Ellsworth

I came across an interesting term recently, 'third culture kids (TCKs).' Which of course implies, they grow up to become third culture adults (TCAs).

Kids with different roots, culturally blended, knotted and inter-grown with the dominant culture. Often gifted in some respects, often facing heightened dangers / risks, it can be a family coin toss which end of the spectrum they fall on.

Who qualifies? Almost anytime borders, migration and languages are involved you'll find TCKs. But beyond differences defined by national borders and race...

Apparently home-school kids count as TCKs, and that really opens the door. Based on that concept of cultural difference, there is no need for borders. Any offspring of groups with distinct, firm cultures should also qualify imho, like the offspring of law enforcement, military kids, preacher's kids, gang members, religious minorities, et cetera. Small cohorts with hard cultural borders, not necessarily national borders.

Even the offspring of the richest one percent would qualify as TCKs. Any small cohort that doesn't integrate nicely into the whole, which likely should include royalty be they from England, Thailand, Qatar -- or any of the other 43 nations with monarchies. Those are small cohorts that ride the tension between enculturation and acculturation.

Well, my own mother, born on distant shores would qualify as a TCK.
Or perhaps even my father would qualify, and culture is such an odd thing -- I think I might have qualified as a TCKs.
My two younger brothers, models of 'international citizens' would too.
Yes, I shared this TCK concept with my family of origin (and my nuclear family), it is potentially meaningful content (or at least something to distract thoughts).

BTW / FWIW: Finding the concept of TCKs was the door to finding studies that illustrate some of the potential negative issues with home-schooling. It's hard to find anything negative in the first few pages of the SERPs about home schooling -- but the angle of TCKs sheds some potential light, in a world of highly SEOed results. It brought up some studies that seem to illustrate some risks, if one digs deep. YMMV of course. The LHBA has always attracted a homeschooling demographic. It's not a path I've walked, but as a non-traditional student, who is a life long learner, it was an interesting angle of approach. Like any path, there are pros and cons.

Ever felt like an outsider? Perhaps if there's a kernel of validity to the TCK / TCA concept, then there's the start of an explanation.

Welcome aboard the good ship TCK, where you don't have to pick between being a passenger or part of the crew, or maybe you do? How does one fit into such an odd boat as this country wide culture? The start of good questions, in a journey bereft of any or many big answers.

TCK as a concept and implications for new cultural hegemonies?
TCK as a concept and implications for the living 7 generations that have been shaped / defined by technology?