The term Third Culture Kid (TCK) or Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) is often used to describe the globally mobile adult who grew up feeling that home is everywhere and nowhere. The TCK may experience cycles of separation and loss, identity issues, unresolved grief and relationship issues that makes them feel they can’t seem to fit anywhere.
Our family decided to return home to the U.S. from when our daughter was coming into adolescence. We wanted to return because we understood that a child who grows up internationally through their teenage years develops an identity independent of their parent’s passport country. I also knew I would eventually settle in my home country of the USA. I wanted my daughter to develop an American identity.
I believe our family developed into global citizens and citizens of the world as a result of our experience. We are proud of these descriptions.
Expatriation and repatriation profoundly shape you. The experience transformed me into the person I have become. Since 1980, my professional work has focused on helping others successfully become global citizens. My work is with national cultures, not diversity, inclusion or equity. I’ve been learning, training, receiving education and practicing in the intercultural field for decades.
Living internationally, and repatriation requires special skills. I can coach you and your family to become culturally-competent sojourners. Research indicates that international work assignments primarily fail or terminate early due to family problems. Surprisingly, they fail because of adjustment issues, not because of job dissatisfaction. Feelings of isolation, health concerns, relationship problems, alcohol issues and children’s problems can be reasons for a failed assignment.
It can be said that returning home is more difficult than expatriation. I think that was true for our family. We had changed. When we returned home, we were not prepared to find that our home also had changed. Our friends, families and the environment all had changed. We were out of the loop. We were strangers in our own land. Our daughter spoke like an American but she didn’t understand the adolescent popular culture or even the currency. People we met said they wanted to hear all about our adventures, but we quickly realized that most people only wanted a 30 second description.
A global enterprise may have a diverse, multi-cultural workforce, a workplace without borders, global teams or an entirely virtual workplace. Organizations today prize a multi-cultural identity, a ‘third culture’ so to speak that is more than a group of diverse individuals.
My expertise is national cultures. My work isn’t diversity, equity, inclusion or language/ accent instruction. National cultures can be described as the set of norms, behaviors and customs within the population of a nation.
Selection: Choosing the right candidate. This is the most important step. Selecting a candidate because the employee knows the work, or the field doesn’t insure the employee and family will be successful. It needs to be the right person for the right job.
Preparation: Assessing the strengths and development areas of the employee and family using interviews, readiness tools, education and skill development.
Cultural Integration: Ongoing employee and family support, coaching, monitoring and intervention during the assignment. Coaching and skill development to build teams and to lead in the international workplace.
Repatriation Preparation and ongoing support to transition to the home culture to enjoy their new identity reintegrate into the workplace.
When things go wrong, I’m the one to call.
These are just a few examples of issues and crises that arise in a global assignment:
I have 40 years of training, education and experience as a workforce consultant and interventionist. I am here to serve as part of your team to prevent or intervene.
Since 1980 I have assisted major employers such as The CDC, higher education institutions and healthcare, Emory University, Emory Healthcare and corporations including Turner Broadcasting and Hitachi America to assess, select, prepare and develop candidates and family for global assignments to the United States and internationally.
