at large.
Apply TCK Part 1 Personally/Professionally
chapter 6
For some TCK, there is a feeling of constant chaos on who you
are and where you belong. It is the feeling of not knowing
what is the norm and how should I proceed? Constantly feeling
off balanced when you have not adjusted to the norms of the
society you currently live in.
It is hard for others to “know you”. Page 130-Because my
thinking, value system, way of being, and how I present myself
is a complex web of where I’ve been. Ideas to which I’ve been
exposed, and the myriad cast of characters with whom I spent
time.Although true for everyone, the levels and layers of
mobility experienced by TCK makes this a more complex and
sometimes difficult for people around them to accurately assess
them. This can lead to a sense of disconnect for the TCK.