Amy Kellogg created an engaging and open platform for discussion, addressing the challenges and benefits of expat living, and offering invaluable advice on creating a stronger community.

1. Cross-Cultural Life
in Dubai: Surviving
or Thriving?
Amy Kellogg
Licensed Counsellor
Fortes Wellbeing Advisor

2. Where are you from?
• current city/country of residence
• passport country
• parents’ heritage
• where you grew up
• city/country you travel “home” to

3. What is a third culture kid?
• "children who accompany their parents into another
culture (usually for a parent's career choice.)” (Useem 1973)
• "a person who has spent a significant part of his or her
developmental years outside the parents' culture. The TCK
builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having
full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture
are assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of
belonging is in relationship to others of similar background."
(Pollock & Van Reken, 2009)

4. First
Culture
(Parents’ or
Passport)
Second
Culture
Host culture/s
Third
Culture
“Neither/Nor”
World
Third Culture Model
Van Reken, 1996

5. Cross Cultural Kid (CCK)
A cross-cultural kid (CCK) is "a person
who is living or has lived in—or
meaningfully interacted with—two or
more cultural environments for a
significant period of time during
childhood (up to age 18)."
(Pollock & Van Reken 2009)

6. Profile of a TCK
in UAE
• Characteristics
• Strengths
• Challenges

7. Common
characteristics
• Growing up in a cross-cultural world
• Raised in a highly mobile world
• Have distinct differences from the
host culture (looks and way of
thinking)
• Expect repatriation
• Living privileged lifestyle*

8. Strengths
• Expanded Worldview
• Ability to blend in and
adapt
• Multilingual
• Leadership qualities
• Cross Cultural Skills

9. Challenges
• Identity – Neither here nor there
• Questions of belonging
• Prolonged adolescence
• Problems with repatriation (hidden immigrant)
• Poor conflict resolution skills
• Chronic separation and loss
• Unresolved grief

10. Stages of Grief

11. Stages of Grief

12. Grief and the
TCK
“If I start to cry, I may not stop crying.”
“I will disappoint my parents if I cry.”
“We don’t show emotions in our family;
we are strong. I need to be strong.”
“I am so over that part of my life.”
“I don’t understand why I am crying.”

13. Grief and the
TCK
Why might grief be
unresolved for a TCK?
• Lack of Awareness
• Lack of Time
• Lack of Permission
• Lack of Comfort

14. Stages of
Transition
(David Pollock)
Involvement
Leaving
Transition
Entry
Re-involvement

15. Caring for the TCK
Students did not learn as
well when mobility was
thrown in the mix.
– Professor John Hattie

16. Caring for the TCK
• How do we effectively care for the
chronic separation and loss they
experience?
• How do we care for the unique identity
issues they face?
• How do we provide an environment for
emotion to be safe?

17. Caring for the TCK
Families
• How do we effectively care for the
chronic separation and loss they
experience?
• How do we care for the unique identity
issues they face?
• How do we provide an environment for
emotion to be safe?

18. CULTURE
ADJUSTMENT CURVE
TIME & PLACE
LEVELOFCOMFORT&SATISFACTION
native
culture
native
culture
foreign culture
Everything is new,
exciting & different
Frustration/annoyance
with everyday differences
Surface adjustment
Confronting deeper
cultural/personal issues
Adaptation & assimilation

19. Disconnections are unavoidable; We need to
pay attention to what is next, what follows a
disconnection…
Mutual empathy creates opportunity for
healing and growth

20. Caring for the TCK
Families
• What could we as a school community
do to help families transitioning to
Dubai?
• What was the most difficult part for
you in the transition?
• For your family?
• What kind of support would have
made a difference in helping you
transition well?