Here are a list of the Top 10 Third Culture Kid glossary terms to guide you through some of the basic words and concepts.

1) Third culture kid (TCK) – Dr. David Pollock, a sociologist and co-author of Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds, defines a TCK as “a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership of any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of a similar background.” This has traditionally included those who have grown up in more than one country.

Other terms for TCK include: global nomad; trans-culture kid; expat brat

Types of TCKs include:

a) Army/Military brats – A TCK with at least one parent working in his/her passport country’s military and who has moved lived in military bases.

b) Missionary Kids – A TCK with at least one parent working as a missionary for a religious institution and who has moved as part of missionary work.

c) Diplobrats – A TCK with at least one parent working in a diplomatic capacity, such as part of a government organization or embassy, and who has moved as part of diplomatic work.

d) Business brats – A TCK with at least one parent working in a multinational organization and who has moved as part of a business assignment.

2) Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) – A TCK who is of adult age. An ATCK experiences adulthood with his/her TCK perspective.

3) Cross Cultural Kid (CCK) – Like TCKs, a CCK is a person who has spent a significant part of his/her developmental years outside of the parents’ cultures. CCKs include persons who have grown up in one country but within multiple cultural settings.

4) Unresolved grief – An emotional state felt as a reaction to loss of ties to a place or places where a TCK once lived. This feeling is exacerbated when the feelings of loss are not acknowledged or when there are no efforts toward reconnection, such as through communication or visits.

5) Itchy feet – The feeling characterized by restlessness and a desire to change locations. Many TCKs have expressed feeling this way after they have settled in one place.

6) Culture shock – An emotional state felt when reacting and adjusting to a new cultural setting. A person who moves to a new city or country may feel this after he or she first arrives.

7) Reverse culture shock – An emotional state felt when adjusting to a previously experienced cultural setting, which is often a person’s “home” culture.

Expatriate (also, Expat) – A person who resides in a place outside his/her usual place of residence or legal residence. A family who is sent on assignment away from its passport country are considered expatriates.

9) Repatriate – A person who returns to his/her usual place of residence or legal residence. A family who returns to its passport country after a foreign assignment are considered repatriates.

10) Global citizen – This is a term used by many TCKs who do not feel any affinity to any particular country or cultural setting, particularly in response to the question, “Where are you from?” Instead of using the citizenship listed in one’s passport, a TCK may just say that they are a global citizen.

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 and find a sense of belonging.

How can I spread the word?

Tell a friend about tckid.com. Educate your friends, family, and co-workers about the TCK experience.

Where do I express my gratitude? Write a “Thank you” comment to our community.

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

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Get the TCK Academy – eBook (7 Things Every TCK Should Know)

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?

Become a partner. If the information on this site helps you and you’d like to make a donation to tckid.com, please use one of the options below.

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To send a donation via check, money order, or cash, please use the following mailing address:

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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.

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.

I present to you, Interaction International’s first YouTube production…

Come on over, and give it a watch!!

All I can summarize is that it feels so secure and

happy to be in the cosmopolitan city

because it reminded me of the every places I lived

and visited

I felt that I have found myself and that it’s time to let go

of all the grudges and pain that I have experienced in

my life

The few drawbacks are dirty bathrooms and dirty and hot

subways (It made me miss subways in Asia, but I was

so happy to use public transportation)

I also got offended by the question of

“Do you speak English?”, when thinking about my

friends and the fact that I was already fluent in

English even before the moment I stepped into

the United States…

I guess minorities have still long way to go to

be accepted as an Americans -_-

My Mom teased me that I was ‘Californian country chicken’,

and I argued back that I am still a Seoul person

(Ok, I do admit that I got somehow used to

the suburb, but I’m still a city girl)

Fortunately, my Mom likes NYC so much that

she’s planning to return there to visit again next

year with me to see my brother in Canada

(He will go back to Canada this fall to finish his studies)

Overall, NYC people, especially the people who

were in hospitality industry, were very patient, nice,

and friendly

One time, my cellphone rang at the Metropolitan Museum

and the worker standing next to me danced

to the ringtone…HAHA

My favorite places that I visited were Ellis Island

and UN (Go UN!)

