The Foreign Service Journal, December 2008

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 79 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT same. One Foreign Service family I know has a plaque they take every- where with them that sums it up: “Home is wherever we are.” From a young person’s point of view, probably the single biggest issue with a highly mobile lifestyle is finding and keeping friends. The good news is that TCKs have friends all over the world — and the bad news is that their friends are all over the world. On the one hand, these kids tend to invest heavily and quick- ly in relationships: they understand that it’s important to jump in because the clock is ticking. On the other, some are so tired of goodbyes that they become reluctant to invest in new relationships they know will end. They also understand what it’s like to be the new person, and are often empathetic to newcomers. In some locations, the American international school is dominated by local children so it is difficult to break into estab- lished patterns and groups, especial- ly if there are language differences. These challenges with friendships are particularly important during adolescence, when peer acceptance is such a huge part of a young per- son’s identity and self-esteem. Dealing with Loss In addition to feelings of confu- sion about the sense of belonging and finding and keeping friends, His or her entire world can change with a single plane ride — with people, places, things, sights, smells, lifestyle and identity gone forever.