It’s Day 30 of the 31 Days in the Life of a TCK series! Welcome! You can find more info on the series here. Don’t forget to subscribe!
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A few weeks ago I was at a friend’s birthday party when it happened.
We were having a barbecue in the park and some friend had brought another friend.
We introduced ourselves and started talking.
We had just met and yet we felt like we had known each other for years.
And so we spent the evening talking about our lives, exchanging fun stories and challenges.
Because we knew the other would understand.
This immediate connection is something so special among TCKs.
It unites us no matter the countries we lived in, no matter the amount of time we spent abroad, no matter the place we’re in right now.
It fascinates me every time I meet a TCK.
May it be on a TCK camp where it takes one night of games and introductions to form intimate bonds with “strangers” that have become my second family over the years.
May it be in unexpected places, like birthday parties, train rides, university seminars.
In our globalized world there are more and more TCKs around us – missionary kids, diplomat kids, business kids, immigrant kids or people growing up around many cultures.
We are all united by this one bond: we’ve seen what’s out there.
It doesn’t have to be far, it just has to be outside our own little world and comfort zone. Once you’ve been out there, you feel a connection to others who have gone, too.
Whenever I meet a TCK my heart rejoices (and sometimes I also break into a smile, hehe). Here is this one person who gets me, who can laugh at the fun stories and won’t look away at the hard ones.
Here is this one person who can relate my stories to their own and it helps, encourages, maybe even comforts.
Meeting a fellow TCK is sometimes like meeting a friend for the first time and the sudden depth doesn’t feel awkward at all.
I hope for every TCK out there that you meet others with similar stories, that you find out about who you are and have others around you to connect to, to share with, to bond with.
A big shoutout to my TCK friends all around the globe – it is a blessing knowing you and walking a bit of life together!
Can you relate to this? It might also be true for other relationships when both aren’t TCKs. Any thoughts on this?
thisiskatha.com 
Thanks for coming by! Look around or read the entire series on TCKs. If you have questions, let me know!
What a great site you have! Happy to find you through the facebook thread. I'd love to read more about your TCK experiences. I agree – I feel especially connected with people who have shared my journey outside the comfort zone. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you got to experience it in other contexts!
Definitely, Kate!
Yes, serving together creates a bond that can't be explained. So glad you got such people around you!
Love this. I've had this experience with other sisters in Christ. Pretty amazing!
Aren't relationships that happen so naturally, the best!?!
This is exactly how I feel about other Peace Corps Volunteers. We don't have to spend time laying down a friendship base. It's an instantaneous bond, and there's ALWAYS something to talk about! No matter how long ago they served, where they went, or what they did. It's pretty awesome!