The Foreign Service Journal, June 2011

86 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U N E 2 0 1 1 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT adult in a mentoring role. Having such an individual in the life of a young person in transition is invalu- able in helping him or her adjust to new situations. A Tall Order That Can Be Met Lest the reader conclude that it might just be better to stay home and never move abroad, the children and teens I work with repeat over and over that they are mostly thankful for the experiences they have had living abroad. They fly with ease through airports around the world, and can easily interact with people who are different from themselves. Most are appreciative of the per- spective and understanding they have of the world and for the huge array of multicultural friends they have. But they also say that the moves and tran- sitions have not always been easy — they did not “make friends by lunch- time,” as the headmaster told his audi- ence. What they hunger for is a chance to be heard and understood, to have a family that will always love and sup- port them, and to forge connections and relationships in their new home and school. It’s a tall order, but one that can be met with the support of parents. It is also important to give comfort before encouragement to a grieving child. Resources Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds (revised edition 2009), by David C. Pollock and Ruth Van Reken Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child: Practical Tips and Storytelling Techniques That Will Strengthen the Global Family , by Julia Simens Raising Resilient Children: Fostering Strength, Hope , and Optimism in Your Child , by Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Samuel Goldstein