Interview Questions Megan Boys (NICS Elementary Teacher)

1. How long were you living in your host culture?

a. 8 years
2. How long have you been back in your home culture?
a. 9 months
3. How come you are back in your home culture?
a. Needed a break from teaching; wanting to be close to family; healthy to step out
of that environment
4. Are you familiar with TCKs?
a. Yes
5. What does it mean to you?
a. Everyday I worked with TCKs, I was their teacher. The school environment was
kind of a third culture environment. Third culture kids hold a unique perspective
about belonging and where you come from.
6. What are some challenges in teaching TCKs?
a. Missing family events (nephew, funeral, graduation); nobody knows really whats
going on cuz they are not connected in the same way; learning the language was
challenging and frustrating; having people leave often and new people constantly
coming; difficult students and class some years more difficult than others.
7. Challenges TCKs faced?
a. Constant goodbyes and hellos; multiple homes difficult; unaware of multicultural
dynamics of themselves or their families. Every student transitions differently;
kids with no English were shy and quiet; school was very welcoming.

8. Classroom techniques to help kids transition:

a. sit student next to a helpful student and assign a buddy to the student to help
them out; introduce the new student before they got there; balance between
sharing personal info of the student and putting kid on the spot; gave at least two
weeks of grace to learn class routines and more grace for language learning; meet
with parent in the first week or two so they are aware of expectations.
9. Personal qualities that make you a unique multi-cultural person?
a. Not interested in having things like a house or possessions, feels like a waste;
appreciate efficiency of U.S. and open to creativity; valuing relationship over
task; safety concerns have increased; customer service not valued so fighting for
your rights and privileges; personal space needs has decreased.
10. Third Culture Building?
a. School workplace was American so when new Peruvian teachers started working
they needed to be introduced into American cultural things that are different.
American teachers who went out of their way to be helpful and kind were best
received. Not being easily offended and asking questions to understand all helped.
11. How long did it take you to be back to the top of your full potential for a productive life
after reentering?
a. About 6 months and then felt at home again
12. Most significant experience that you remember connected with reentering?
a. Negative/challenges? Moment when a lot of emotional things hit. Finalizing end
of an intimate relationship. Purpose and identity struggles.
b. Relationships in the states take longer to build

13. Experience reverse culture shock?

a. Yes; people used to seek me out because I was the foreigner and was seen as
special. Getting used to the customer service and adjusting to it.
14. How do you see yourself passing on your experiences to others?
a. Job, by nature, requires talking about experiences; helping students to prepare for
overseas life and job opportunities; being proactive in welcoming people and
seeking out friendship; learning about ELL students will be helpful in the future.
15. Type of support from sending agency?
a. Given resources and a time of debrief to reflect on time but not preparation for
reentry; encouraged to talk to friends who had transitioned; had a mentor friend
who had been in the same country previously; helpful to have people who had
lived in the same environment. Possibly going to a retreat/conference.