Third culture kids are identified by a childhood spent largely in a culture other than that of their parents. Some call themselves ‘military brats’, or they might be a ‘diplomatic kid’, or a ‘business kid’.
While this lifestyle can bring benefits like learning foreign languages and experiencing different ways of life, it can also adversely affect the health and wellbeing of TCKs, as they struggle with their sense of belonging in the world.
Life Matters hears from long time TCK researcher Ruth Van Reken, and also meets two young Third Culture Kids who have established a community for others to meet and share their stories.
Brice Royer, a half French/Vietnamese and Ethiopian Third Culture Kid who grew up in 7 countries before the age of 18, shares his challenge of “not fitting in” has caused several years of chronic pain, which baffled doctors. He was cured by discovering the emotional stress of lacking a sense of belonging has caused this illness.