"I have a person in my city that I can physically see, connect and hang out with. I am really delighted and hope that this will be the beginning of a lovely friendship." - Nioucha

Do you feel like a stranger in your passport country? No Tckid group or meetup in your area? Learn how Nioucha and Yu successfully met each other on tckid.com, and how you can do it too.

“Without [Tckid], which has become this lovely net for us all to caught in, we would have wandered the streets of Portland and missed each other!

Find a Tckid in your city in 10 minutes
Who would you like to meet? You can search based on age, interest, location and much more. Login to my.Tckid.com and use the “Advanced Search” to find members interested in making friends or networking in your city. There are new members joining every day, and we invite you to keep searching. (Can”t find someone in your location? Learn how to help raise awareness of Tckid in your region.)

Our First Meeting

“So, Yu and I agreed to meet in a lovely modern “European” style café in an area in the center of Portland called the Pearl District in the afternoon. Yu spotted me right away as I was getting ready to order my chai latte. We made warm our warm introductions, ordered our respective drinks and then sat down and talked…and talked…and talked. 2 hours and 45 min flew by so quickly as there was so much to exchange and parallels to draw.”

2. Break the ice: Introduce yourself
Yu wrote in her profile that she was interested in meeting new people in Portland, and Nioucha sent her a message to introduce herself and meet at a cafe. Sometimes you have to take first step to break the ice. You can start getting connected and meet people today.

"I travel... because I want to see the world through different eyes... and to meet TCKs around the world!" - Yu

“Yu is warm, very pretty, engaging, upbeat, easy-going, well-educated, well-rounded and a keen listener. While our stories and backgrounds are different, we are both transplants to this city, we are both struggling to find steady employment, we are both thinking about leaving and going elsewhere (but where to and when are the main issues), we both have an education/teaching background, we both feel a bit lost and ‘stuck between two or more worlds’, we both want to travel more, we both are fascinated by different cultures and languages and we both miss feeling connected to other internationals.

There were several moments when Yu was telling about her feelings or what she was experiencing that I felt “I know, I know what you mean. I have been there too!” That intrinsic sense of understanding the delicate and complex framework that makes us TCKs was such a lovely reprieve, a kind of “chicken soup for the soul”, from my more overall current feelings of frustration, isolation and at times profound loneliness. Now, not only do I have a little haven to connect with my TCK friends and companions online, but I also have a person in my city that I can physically see, connect and hang out with. I am really delighted and hope that this will be the beginning of a lovely friendship.”

What if I get no response and it doesn”t work out? And I still don”t know where I belong?

You may reach out to a few people and get no response or maybe you won”t connect with the right person right away. The reality is that you may have to meet more than one person before you find a connection that “fits”. Every friendship takes time to develop and requires persistence. However, taking the time to build a strong social network of friends in your city will reap many rewards. Learn more on TCK Academy.

Scott M writes:
“When I lived in Texas, I struggled to fit in, no matter how hard I tried… then I actually met a TCK here in the Tckid.com chatroom. We exchanged emails, and eventually got on Skype … and now we’re best friends. This community really changed my life, this is why I got involved to help.”

Want to meet Tckid today? Here”s how to get started:

1. Login to  http://my.tckid.com

2. Find a Tckid in your city
Who would you like to meet? Use the “Advanced Search” to find members interested in making friends or networking in your city. You can search based on age, interest, location and much more. There are new members joining every day, and we invite you to keep searching.

(Can”t find someone in your location? Learn how to help raise awareness of Tckid in your region.)

3. Join an interest group

Do you want to connect based on interests?  We have groups such as: Writers, Singles/dating, Parents, Office TCKs, Universities, Pre-teens, Missionary/Christian, Adult TCKs over 50+, and much more.

4. Read More Stories

Want to learn where you can read more stories and share yours?  Learn why over 21,000 members joined Tckid and read their stories.

More Questions? Check out our FAQ to get answers!

