[quote="Danda"]@panta: I’ll try to explain a little better what I meant. As a TCK (Third Culture Kid) or Global Nomad my son will be perfectly comfortable as a international citizen and function quite well in a global society. While he will get along well amongst other TCKs, he will never fully belong in his host culture and will most likely feel awkward in the US, his country of citizenship. For example, no matter how good his Chinese is he will never be accepted as Chinese because he is blonde haired and blue eyed. He may also struggle to fit in with his American peers because he can’t relate to their interests. Of course, he could feel perfectly comfortable in both although that isn't likely.

That is what I was referring to. This is really a pretty common phenomenon amongst expat children and one that I hope to be very aware of so that I can hope to maximize the benefits of my son’s upbringing abroad and minimize the problems. There are a lot of books out there that discuss

I think it boils down to a sense of what home is. I know where my base is and where my roots lie, but my son may miss out on this. I sometimes think that purchasing a home somewhere near family and going back to the same place each summer may give him a sense of his roots. I guess we’ll see. If someone asks me where I am from, it is a simple answer. However, if I ask one of my students where they are from, it is often a crazy round about story about what their nationality is, where they were born, where they have lived and where their parents are from and so on. I’d like my son to have simpler answer. Although, if someone asks him where he is from and he says “Earthâ€

"6) I have more time to spend with my son. I know that some people hire nannies and cleaners so they don’t have to spend time with their children. We hire a lady to clean our house, do laundry and iron so that we don’t have to spend our time doing it. We use that extra time to take our son riding, running, swimming, hiking, etc… It does annoy me when people hardly spend any time with their children because their nanny is always there. I guess it is their loss when their nanny has a better relationship with their kid than they do. "

I love the maid privileges for the above reason alone. After many years of this in China, we moved to Malaysia where a) I don't have a job and b) can't justify having a maid when I'm home.
However, I've realized that having a helper saves me time and sanity. And that the time I used to spend with my three kids I no longer have because now I'm still cleaning and cooking and ironing etc. even after they are home after school. It sucks.

My friends with kids at home (in the states) are strung out, exhausted and depressed. It's overwhelming to work and do all the household stuff, even if your kids help.

So, no thanks. Can't wait to get help!

Here's a tip. For cheaper cheese, imported milk (uht), and many other imported food items go to a wholesaler. The one I went to is on Lianhua Lu near the corner of Cao Bao Lu. Also, on Wulumuqi Lu between Fuxing Lu and Wuyuan Lu there's a stall run by the avacado lady and she sells these items as well and takes orders and requests. These are in bulk. sizes, but you can freeze hard cheeses. For example myself and friends would go in on a 5kg Cheddar or mozzarella or parmasean and divide it up and freeze the extra. You can also get USDA meat and Italian salami etc. cheaper than City shop.


Oh, and avoid U.S. domestic carriers, they are the worst. I'd take China Southern before I'd take Delta again. Look into Hainan Airlines. We flew to Seattle via Beijing with them. They were really good. Not quite Cathay Pacific, but very good.

I recommend Penang, Malaysia. Very quiet and you can live very close to work, you can easily choose a school that fits your remoteness desire. We have a nice house with a small garden in a quiet neighborhood and walk to work. Also we are within walking distance of the beach and a 15-20 min bus ride to the national park.