This book is written by Canadian author Robin Pascoe, whose children grew up as Third Culture Kids (TCKs) as the family moved with the father's work to several locations around the world. Pascoe has given numerous presentations to expat families in many international schools around the world. The book gives a good overview of the challenges expatriates may face. It outlines various things to consider and research before a move, and some ideas and tips on dealing with some of the issues that may arise as a result of this nomadic lifestyle, including important child rearing issues unique to this lifestyle or exaggerated by it.
Pascoe does not go into any particular topic very deeply but rather touches on challenges faced by the modern nomadic family. Think more magazine article style - making a list of points important to the topic and discussing them briefly while giving some useful pointers. It's like a series of these articles covering many relevant matters of an expat life.
The target audience is clearly families that generally move to a new country every few years. The book is also mainly written from the perspective of a North American moving to other parts of the world. Many aspects of Pascoe's experience as a Canadian living abroad are relevant to all global nomads but readers originally from other parts of the world may not relate to many of her examples or repatriation experiences.
Repatriation, also takes on a whole new meaning if parents are TCKs and were already global nomads as children themselves. This makes the experience go beyond simply returning home and adjusting the children there because home is already a vague destination.
What resonated most with me personally, was the contribution from Barbara Schaetti entitled "A Most Excellent Journey." This is the final section of the book and covers an important topic - identity search for Third Culture Kids. In this section, Schaetti showed the stages of identity development for global nomads and gave a discussion on how parents can offer some support and guidance on this matter.
Suggestions like familiarizing our children with the terms "Third Culture Kids" and "Global Nomads" so they have a starting point for research when they embark on identity exploration are very helpful. Also, the point that struggling with identity is a stage all adolescents go through but that it might be delayed and compounded for TCKs is an important one to consider. Ideally parents want to help their children (and if they are TCKs like me, themselves) to figure out who they are and realize they are in a unique situation compared to what she terms "homegrown" peers.
Resolution can be beneficial if they become what she calls 'constructively marginal global nomads' and she says: "While they may not feel at home anywhere, constructively marginal global nomads feel somewhat at home everywhere..." This rings true for someone like me, struggling myself to find 'home' and therefore not having a clue where to start to help my children.
I found some of Pascoe's tips very useful and below are my favorite ones from this book:
1. The creation of family traditions as an important grounding point for global nomads- I've discussed this more in depth here.
2. The idea of creating a 'clean team.' When Pascoe returned to Canada and house help was not available for her family like it was in Asia and other overseas postings, she planned that once a week, as a family, they would clean the house together.
This has been a great addition to our lives! It's a relief for me ,and a team building activity for the family (regardless of the complaints I received from the boys - husband included).
3. The importance of repatriation and intentionally preparing for it, even while still living internationally. I hadn't given this idea too much thought but it is very very sound advice.
4. Teaching children responsibility and accountability - expat or not this is important, but it does tend to be essential in a life where material things come more easily and the stresses of moving and readjusting may cause some parents to overlook these crucial elements of raising wonderful people.
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