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Struggling refugee moms who rely on craft-making to feed their children

It’ll be so awesome to see the smiles on their faces when they see what Tckid has to say about moms.

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Are you wondering how you can help tckid.com but aren”t sure how to get started?

Here are some simple and effective way you can help support our mission: Helping Third Culture Kids connect by making a difference.

Tell Your Friends About Tckid.com
The easiest way to support Tckid is to sign up by email. It”s free and anyone can join. This will help identify the number of people aware of the Third Culture Kid community and help you raise awareness. You will also be able to join groups based on your interests, age, and location.

Action steps:
*Go to http://tckid.com and sign up. Encourage other TCKs and their parents to sign up too to raise awareness.
*Join an interest group on my.tckid.com. (E.g: We have groups based on age, location, or interest. You can join other local leaders and help raise awareness.)
*Create your own group! You can search for our members and invite them to join.

How can I spread the word?

Our members need you to reach others. Third Culture Kids, parents, educators, and their friends need you to raise awareness of tckid.com. Become a Tckid advocate by doing the following: Tell a friend about tckid.com. Educate your friends, family, and co-workers about the TCK experience.

Action Steps:
* Post the “What is a TCK?” link on your Facebook, website, or blog.

Where can I share my story?

Why do you want to help? Share your story here. (We encourage you to share your gratitude publicly because this is a community effort!) Over 212 people have pledged to support Tckid and 75 left their thank you notes and success stories.

Action steps:
*Leave a comment describing why you want to help Tckid.
*Express your gratitude by thanking the community.
*Ask others in your group to share their stories about why having a community and this work is important to them.

Take the Belonging Challenge: Help 1 person find a sense of belonging

Give a sense of belonging to 1 person. The Belonging Challenge is an experiment in compassionate social action. If you””””re a member, you can help someone in need right now in your community.

Action steps:
*Sign up to the Belonging Challenge and commit to help 1 person.
*If you””””re already a member, http://my.tckid.com and start by helping people who are seeking advice or companionship. We don””””t need to change the world, just help 1 person.

Get the TCK Academy – Book (7 Things Every TCK Should Know) (Currently Out of Stock)

Written by Ruth Van Reken, Brice Royer and Dr. Paulette Bethel. Highly sought TCK consultant, and author of Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds and Letters Never Sent.

1. How do I learn to recognize and develop fully the gifts I received from this TCK experience?

2. How can I make and maintain friendships with non-TCKs and TCKs?

3. How do I sort out who I am and where I belong when I can’t get past the feeling of belonging “everywhere and nowhere?”

4. How do I deal with the grief I still feel from long ago losses of country and friends?

5. How do I stop restlessness, and the cycles of separation and loss I continue to create for myself because I can’t seem to stay in one place more than 2-3 years?

6. How can I not forget and lose my past while moving towards the future?

7. How do I deal with the loneliness I sometimes feel, even when others are around?

Sponsor TCKid: TCK Academy membership

Become a TCK Academy member which sponsors TCKid. Invest in Your Education And We Will Give One Free Scholarship to Students. Now you can finally get all the advice you want from cross cultural experts discussing with real people like you… without having to deal with travel fees.

How does TCK Academy help people?

How can I volunteer?

Always wanted to volunteer but not quite sure where to start? This is your one-stop guide to get you on the right track. Get on the waiting list here: http://tckacademy.com/leaders

How can I send a donation?

We currently do not accept donations online, but if you wish to support our efforts, you can become a TCK Academy member which sponsors Tckid.com.  Become a paid TCK Academy Member:  http://tckid.com/contribute.html

Email: admin@tckid.com
To sponsor via check or, money order, please email admin@tckid.com

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People from across the world have joined TCKid UK to understand themselves a bit better and make a positive difference in people’s lives. Tell us why you’ve joined this community and how you have benefited from it.

