Third Culture Kids

What's a third culture kid? I'd never heard the term untilfeature story recently about young people from a
I began teaching in Hong Kong international school. Adozen different countries that have come to live in
third culture kid is a young person who has spentHong Kong because of their parents' job relocation.
some part of their childhood living in a culture otherHong Kong issues 80,000 new work visas to
than that of their parent's home culture. They don'tforeigners each year. If even half of those people bring
have full ownership in either culture so they create aat least one child along when they move to Hong
kind of unique or 'third' culture which is a combination ofKong you can imagine how quickly the population of
their home culture and the cultures of the otherthird culture kids is growing here.
countries in which they have lived.Psychologists fascinated with these young global
Third culture kids can be the children of militarycitizens are establishing a growing body of research
personnel, refugees, diplomats, business people,about them. They've discovered advantages and
missionaries or professionals who accept jobsdisadvantages to being a third culture kid.
overseas.Sometimes they feel rootless. They wonder where
I was vividly reminded that my students are thirdthey really belong. Some find it hard to establish long
culture kids after a class party at an ice rink located interm relationships because they have moved so
a huge shopping mall near our school. Twenty of myfrequently. On the other hand many tend to be much
students showed up. After we'd finished skating wemore outgoing and sociable and can easily get to
went to a restaurant for refreshments. When it wasknow new people. Most speak more than one
time to leave the kids whipped out their mobile phoneslanguage and tend to have a much wider variety of
to call home so their parents could come and pickfriends. They are more flexible and ready for change.
them up. I listened while the children all around meThey have a broader world view and are less inclined
chatted with their parents in Cantonese, Japanese,to be prejudiced towards those of other nationalities,
Thai, Korean, Mandarin, English, Italian, Tagalog, Malayraces and religions.
and Taiwanese. At school the children always speakIn a time when international travel is easy and
English. Hearing them talk to their mothers and fathersglobalization means businesses are sending their
in their native tongue reminded me of how culturallyemployees to live all over the world, the population of
diverse a group they really were. Nobody at the tablesthird culture kids is bound to continue to rise. If the
around us seemed the least bit surprised to hear allwonderful students I have the privilege to work with
those children speaking in different languages. Hongare typical of third culture kids than I have no doubt
Kong is full of third culture kids. A local magazine ran athat our world will be a better place because of them.