I took “Third Culture Kids” book with me and

read everything in this book…

I love reading, so I read tons of books since I was

a little kid, but this book was the book that made me

cry for the first time in my life

I’m going to post the review about this book next time

NYC and ‘Third Culture Kids’ book, thankyou so much!

I will miss you a lot, NYC!

Right now I live in my passport country in an area where there are a lot of very conservative people who are very nationalistic and patriotic. I don’t open my mouth much when they talk about national politics because I have a very different opinion…And in this area, people who support the government are very strong and state their opinions very passionately – so I just don’t say much. But inside I feel very uncomfortable. So, the result is that I don’t get very close to these people – at least this part of me I don’t share.

I know some countries you can have dual citizenship, but with the country I grew up in and my passport country, you can’t. And I have lived in my passport country for many years now, but my feelings about my two countries and cultures have really not changed very much over the years.

What experiences have you guys had with this sort of thing?

I hate it. Anytime my boyfriend goes out with his friends, it makes me realise how I have no one but him. I can’t relate to anyone and I feel like I have nothing in common with anyone. I can’t take it anymore. And since I have no one to go to, this is my only way of releasing it; typing it on a computer screen alone in my room in tears. Hooray.

I was born under Korean parents in Seoul. Schooled and lived there until 13 and then I went to Illinois, USA. My parents were still in Korea (they visited me frequently though). I was the so-called “international students” and my parents sent me to a boarding school for my education and such.

Then I went on to Michigan for my high school. In this town, less than 3% of the population was Asian (wait I think they were under “the others”). It was the typical white-preppy school you can see from gossip girl. Just move the setting to the Michigan and that’s it. I went on to my college in Indiana – actually very northern corner of Indiana bordering with Michigan. Again, less than 3% Asian or “the others” category. Fun. By then I was so used to me standing out as the only dark-haired and squinty-eye person in group picture. My freshmen year in college was so difficult – spending 5 years in boarding school already, living in a college dorm was not a new thing to me, unlike fellow freshmen. I was too “midwestern American” to Asian – especially Korean – international students, and I could not connect myself to all that freshmen fever and joy. So unlike most American college students, I applied for a study abroad program in Japan for 1 year as a sophomore. I wanted to give myself a change/break from everything I am so used to.

And that was a good choice. I am still very fond of all my memories of living in Tokyo. Then again, I was connected yet not connected to all. Most of my friends in Tokyo were either American or Japanese. American friends treated like me like…American (duh) and Japanese friends treated me like Americans. I tried some Korean clubs but there wasn’t much to share. Pretty sure I was the only “Korean” student who was living with Japanese family for one whole year (I still heart them). To be honest, having a vague ID was convenient in some sense. I could use I-am-East-Asian card and I-am-American card simultaneously. In addition the school was sooooo easy. I still remember how I was shocked to see my reflection on subway window – for the first time I was not standing out.

As my college graduation comes closer, I frantically searched for job like everyone. I had an interview with a big Korean firm and the experience was just mindblowing – it was nothing like I expected nor heard from my school’s career center. None of them got my jokes and their attitudes were “alright, show me what you got, we’ll hire you if we like you and we won’t if we don’t. Be thankful that we chose you as one of the interview candidates.” That experience really turned me off from applying big Korean firms. I almost got hired by a mid-sized American firm but at the last minute they cancelled everything, because since 911 US immigration was becomming harsh and costly. And I have South Korean passport.

So I had no choice but to go to South Korea. Worked at a pretty nice company, with supposdely open and young culture but it turned out my team did not belong to that open and young culture. So I quit. 3 months of doing nothing, got another job at a nice local university’s executive education center. Now I am working in an office full of old Korean professors and coworkers, many of them born and grew up in Korea (except their degree, if they are professor). Many of people I interact are typical Korean white-collar workers of 30-40. At the same time I am managing a program with European students.

Daily surprises, daily culture shocks (by both Koreans and Europeans). It has been 11 months since I start working here and every day I am doing my best to survive And that is why I am so glad that I got to know this group.