Comments on: Why Expatriating with Kids Is Not Just About Finding a Good School

By: Being true to your values and religion is sometimes being other than an American

Being true to your values and religion is sometimes being other than an American — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:52:43 +0000

Why not talk about the benefits of having connections to nonAmericans? Isn’t it nice to be able to feel connected to others if your nationality is unfavorable to your particular ethnicity? Does it matter if we are connected to Americans conforming to the American way or is it preferable to embrace other cultures that are more consistent with our personal values?

By: David

David — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:04:00 +0000

Dan, I can feel your pain. I really can. I was born in the USA to parents of two different foreign nationalities. They grew up in different countries, and both speak English with a foreign accent. Most of my life has been spent in the USA, where, up to a point, I considered myself American. I still do, but I’m gradually getting more and more disgusted with American culture. With the obesity, greed, lust, and gluttony in this country. It’s sickening. I also wrestle with thoughts of suicide daily. My “condition” has impaired my daily functioning and thought process. But seriously, I don’t think I’m messed up. I think everyone else is just blind. I can relate with other people up to a certain point. With most I can’t relate at all. I haven’t made any lasting friendships, any really deep, genuine, connections with any American so far.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:41:15 +0000

Don’t do this to your children. Raise them in a single environment, jumping around has severe consequences on their psyche. I should know, I’m an only child TCK, I grew up confused and depressed, it didn’t help that my mother is a BPD korean native and my father was never around, I think of suicide every day, I have no motivation to even go outside. I don’t fit in anywhere, and a I have a deep seeded, dark resentment of my parents for killing me inside. If you do this to your children then you deserve the hottest spot in hell.

By: Julie Mazziotta

Julie Mazziotta — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:18:41 +0000

Thanks for your interest!
Jeremie: Suffering from TCK side effects is good news remember? Social and linguistic skills, maturity… 🙂
Michele: It must be very interesting for you to see how your three kids are reacting. Do you see any evolution with age? Apparently young kids are living the experience like an expatriation: full of discoveries mixed with fears. Returning home seems a lot harder with teenagers.

By: Michele in Playa

Michele in Playa — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:57:56 +0000

Very interesting article. I am raising three expat children, only one of which, the eldest, is likely to return to the US. I notice the differences between my children and those that have been raised entirely in the states every time we make it back to visit Grandma. They are at first more outgoing and act just as they do here. After a few days, I see them withdrawing back to each others company as the other children just don’t “get” them. They also REFUSE to speak Spanish in public after a few days. Fortunately, we have no plans to return to the US but I can see how those who choose to return have issues with their childrens’ transition.

By: Jeremie

Jeremie — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:35:24 +0000

Very interesting article …I wonder why I feel like a TCK … I hope I don’t get suffer too much from the side effects 😉