Third Culture Kids

[karen]

I was introduced to this term today and have found it fairly interesting. I've been reading articles about it and thought I'd share. I don't think my child is a full TCK, but there could be a bit of it in him. He is very much American, but his culture is Finnish. I'm sure there are plenty of members here who have or are TCKs.

From Wikipedia

Third Culture Kids (abbreviated TCKs or 3CKs or Global Nomad) "refers to someone who [as a child] has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture"

Links:

Wikipedia's definition of Third Culture Kids
US State Gov's Third Culture Kids site
A TCK blog with some links

Thoughts? Comments? Attacks?

[raamv]

I can definitely relate to this term raising ma kid!!

[fabi77]

Interesting subject. My son could then be considered a third culture kid. I am Mexican, my DH is from the Netherlands and we are both living and working here in Finland. Our little son is Mexican and Dutch but he was born here.

We probably will stay in Finland for a while, still not sure.. we think it can be difficult for him, specially with so many languages involve, never mind all the cultures

[Hank W.]

Well, depending on the schooling... if you stay here beyond that "magic age" the kid will "become a Finn"... I know a few dutch here, but all the mexicans go jejejejejejeje after a few years como es la vida?

[sinikala]

Had never heard the term before I read this thread... but I was one.

Spent 7 years abroad age 4-11 so some of the "formative years" due to my old man's job. After their period abroad was up, I was able to blend in pretty seamlessly back home, but didn't really feel like I fitted in with many of my peers, as with the exception of one or two of them, I'd seen a lot more of the world.

Having been through it myself, I would not inflict that upbringing on a child, I said as much in a thread last year when some couple from Scotland were planning to move to Oulu? Did we ever get an update on that? Or come to think of it our friend Evel Kneivil?

I'd say being a TCK taught me to be adaptable, but it also set a pattern for my adult life that I get bored with a place after a couple of years, and my God, am I ever bored with this one

[Hank W.]

Was it... Jen.. studying in Oulu with the hubby from Hungary with a flake degree from Denmark teaching in UK? But Jen got in and hubby found work and... silence? Nothing in 65% either? So I take it as the Finnish "no complaints = doing ok" ... well... maybe?

[sinikala]

Was it... Jen.. studying in Oulu with the hubby from Hungary with a flake degree from Denmark teaching in UK? But Jen got in and hubby found work and... silence? Nothing in 65% either?

That is the one I was thinking of.

So I take it as the Finnish "no complaints = doing ok

Search party found no trace, concluded that the Polar bears got them. No flowers.

[fabi77]

Interesting books Cory. I will try to get them.

To be honest I have not really thought that much about this topic, mainly on what is going to be like for my son to grow up in Finland, because we do not know how he is going to take this situation (Finnish, Mexican and Dutch cultures), we can just speculate at this point. Maybe he will just assimilate Finland as his home country if we stay long enough here which is fine by us.

At the moment, we do a lot of traveling per year, more often to the Netherlands than to Mexico, to visit relatives, we also have plenty of friends (locals, and mixed couples) whose kids speak Spanish for example. In general we think Finland is a nice place to raise a kid, there are some other variables that I think are more difficult for us that will be for our son, such the language and the climate

[SGaudreau]

Interesting topic.

I never really thought about it, but I guess I was one too. Born in Portugual - Mom is Portuguese, Dad is French - moved to the States when I was 7. Even though we would be "shipped" back to grandma in Lisbon for 3 months in the summer (mom didn't want us to lose our "homeland" connection) and I visit my relatives almost EVERY year, I still feel somewhat out of place in Portugal despite speaking Portuguese and "getting" the culture.

I suppose growing up I always felt more "at home" in the States. Now this could be due to the fact that my grandma was a grumpy old biddy who had a chip on her shoulder the size of a small continent, or it could be due to the fact that most of my friends were in Boston - or also that my mom insisted we assimilate to our new country.. To my mother's credit, she did maintain very many portuguese traditions and I am thankful for that....

At this point I find it interesting that after living here for 4 1/2 years, I now feel a bit out of place when I visit Boston as well. I find myself longing (after about a week) for my own home which now Helsinki. Damn you Finns for assimilating me!!