It will help and encourage new members to reach out to their local groups.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK and THANK YOU NOTES BELOW:

1. How, specifically, did TCKid UK help you? (Did you make new friends?)
2. What would you say to a friend who was thinking of joining – but wasn’t sure?
3. If you feel it is warranted, feel free to leave a testimonial for volunteers or anyone involved by leaving a comment in the comment box below.

Thank you for your feedback!

“I don’t have many places that I feel I belong to. My house is not a home. I feel at home at TCKID. ” Aya N. Tokyo, Japan

“TCKid is a valuable resource to TCKs and those desiring to serve them. As an adult third culture kid working in Asia, serving over 2000 TCKs, I know that I want to see the work and resources of TCKid continue.

My father, David Pollock, who co-wrote the ground-breaking book Third Culture Kids with Ruth Van Reken, spent 26 years listening to, teaching, and caring for third culture kids everywhere. I feel strongly that he would fully support TCKid and the support and encouragement this site provides.

There are many more TCKs to reach. Let’s not allow the onslaught of a few to prevent the good of many!”
-Michael Pollock

“I am a mom of 4 TCKs – we have lived in Eastern Europe for 10 years, and have just recently returned to the states. TCKID information has been vitally important for the emotional health of my own children. I have shared countless times over the years with others who also have TCKs. This is an invaluable organization.
Lisa Runzo, Colorado Springs.

“I’m starting a fantastic obsession with this website. That’s what I’m doing right now. And I’ll keep doing it until I have to leave for work. – Nika

“This is so exciting… I’m reading some of the posts here and the stories are soo familiar..it’s great! I can’t believe that even after trawling the net for so long I didn’t find this place earlier!” – Kita

Useful Links:

TCKid Groups Flickr Pictures: Pictures from meetups from Singapore to Colorado. Send your pictures to manager@tckid.com

TCKid UK on Facebook

TCKids in the U.K on my.tckid.com -  Search for anyone based on interest, age, and location. (Private members only. Join here.)

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Questions? You will find your answers here.

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Watch the video to check what I do when I’m lonely. lol

I’m just kidding. What are you doing for V-day? Leave a comment
below to share with the community!

(P.S: Are you looking for a date? Add me on Facebook if you want to meet TCK singles of any age. Most of my friends are TCKs. Maybe I can introduce you to someone?)

Are you single and looking for a relationship? According to our surveys, 70% of our members prefer dating TCKs. If you’re a member, check out TCKid Singles to find a date. You can search for singles in your city (of all ages and interests) in 10 minutes. Are you new?

What are your plans for V-day? I want to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

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Hey guys.

I haven’t started my own topic in a while since I’ve been rather busy in school, and especially because I am currently writing my undergraduate thesis. My topic is about how climate change has been one of the reasons for the conflict in Darfur and how climate change is being securitized.

No I am not going to bore you all (if you do indeed get bored with it) about my thesis but ever since I started working on this topic, I have read and watched numerous documentaries about climate change. I now just want to spread the word.

In the past 20 or so years, not a single scientist around the world has come to the conclusion that human activity was not responsible for the acceleration of climate change today. Desertification, intense rainfall, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, soil erosion, etc. etc. have all increased and intensified since the dawn of the industrial age. Our current capitalist system has put a premium on growth and expansion, leaving aside concerns about the environment as, at best, minor concerns. Huge multinational companies, especially the petrol-related ones (I don’t think I have to enumerate which ones) are not helping at all.

Now, I am sure that some of you on this forum are children of people who work for these companies and I am sorry for having to give you the “inconvenient truth.”

I believe that it is our responsibility as the new generation of inhabitants of this Earth, those who have been exposed to the different cultures, places and environments of this wonderful planet, to take the lead on this. Heck, one of us (a certain US Presidential candidate – and I will betray my bias, hopefully will become President) might become one of the most influential persons today!!

I recommend that everyone who has yet to watch “An Inconvenient Truth” and “The 11th Hour” to go see it and keep those already wide-open eyes and ears open and listen to what they have to say. Also check out http://www.12simplethings.org/ to see what little things you can do to help in this fight against climate change.

