A Team of Expatriates

The question is 22% of Americans have passports. I cannot believe that. Maybe this is the reason why the Americans are so ethnocentric. On the other hand, if we have so many expatriates, international relationship is better established, but us??? inside this land.

Many Americans do take their freedoms for granted. That's why they have been steadily eroded by big government over the years. Oh, and by the way, it's getting MUCH bigger and that can only mean one thing. The government that is big enough to give you everything is big enough to take it away. Do you trust your leaders with that much power? Do you really trust them not to abuse it?

TCKs : It's wonderful to have finally expat experience recognized as positive in an everchanging world, but there is so much difference between experiencing it as a child during formative years, as all the examples given in this article, (all of them TCKs, their partents expats) and experiencing the world as an adult. That's why the term TCK is an important label because that experience is different lived as a child or as an adult. Our (I am a TCK myself, raised in 5 different countires mostly AFrica). Being a TCK means that we relate to people who have had a similar upbringing, which has often enough nothing to do to a common native language. or a particular sector.. We share a cultural experience of following our parents in their professional expat life, of starting over in different countries, schools, local or international, saying goodbyes, losing good friends and doing it all over again somewhere else. Chidlren of military, missionary, corporate, diplomatic, academic, we often see the world as interconnected from the start, and can keep an open mind to what goes on globally..

I also direct a study abroad program in Spain. While it's true that there is much to applaud in a president who brings cross-cultural expertise to the table, through personal experience and as well as that of trusted advisers, I find I must question the sentiment expressed below by ydavis that "it's so refreshing to have a president that understands...maybe we will get some money now for study abroad." I understand we all want more support for study abroad. but doesn't the article precisely say that the number of Americans studying abroad has risen by 100,00 during the past decade? And 8 of those years under a Republican president. I sure hope Obama can do even better, but let's not pretend that the US and its previous leaders are simply not interested in the rest of the world.

It looks like Valerie may be in Ankgor Wat in this 1959 picture (which is almost identical to one of me at that exact same time and age and circumstances) -- but a word of caution, if indeed it is Ankgor Wat, that is in Cambodia not Thailand. In fact, Wikopedia states that
"The temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, and is a source of great national pride. A depiction of Angkor Wat has been a part of every Cambodian national flag since the introduction of the first version circa 1863.[9] In January 2003 riots erupted in Phnom Penh when a false rumour circulated that a Thai soap opera actress had claimed that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand.[10]."

I am the Study Aboard Coordinator at an HBCU. I tell my Students that living and studing aboar will change your life and open your mind. IIt is so refreshing to have a President that understands. Maybe now we will ge some money to help students that want to study aboard.

I am a US citizen of Asian heritage. The primary reason I voted for President Obama was the fact that he spent part of his youth growing up in a foreign country. That experience gave him a better understanding and appreciation of how the rest of the world lives and view America. Living in a foreign country is a profound experience that shapes your moral, spiritual and intectual attitude in general. Haiving met some Peace Corp Volunteers in my native country when I was growing up gave me a positive feeling for the country. I believe that the Peace Corp volunteers were the best ambassadors of peace for the United States.

Just ask any Returned Peace Crops Volunteer how important living overseas was to his or her life. I am sure very few will say it did not influence the rest of their lives. I always said it was too bad Bush and his followers had never been exchange students. They might have had a better understanding of so many things, and just maybe we would not be in some of the mess we are in today.

Just ask any Returned Peace Corps Volunteer about the importance of his or her experience living oversea. I am sure very few will say it did not change the way they live and/or raised their children. I always said it was too bad Bush and his followers had never been exchange students.

Please keep one item in mind when comparing US and UK passport ownership: the UK is the size (in sq miles) of Ohio and a passport is needed ANYTIME one wishes to leave the UK. There is no hopping across to a neighbouring country for a day trip without one. The USA is a huge country with different requirements--if all Americans needed passports for Canada and Mexico (or crossing state lines, which is the same distance for many as crossing European country lines) then surely the number would be much higher. I don't doubt that the number is still low, but let's please use the appropriate context when comparing the US and UK--I hold the passports of both.

