"Our homes are not defined by geography or one particular location, but by memories, events, people and places that span the globe."
鈥 Marilyn Gardner, Author 鈥Between Worlds鈥
What is a Third Culture Individual (TCI)?
"鈥 an individual who, having spent a significant part of the development years in a culture other than the parents鈥 culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures while not having a full ownership in any."
- David Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken, Authors 鈥Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds鈥
In the American context, third culture individuals (TCIs, also called 鈥渢hird culture kids鈥) are people who have spent a long period of time living abroad, often being raised in a culture other than their parents' or the culture of their country of nationality, There are many different type of and names for TCIs, such as:
- 鈥淏iz kids鈥 whose parents worked with international business
- 鈥淢ilitary/Army brats鈥 whose parents served in the military abroad
- 鈥淢Ks鈥 or 鈥淢issionary kids,鈥 kids of missionary parents
- 鈥淒iplomatic kids鈥 whose parents served in the foreign service
- Others, such as: 鈥淕lobal nomads鈥 and 鈥淭ransient people鈥
What are some characteristics of third culture individuals?
Third culture individuals are extremely diverse. TCIs are able to experience an array of benefits from having had the opportunity to begin traveling at a young age. However, one question TCIs often find difficult answering is 鈥淲here are you from?鈥 with multiple variables including their parents鈥 origin, where they were born, the places they have lived, where their relatives live, their parents鈥 current location, and possibly additional factors playing a role in where they feel most at home. TCIs hold distinct relationships with many cultures, and more often than not they feel more connected to the host culture than to their parents鈥 culture.
Because TCIs travel regularly, many of them have problems developing intimate relationships; instead they tend to create an emotional distance from others to lessen the pain that may come with future separation. Often TCIs find a sense of belonging in relationships rather than geographical location, and relate best to others like themselves. In the end, TCIs get a feeling of belonging from being around people who had similar experiences, such as other TCIs, international students, immigrants, "outsiders," as well as cross-cultural individuals.
How do we support third culture individuals at Puget Sound?
Here at Puget Sound we encourage TCIs to enroll as we find them to be a huge asset not only to our community but to our student body as well. We also invite TCIs to participate in events on campus through clubs, such as SOIC (Students of International Community), as well as events and day trips hosted by OIP every semester.
Because of their unique ability to understand converging cultural contexts and making friends in multicultural environments, we encourage TCIs to apply for our Campus Ambassador Program as part of a greater support network for other international students (foreign nationals) on campus.