The Global Nomad's Guide to University Transition

Book excerpt: This is the updated second edition of Tina Quick's book written to and for students who have been living outside their "passport" countries but are either returning "home" or transitioning on to another host country for college/university. These students are known as third culture kids, cross culture kids, or global nomads, but they have no clue how they are being impacted by their cross-cultural lifestyle until they have an experience that wakes them up to the fact that they are different from others. This commonly takes place upon repatriation for college or university when they are surrounded mostly by those who have never ventured away from their home country or culture. What results is the feeling of cultural imbalance, not fitting in, inability to connect with their home-country peers. They feel like a "fish out of water."This book addresses the common issues students face when they are making the double transition of not only adjusting to a new life stage but to a cultural change as well. Tina explains the stages of transition?what to expect and the practicalities of dealing with each stage. Using new stories, expanded explanations, and updates brought about by 10 years of cultural change and a pandemic, this second edition will resonate with teens, parents, educators, and counselors. New in this edition are a foreword by Ellen Mahoney and articles by Amanda Bates, MBA, M.Ed. on diversity and inclusion issues and building a career; Lois Bushong, M.S. on mental health issues and finding a counselor; and Lauren Wells on dismantling your grief tower and romantic relationships.Parents will appreciate the chapter dedicated to how they can come alongside their students, prepare them for the journey, and support them throughout this major transition. Keep this guide book to help these students understand what takes place in re-entry and/or transition and gives them the tools and strategies they need to not only survive but to thrive in the adjustment.