My 10 advantages of growing up in another culture.

Photo from Morguefile by Hotblack

This week I read a post written by Expat with kids. The post is about The 4 attributes of third culture kids. These attributes can make third culture kids global citizens of this world. The post is my inspiration for this week. Thanks.

So here are my 10 advantages of growing up abroad, of being a third culture kid.


If you are a third culture kid, you have probably developed:

1. Cross-cultural skills, I enjoy meeting people from other cultures.
2. Observational skills
3. Social skills, being good at making friends "quick".
4. Linguistic skills, you speak more than one language.
5. Adaptability, like a chameleon. Don't adapt too much. Read my blog on "Third Culture kids learning to be themselves."
6. A broad world view, thinking "outside of the box"
7. The capability of mentoring others because life experiences have been so varied.
8. The skill of being less judgemental.
9. The ability to being independent and autonomous.
10. More maturity than others of your age.

You know why we have developed the observational skills? When we were put in a new situation we had to "check out" the new situation. We had to quickly analyze what was going on around us. What should I say? How should I do things. I kept my ears and eyes open to see what was happening around me. I do think you are in a state of alertness when entering into a new situation, a new school, a new culture. I know what it is like to feel the "odd one out", because I have been the "odd one out" many times. I still quickly sense that somebody feels uneasy in a social situation. This has to do with my own experience.

If you want to read more on this topic I would really encourage you to read the book: "Third Culture Kids, The Experience of Growing up Among Worlds" by David Pollock and Ruth van Reken.

Do you want to read more about the advantages and disadvantages of being a TCK in this document.
Here you can read my Dutch post De 10 voordelen van het opgroeien in het buitenland.
Deze hoort er natuurlijk ook bij: De 10 nadelen van het opgroeien in het buitenland.

Read: My 10 disadvantages of growing up in another culture too.

Are you a third culture kid and would you like to add something to this list? What do you think of these advantages? Parents of third culture kids what are your thoughts on this topic?

10 voordelen van het opgroeien in het buitenland!

De volgende eigenschappen heb je (waarschijnlijk) ontwikkeld:

1. Cross culturele vaardigheden
2. Sociale vaardigheden
3. Taalkundige vaardigheden
4. Goed kunnen observeren
5. Het makkelijk kunnen aanpassen
6. Het waarderen van diversiteit
7. Een brede wereldvisie
8. Het accepteren van een andere denkwijze
9. Bruggenbouwer
10. Fundament leggen voor het zijn van een echte wereldburger

Meer informatie kan je lezen in het boek "Third Culture Kids: the experience of Growing up among worlds" van David C. Pollock and Ruth E. van Reken.

Meer lezen kan ook op de website van het Denizen online magazine. Het is een groep third culture kids (TCK's) of wel mensen die in het buitenland opgeroeid zijn die daar verhalen publiceren. Het is de moeite waard om daar eens te kijken. 

Zoals aan veel dingen zitten er ook nadelen aan: De 10 nadelen van het opgroeien in het buitenland.