By Wilma Findlay. Pubished on Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Third Culture Kids (TCKs), or Missionary Kids (MKs) have an ability to connect rapidly when they first meet others who have grown up outside their passport culture.
Along with other staff who have been part of Classic ReBoot, I have seen this happen repeatedly. (Classic ReBoot is a transition retreat for MKs ages 17-20 arriving back to Canada.)
Even with MKs who feel like they were ‘forced to attend by their parents’, within 24 hours of arrival these MKs are thankful to learn there are others like them. The week ends too quickly, but all feel it was one of the best weeks of their lives.
Michèle Phoenix is one of the Classic ReBoot teachers and has the distinction of being the only person to attend every Classic ReBoot, and meet every MK!
Michèle herself is an adult MK; she taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy in Germany, and for the past decade she has been advocating for MKs. She began writing a blog addressing many of the issues that she hears from MKs. Last year she began producing them as the podcast Pondering Purple.
Recommended Podcast Episode
This podcast episode (longer than Michèle usually makes) is an interview done by TeachBeyond about MKs. She mentions many aspects of MK life and realities experienced by MKs that their monocultural parents and teachers may not comprehend. MK experiences of growing up cross-culturally are uniquely allowing them to be bridge builders between cultures and communities.
Listen to Pondering Purple – It’s an INTERVIEW! on Spotify.
Listen to Pondering Purple - It's an INTERVIEW! on Apple Podcasts.
Wilma Findlay is part of the MORE Network, serving as a Member Care Consultant, Resource Librarian, and Registrar for the MORE Network Events. Along with her husband Alan they understand cross-cultural ministry from first hand experience working overseas, and volunteering with international students in Canada. Now after 30 years of experience in cross-cultural worker encouragement and support, Wilma’s passions include providing care and support for children who have grown up in a cross-cultural environment, people in transition, and developing the MORE Network Resource Library.
