TCK

Third Culture Kids - that's what TCK stands for. Today we had a whole morning on the definition of a TCK as well as the benefits and challenges of being a TCK. Just so you know, a TCK is a person who has spent a significant part of their developmental years in a country other than that of their parent's passport country. They do not have ownership in either culture but have their sense of belonging in the relationships they have established in these cultures.

Tonight we had a panel of TCKs and had the opportunity to ask them questions. It was very interesting to hear briefly the life stories of some of these people - born in Germany, grew up in Taiwan, received post-secondary education in USA. Or the East Indian born in South Africa, educated at a boarding school in North India and college in Indiana. Or the American who moved to Ecuador when he was two, came back when he was seventeen and now at 32, is moving to China. These people and the others on the panel all said emphatically that they loved being TCKs and growing up cross culturally. They all said that they wouldn't change a thing about how or where they grew up and that those of us taking kids overseas shouldn't feel bad.

That alone was comforting to me because there are days I think we are ruining our children's lives or at least, not providing them with the best opportunities that a first world country can afford them. These thoughts don't last long, especially when I look around and see the materialism of our culture and the shallow spirituality that exists here because of our abundance. I want my kids (and myself, too) to live with less in order to have more of God. I believe that can better be accomplished somewhere else other than here, for the time being anyway.

We also had great conversations with so many others who are heading overseas with their families. It's so comforting and affirming to hear of others who have sold houses and possessions, quit jobs, made huge changes in their lives to answer the call to go. Occasionally we have had people look at us like we were crazy when we have told them what we are doing. But nobody here has that look - everybody has a great sense of anticipation and excitement for each other. And even with 100 of us, we are beginning to know who's going where when!

It was definitely another profitable day and I'm excited about tomorrow.

Thanks for listening!