TCK into Global Nomad - Introducing Heather

Posted by Heather on November 21st, 2007 | Categorized as General Forum, Introduction | 245 views and 6 Comments

Hello everyone,

I’m Heather and I’m an adult TCK! My TCK experience began when I was 16. I moved from the US to Kuwait, where I attended the American School of Kuwait.

But my story is a little more complicated than that. Before we moved to Kuwait, we had already moved all over the US - New Mexico, Colorado, briefly to an oil field camp in Alaska and 4 places in Texas. By the time I moved to Kuwait, I already had no idea “who” I was supposed to be. Was I a Texan? Was I New Mexican? My parents weren’t from any of those places and we never had family close by. When people asked where I was from, I couldn’t answer. I wasn’t “from” anywhere. I attended three elementary schools in one year. Yes, I was American, but regional or state identity is often very important, and I just didn’t have one. Moving to Kuwait was a welcome relief, because finally it was apparent that I didn’t belong. Does that make sense? I was instantly more comfortable because I didn’t belong. (I guess living in different places in the US, everyone looked at me and assumed I was from there, yet I never was. In Kuwait, it was obvious I was not Kuwaiti, so I was free to be whatever I wanted to be.)

What I found out was that although I was not a Kuwaiti, nor was I a seasoned TCK, I was surrounded by people who still understood me. My fellow classmates had come from all over the world and even though we were all different, we fit in with each other.

Leaving Kuwait to return to the US brought more conflict. University was a disaster. I couldn’t attend the big multi-cultural school I had planned to because of some personal issues. I ended up at a small town community college instead. How can you relate to kids who have never left their town? It wasn’t until I finally made it into a study abroad program to Costa Rica that I realized what I needed to do. I had to return to international life. I haven’t stopped traveling since. As an adult “global nomad,” I have lived in Costa Rica, Spain, Canada and China, where I currently live.

I fully expect to keep moving every two or three years, as I have married a pilot who shares my passion for the expat life.

While I know some TCKs prefer to put down roots, the rootless life is the way for me. I’ve been reading about TCKs for a long time now and I am really glad to see more and more resources available on the Internet.

My TCK experience was attending high school in Kuwait, but before that my family moved on a regular basis all over the US. I've continued the restless behavior, living in Costa Rica, Spain, Canada and now, China. I teach English here but I am also studying for my Masters in Library Science.