Quijote’s Sons & Daughters
WILLIAM TAYLOR
I am a TCK, born in 1940 of missionary parents in Costa Rica, as are my three children, born in Guatemala to missionary parents. In truth, we TCKs are a “multitude,” born or raised in countries different from our parents' origin. We have studied in other cultures, learned other languages, been misunderstood and confused, experienced culture shock, and cross-cultural, international life. We are “global nomads,” a category including children of diplomats and military, international businesspeople, wandering hippies, and a host of others who share parallel lives. I very recently captured a new insight: Refugees, migrants, and immigrants are also TCKs. Their first generation will battle more with these issues, but it will have a long-term impact on these family systems.