THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2023 45 most of whom had grown up in more conventional circumstances. But none of those problems exist when you are in the company of others who have similar backgrounds. That’s why our virtual Cairo reunions are always so enjoyable. —Andrew Nagorski, St. Augustine, Florida For my part, although our circle’s presentations are often well prepared and quite scholarly, attending our group is akin to going to a family reunion, where we can tune into each other’s feelings and hearts, and where we can share events and experiences in a way we may not do otherwise. Not only do we share our common past but also all that may be of significance that has happened since, always with loving respect. —Alain Cardon, Paris Little did I know that reconnecting through Facebook with my childhood Norwegian friend from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade in Cairo would then lead me to this whole new circle of friends from those magical days at CAC! It has awakened memories and motivated me to read through the saved letters my mother wrote of life in the Foreign Service. The term “TCK” was new to me, and this really explained some disconnect with friends in the U.S. Sharing our experiences and commonalities has been cathartic and humorous. The Cackles are fascinating and produce amazing discussions from personal struggles and perseverance to broad topics where the expertise in the group shines as they mimic an international think tank. This summer I visited Kirsten in Norway after 54 years apart, and we instantly bonded again. I’ve also made strong connections with other classmates whom I barely remember from the 1960s, but now we are talking about visiting each other in Japan and across the U.S. —Marla Kean Hensley, Tucson, Arizona I take great comfort from the reaffirmation of meeting those who shared the same classroom during budding adolescence at a school housed in a former palace near the edge of the desert. The Cackle sessions became one place where we didn’t have to keep quiet about our unique childhood and, instead, could be accepted for what we really are. For me, personally, the sessions became a way not only to reach my childhood classmates, but also to be with other adult third culture kids [ATCKs] and speak the language that comes more naturally to me. It was also very encouraging to see firsthand what fine human beings my former classmates had become. —Mary Muro, Tokyo I have to add the memory of learning French while overcoming the distraction of camels snorting outside my classroom at CAC. My heritage and my U.S. Foreign Service childhood gave me many remarkable opportunities, but until later in life, I downplayed them to fit in with my U.S. peers and colleagues. By way of our Cackle discussions, I realized the power of the TCK model and am experiencing a coming out (the second in my case) that has opened a flood of memories and resurrected former connections dating back almost 60 years. Imagine my surprise and joy. —Jill P. Strachan, Washington, D.C. Ten of the 15 original members of the group, including the three authors, in a Zoom meeting in April 2023. From top left to bottom right: Mary (Marika) Muro, John R. Whitman, Alain Cardon, Jeff Peters, Nanako Nakamura, Susan Shaffer, Andrew Nagorski, Jill Strachan, Kirsten Rytter, and Marla Kean Hensley. Missing are Patrick Cardon, Richard Driscoll, Cornell Fleischer (deceased, April 21, 2023), Seibun Tanetani, and Andrea McCoy Van Dyke. COURTESY OF JOHN R. WHITMAN
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