In order for us to be able to enjoy and continue to enjoy what we have experienced in our travels, we need to keep our planet healthy =)

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Hey all. I’ve been quite absent from the forum for the past month or so and I apologize. I left France about a month ago and spent the whole month of July in Tokyo, Japan. I was there just visiting my parents and going around places.

I have now moved back to Manila, Philippines where I will continue to (shudders) study for about another year or so. I’m still trying to settle back into life in Manila after the less-hectic and less-stressful life in northern France (which I completely adored)

I do indeed miss my life there. Waking up in the morning, with my freshly-baked warm baguette and nutella with some orange juice. LOL. It sounds so stereotypical but I really really love it (qu’est-ce que ça me manque!!)

But don’t get me wrong, Manila is a lively and always upbeat city that practically never stops to take a breather! I’m sure once I have settled back into my life around here it’ll be quite fun as well.

Hope everyone’s well! =)

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I think I have just come to the realization that leaving is…well…hard, and that I don’t like it very much. I don’t think I have ever felt like this in over 10 years but it’s like all 10 years worth of emotions are flooding in.

I’ll explain the situation: I am currently still in France on exchange. It is the time when everyone (by everyone I mean all of my friends) are leaving…and that I am leaving. Some of my closest friends have already left and others are about to leave. I am leaving at the end of the month (I think). I have been dumped twice during the past year, the reason being: 1. That I am leaving at the end of the year and it’s no use to try and make the relationship work; or 2. She was leaving and it makes no sense to be in a relationship…

I have always tried to hide these feelings whenever I leave: I have always said to myself, it’s ok, it’s not the first time, “tu vas survivre.” As I was reading the TCK book (yes, I just found out about the entire TCK thing and I am still reading it). I have been hiding behind this veil of “being used to it” and I have never allowed myself to wallow too much in these feelings. This is the first time that I am writing this down. I might be just “ranting” here but I didn’t know where else to go (it’s about 5 am where my parents are so it’s kinda hard to talk to them).

I donno if this has anything to do with me just having turned 21 and realizing that I am now getting older, coupled with the fact that everyone is leaving, or if this is just the time tha my emotions started popping out in succession!!! I have just found out about the whole TCK idea (I didn’t know we had a name until about a month ago) and I am just now expressing my ideas in a much clearer way!!

=( I am just feeling down again…and I hate feeling down. I am usually such a happy person but now I am asking myself if that was just a “mask” that I wore to hide my feelings…

Hope you guys don’t judge me too much or whatever….

Oh, I just realized I didn’t need to write that. I’m sure you guys understand.

Thank God for this forum!!

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Hi. I have a question regarding relationships.

I am currently feeling very very annoyed and particularly jealous of some of my non-TCK friends. They have had relationships for like 2 years with the same person, something which I have yet to experience.

I have spent some time feeling down and contemplating this “problem” if I can call it that way. I feel like this is due, in part, to my TCK experience. According to what my “ex-s” (if I can call em that), I tend to be clingy whenever I meet someone that I like and I start having a relationship with (they say I send too many SMSs and IM messages, asking them how they are, what are you doing, etc.)

From my contemplation period, I have come to the conclusion that since I have yet to have a long-term relationship, and that relationships are hard to come by for me, especially since I (or the ones I meet) tend to leave after a certain period of time, whenever I meet someone I really like, I want to stick to them like glue. And this seems to “repel” potential partners…
I have really loved my life so far, being a diplomat brat and all, don’t get me wrong. But I really want this part of me to change.

I would just like to have your two cents on this topic. Thanks =)

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Hey all. I’ve joined this site quite some time ago but I’ve only decided to post now. My name’s André, diplomat brat originally from the Philippines, lived in India, Germany, France and the Philippines. I’ve spent most of my time in French schools but I decided to go to the Philippines for college but I am currently in France =)

Hope everyone’s doing well =)

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