I grew up oveseas,over seven years and the experience cerainly did open my eyes to different cultures,food,languages and made me aware of how different we are and yet,very much alike with other people all over the world. I think having so many cabinet members and other advisors with this background will be a great help to the President.we TCK( third culture kids) are proud to count President Obama among our ranks.

i paertly agree
i am of pakistani origin but they and indians are a paradox to me generally
as all human beings are individuals
end of day people react for their survival and interest in priority to other choices -cultural or religious
you have to assume and judge every situation in its own right
and imagine alexander conquered the world without having the advantage of travelling abroad
so mr.writer i do not agree with your counterpoints as wisdom can be achieved from experience of life itself in a small rural village in amazons if the individual is apt indeed

i m european and i travel the world as well. This article is so correct. Most Americans really don t grasp how provincial they are. It will be a relief if the new Obama administration can shed this.

This is the reality that pundits missed over and over in the campaign, including Newsweek. Barack Obama and each of these mentioned is what sociologist Ruth Hill Useem defined as a Third Culture Kid over 50 years ago. The gifts mentioned here are classic benefits of this experience and "their sense of belonging to others of shared experience" is part of the definition listed in our book "Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds.": Maybe with Obama in office now, people will finally believe this instead of mocking him for saying this was a significant part of his upbringing as happened during the campaign. Thanks for this article. Ruth E. Van Reken, co-author, Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing UP Among Worlds.

This is the reality that pundits missed over and over in the campaign, including Newsweek. Barack Obama and each of these mentioned is what sociologist Ruth Hill Useem defined as a Third Culture Kid over 50 years ago. The gifts mentioned here are classic benefits of this experience and "their sense of belonging to others of shared experience" is part of the definition listed in our book "Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds.": Maybe with Obama in office now, people will finally believe this instead of mocking him for saying this was a significant part of his upbringing as happened during the campaign. Thanks for this article. Ruth E. Van Reken, co-author, Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing UP Among Worlds.

The fact that the new administration will be made up of people who have lived and traveled abroad is a great advantage. If George Bush had traveled and understood the rest of the world better, we would not be where we are now. I never lived abroad but began traveling at the age of 20 and continued for the next 50 years. I love my Country, but I am more realistic about it and the rest of the world thanks to the constant travel.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, the McCain camp claimed that their motivation behind attacking Obama had been to question his character, integrity, judgement, and leadership potential.

Barack Obama has consistently has shown the character, integrity, judgement, and leadership potential necessary to restore our nation's standing in the world, resurrect our economic vitality, fix the broken health care system, and motivate industry to shift from fossil fuel to non-polluting, renewable energy technologies.

Now some folks have an axe to grind because their guy (and Goddess Sarah) lost the election. Gee, it sure sucks to be you. Well, give Obama your best shot. He's a man, he can take it. If that doesn't help, you can always try primal scream therapy.

Meanwhile, the rest of us will be doing our part to repair the incredible damage done to the US economy and our standing in the world by the Bush/Cheney Administration during the past eight long, arduous years.

My suggestion? Either get on board and help with the recovery or get the hell out of the way!

The xenophobes have come out of the woodwork.

This country had been slowly evolving into that which we have sacrificed countless lives opposing--a militant nation with an agenda driven by religious extremists who promote freedom of thought only so long as it does not conflict with their own ideas. Sound familiar? We had become the enemy.

Ever since the 1960's, the GOP consistently has been, and will always be, the party of exclusion, the party that attempts to diminish those who look different than themselves, pray to a different deity, or follow a different lifestyle. They are the party that uses fear and hatred as a weapon to intimidate any who do not share their points of view. The GOP offers 20th century solutions to 21st century problems.

It is time for a fresh perspective, a new philosophy of America's place in the world. It can no longer be us versus them at all costs; the world is far too small for such a narrow-minded point of view.

It is time to embrace those who are different than ourselves and accept them for who they are--it would be the "christian" thing to do. President-elect Obama is the perfect person to lead our nation in this cause and once again transform our nation into a positive, democratic beacon for the rest of the world.