Thank you for visiting, I hope you will stop back often. The stories in my blog are, for the most part, not in my book. I also have a second blog at Eclectic Global Nomad.
“By the time I was 18, I had only lived in the United States for a total of three years. When I started college in California, I experienced severe “reverse” culture shock. At the time I had no way of understanding it or preparing for it. Because I had grown up overseas, I had had a completely different experience than American kids my age.
When I arrived for my freshman year in college, I talked about traveling around Europe, hiking up Swiss mountains, and living in Africa. My college peers talked about football games, high school proms and television shows I had never heard of. I could not relate to them at all and they thought I was bragging about all the places I had been. It never occurred to me why they would think that; to me my life was ordinary. To them I was like an alien landing in their dorm room and talking about visiting the rings of Saturn.
After college, I spent the next 19 years in the U.S. and although I had many close friends and good experiences, I never got over the feeling that I was different. I always knew I really wanted to live abroad – that I BELONGED somewhere else. Of course during those 19 years, I lived in six different cities and 10 different apartments. I think I was always looking for that place I belonged. I always had the feeling that I was searching for something. I was different. I wasn’t really American and I wasn’t really foreign. What was I? I was an ex-pat. I was an ex-patriot by birth and by culture and I was looking for my com-patriots.
When I was in my 40’s, married, and living with my son and husband in Moscow, I discovered a group called Global Nomads. Global nomads are also called Third Culture Kids or in common parlance, Ex-pat brats. The definition of a Global Nomad is someone who grew up in countries other than their passport-country due to their parents’ jobs. I was cruising the Internet and came across an article written by Norma McCaig about being a Global Nomad. I had spent my whole life thinking there was something wrong with me and this article described me in a detail nobody could have known. McCraig felt everything I felt. She had the same experiences I had. I didn’t think there was another person on earth who understood how I felt. It was truly my “ah ha” moment. This is what I had been looking for.”
I absolutely love your new blog, and the name “Expat Alien!” So glad to have found it. I’ve added your blog to my blogroll section on Third Culture Kids, and I will try to be a regular reader.
Thank you! I have read and enjoyed yours as well!
So glad to meet you! I’ve lived most of my life overseas as well and now I’m dragging my two-year old twins around the world, too, and I wonder how this life-style will turn out for them. I look forward to learning from you, not only for my own experience but looking forward to my kids’ as well.
Welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m a journalist who’s interviewed TCKs and am fascinated by them. I grew up in Canada but have lived in five countries. I think the cultural ease TCKs acquire is very cool.
Welcome and thank you! Where have you lived?
Many of us who never quite fit in for whatever reason are finding our tribe on the web. Welcome to the global community.
Thank you and thanks for stopping by!
Many of us who never felt we quite fit in for whatever reason are “finding our tribe” in cyberspace. Writing memoir is a powerful way to uncover the value and power of those differences. Welcome to the Tribe of Life Writers.
Oh shucks. The WordPress system got me so tangled up I did not realize I was double posting, so double welcome.
I know it can be challenging sometimes!
I can relate closely to your experience as an Expat Alien. I was born in England, but have spent my life back and forth between England, mainly Mexico, and five cities in the U.S. – and never belonged anywhere. While I feel more Latina, my appearance and accent identify me in the U.S. as British. I feel and am seen as a foreigner wherever I am , have never voted, had a home of my own, or set down roots, and felt lost and different until I heard about Global Nomads and found many others like you and me.
Welcome, nice to meet you! It is always fun to meet fellow travelers. I will look forward to you book coming out!!
I love your story! I can relate a bit–I was part of that expat community for a few years when we lived overseas (and I–unwittingly– STILL bore my friends with comments about life abroad). I remember discussing with other truly roaming expat mothers what the consequenses would be for their children. It was determined (with the aid of a magazine article) that these children would grow to be easily adaptable, tolerant adults with wonderful people skills. So—are you?
Thank you. I do like to think we are flexible and open minded. Any travel is mind broadening. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy to–and I love your gravitar.
I love your blog. I can relate to almost everything that you say, although I left USA through my own choice when I was an adult (more or less an adult—I feel that prior to leaving I was still a child in a lot of ways). I’m sending your blog addy to my two daughters whom I raised abroad; I know they’ll relate completely. Best of luck in your memoir.
