Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds

Nearly a decade ago, Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds introduced the concept of and has been the authority on the experiences of TCKs-children who grow up or spend a significant part of their childhood living abroad. Early on, TCKs were identified as the rototype citizen of the future. That future is now, as more and more children are growing up among worlds, creating a culturally rich and diverse world. Rich with real-life anecdotes, Third Culture Kids, Revised Edition examines the nature of the TCK experience and its effect on maturing, developing a sense of identity and adjusting to one's passport country upon return. For many third culture kids, this book will be their first opportunity to discover that they share a common heritage with countless others around the world. This expanded edition profiles the personal challenges that TCKs experience, from feelings of rootlessness and unresolved grief to struggles with maturity and identity. Highlighting dramatic changes brought about by instant communication and new mobility patterns, the new edition shows how the TCK experience is becoming increasingly common and valuable. The authors also expand the coverage to include cross-cultural kids, children of biracial or bicultural parents, immigrants and international adoptees-all of this bringing hidden diversity to our world and challengingour old notions of identity and home.

Ten years ago, the first edition of this book introduced the concept of third culture kids (TCKs), children who grow up or spend a significant part of their childhood living abroad. This expanded edition highlights the changes brought about by instant communication and new mobility patterns, as well as higher levels of security and new patterns of overseas assignments for parents. The authors also expand the book to include cross-cultural kids, children of biracial or bicultural parents, immigrants, and international adoptees. The book includes real-life anecdotes of TCKs and writings by adult TCKs, profiling the personal challenges that TCKs experience, such as feelings of rootlessness, unresolved grief, and struggles with identity. The goal of the book is to help TCKs and adult TCKs, their families, and all who work with them understand how they can maximize the benefits of the TCK experience and deal with the challenges. Van Reken is an adult TCK and a parent and grandparent of TCKs. Pollock worked with TCKs, families, and adult TCKs for more than twenty years. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Nearly a decade ago, "Third Culture Kids" introduced the concept of TCKs--children who grow up or spend a significant part of their childhood living abroad. This updated edition profiles the personal challenges these children--now adults--often experience.