Growing up overseas was a wonderful experience and I would not trade it for anything. However, it did create a since of displacement when I came back to the US for college. I didn’t feel like I ‘fit in’ as an American. I didn’t know the lingo, the lastest fashion, etc. I had no common background knowledge for television shows–the common “Do you remember watching such and such a program when you were little?” left me with a since of being left out and clueless. Needless to say I struggled with not feeling like I had any roots. Where do I fit in? I’m not Chinese ( I grew up in Taiwan). I definitely didn’t fit in there with my blonde hair and blue eyes. I didn’t feel like I belonged as an American even though I could cry at the drop of a hat when I would sing or heard the national anthem.
All of this started a search and questioning within my own soul. Around this time I was reading in Hebrews 11 about all these that had lived by faith. It says in verse 13 “…they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth…16 Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one.” Wow! This so resounded in my own heart. I wasn’t the only one that felt like an alien and stranger. An alien–what a comfort to know that this earth is not my true home but a heavenly one awaits me! A new feeling of hope welled up within my heart that I had a journey to live while I walked toward my heavenly country.
A Net of Hope 
Have you ever read the book “Third-Culture Kids”?? It’s about missionary kids and military kids who grow up in another culture. It’s really interesting, and it may even help you understand yourself a little better! I have read and studied it to try and prepare my kids with the things they will face when they leave home and go out on their own. Several years ago I was with some missionary wives who also were 3rd Culture Kids, and they were so happy to read it!
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I have not read that one specifically but that term was just coming out when I was in high school. As an IMB MK they did a lot to help in this area and we had a lot of discussions about the whole TCK issues. I am having some good discussions on FB with some friends from high school–good stuff.
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