Thank you! It is always nice to meet fellow TCKs.
Incredible. Such a familiar theme to my life (although you have been to so many different places than I have and for much longer….and I find myself envious, haha). And that “where are you from?” question? Is always so hard for me. Made even more difficult by the fact that I now live in Maine, where “where you’re from” can be a real sticking point! So glad I found your blog via my guest post on Emma’s — so nice to meet you!
Yes, the eternal question. My brother was born in Nebraska so he always told people he was from Nebraska. Then one day he met somebody who was actually from Nebraska and they asked my brother all kinds of questions he could not answer!
I just commented on your Mills post; should have started here first. I’m an third culture kid too! I may have been born in Southern California, but I don’t really feel like I grew up there. Although I went some to an American high school in England, it really wasn’t your typical American high school experience. Will definitely look up the McCraig article.
And now we’re almost neighbours! Small world this is.
PLUS we are both named Kathleen!
And one more? We both went to TASIS–you in Lugano and me in England!
Wow amazing!!
Wanted to share another TCK memoir with you: Anthony H. Roberts’ Sons of the Great Satan. He was all set for his senior year in Tehran when his world fell apart in the face of the Iranian Revolution and American Hostage Crisis.
Thank you! This sounds interesting.
….will follow with interest as I have 2 expat brats in the making! (living in Belgium and France, with a dutch father and english mother) who are already talking about living and learning all over the world. I agree, it’s a great experience, and I see my kids already as ‘Europeans’ and world citizens! Keep up the great blog, I’ll be passing by often…..
Sounds like an exciting and challenging life! Welcome and thanks for stopping by!
I’ve been enjoying your blog and have nominated it for a versatile Blogger’s award – I hope you don’t mind? Follow thislink, I think: http://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/twice-nominated-how-can-that-be/
Ciao
Wow, thank you very much!
Hi! I would love to review your book when it is finished! I’m a third culture kid too and just like you I suffered a severe “reverse culture shock” when I went to university in the Netherlands. Recently I have a started writing about my experiences on my blog. Just like you I can really identify with the books about third culture kids and written by TCKs.
Good to hear from you! I have been enjoying your stories as well. I will let you know when my book is ready to be reviewed!!
Thanks!
I am so happy to have found this blog. Being a global nomad, I have lived out of the USA for more of my life than I have lived in the USA. Now I am raising my children the same way. My son leaves for college to the US in a few months while I will still be in Malaysia. I do believe that the cyber space has closed the gap a bit compared to when I was growing up, but I don’t kid myself for a moment. He will experience reverse culture shock too. I can’t wait to browse your site. Thanks!
Hi there. Yes, reverse culture shock… it is the worst. At least he knows about it. I didn’t…
Welcome!
I really like your blog:) i started my own about being a TCK, hope it becomes as successful as yours one day!
Thank you! Where is your blog? I will check it out!!
Great to have stumbled across your blog and also love the title. Looking forward to following your continuing journey
Thank you and Welcome!
I thought you might like to be part of the Sisterhood, so I’ve given you the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. http://bringingeuropehome.com/2012/07/18/is-there-an-award-for-procrastination/
Kathy–I loved your blog! Corbin was excited to read it also. Please come visit us–we are so close! I will be expecting to hear from you with a date of your arrival!
Cousin Jennifer
I know how you feel. I left my home country decades ago, visit regularly, but have never lived there again. Lived in many other countries, and now feel rather foreign in my own country. I don’t know where I belong anymore. Actually, I do, but it is not a geographical place, it’s in the company of other expats and global nomads in any location. We share a similar background and similar experiences and that’s what makes me feel I belong.
Thank you for your comment. I agree, it is comfortable to be with expats/tck/nomads. Home is not really a place.
Congratulations on your launch, ypu must be so excited! I blog about expat-related books on my site as well as for select online and print publications, so if you’re interested in my reviewing your book, drop me a line at linda@adventuresinexpatland.com (I also submit a review at Amazon.com and .co.uk for each book I write about).
