Tanya Crossman is the author of Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century. She is passionate about building bridges of understanding between Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and those who care for them. She has mentored hundreds of teenage and young adult TCKs over the past 13 years, predominantly in China, and now runs seminars for international communities around the world.
Tanya spent most of her childhood in her native Australia, and most of her adult years in China. She has a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies (Chinese) from the Australian National University, a diploma in Mandarin Chinese from Beijing Language and Culture University, and a Master of Divinity degree from the Australian College of Theology, including a TCK-focused research project which was awarded a High Distinction.
Chinese parents often assume that their children attending international schools have the same attitudes, values, and language skills as those attending Chinese schools, but the instruction on how to think—and behave in society—follows different cultural norms.
What is considered normal and acceptable in education varies from culture to culture. Understanding cultural values is crucial for students to succeed.
Goodbyes and being misunderstood—two experiences shared by TCKs.
What are the unique challeges facing the TCKs of today?
TCKs do not grow up in any one culture, but in between them, under the influence of multiple cultures.