Thank you for inspiring me! I have just nominated you for the Inspiring Blog Award! Check it out: http://expatiallymexico.wordpress.com/
Yay, thank you!!!!
What fun that you popped by my space and are following along — it’s always a treat to find others trying to give an honest voice to the TCK experience. Keep at it!
Thanks for stopping by. You keep at it too!
Hey, thanks for the blog award! I just arrived back from holidays, what a superb surprise, and much appreciated. Glad you thought I was worthy.
Hi! Thanks for popping over and following us! You’ve a really interesting blog, really looking forward to reading about all of your adventures!
Thanks! Enjoy!
I felt like an alien, too, when my parents emigrated from England to the U.S. and plopped me down in Pennsylvania, and my being shy made it worse. England was all I knew, but talking about it made the other kids think I was bragging. They made fun of me, so I never really fit in. Oddly enough, I finally felt at home when I moved to another island—Hawaii. Until then it was quite a struggle. I’m so glad I found your blog so that I can read everyone’s “moving” and adapting stories
Nice to meet you!
You, too, and I’m so glad you are following my blog. I’m really looking forward to reading your book.
Thanks very much for the follow! From one expat to the other
Thanks for following me as well. I look forward to reading your blog.
Thank you for following me on Twitter
Isn’t it an amazing ‘ah ha’ moment when everything you’ve felt and experienced actually makes sense? My major in intercultural communication definitely helped me learn more importantly about myself, and how our identities are shaped through culture. If you’re interested, please feel free to read my guest blog post on Melibee Global: http://melibeeglobal.com/2012/06/reflections-on-being-a-third-culture-kid-tck/ I currently intern through Melibee and will be writing a second post within the month.
Thanks again!
Great article and looks like an interesting website. I hope you will check out my book. I wrote it for people like us. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Kathy,
I just read your book. I enjoyed it and of course resonated to much of it. I have five countried of childhood and lived in Moscow from 1968-9. We may even have met at the 2003 GN conference! Poor Norma was really in a lot of pain then – do you remember?
I am just discovering EFT and wanted to tell you about it because it could help you completely clear the trauma you experienced in the plane crash, and it could do so in just a few sessions. Try googling it: Emotional Freedom Technique. There are experienced practitioners who will work with you through Skype. It’s a fabulous technique, and one I am planning to learn.
I wish you a speedy recovery!
Shasha
Yes, I remember your name, I am sure we met at the conference. I think we ate lunch together. Thank you for your comments. I will google it.
Hi there! I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Your blog is truly so inspiring and creative. Thank you! If you’d like to accept, here are the rules:
http://petroleumwife.com/2012/12/03/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Thank you! I appreciate the support and graciously accept!
You’re so welcome! Really love reading through your posts
What a fascinating life! I grew up here but traveled a lot and have always felt different from my friends as I don’t have many that travel like I do. I can only imagine what a shock it was to come here at 18! Where do you live now?
I live in the Washington DC area but always enjoy visiting family and friends in Minnesota!
Cool! My husbands family lives in Virginia and used to be in Maryland so I’m familiar with that area. It is much more international than MN but Minneapolis is getting better. I do love living here for now as the quality of life is great. Wonderful nature and lakes, culture, restaurants and more diversity. I’ll be out east for Christmas this year. My sister and her family live near Williamsburg then we head to VA for the rest of the family.
It is a diverse area and I like that. My son goes to one of the most diverse high schools in the country. Plus there are a lot of museums and stuff. I hope you have a good time!
Thanks!
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I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award – congratulations! Follow this link to see the post and learn more about the rules for this award: http://wiesagtman.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Thank you for inspiring me!
Sam
Wonderful! Thank you! And congratulations to you too!
Thank you for inspiring me, especially the Friday food posts. I have nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. Best wishes! http://zhongguojumble.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/two-more-awards/
Wow, you lived in the US for 18 years after HS? Wow! I too am a TCK, US born with US parents but moved away at 3. I lasted in the US post-Certenago for 5 years until I finally graduated from college then immediately joined the Peace Corps. I’ve been working around the world since then, currently in AT/EG (what a combination to fly back and forth to). I just ordered your book from Amazon, I look forward to it!
Sounds like you are having a great adventure. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like the book!