Re-entry to Singapore Is Not Just Another Transition

Myth: For a Singaporean TCK, the experience of returning to Singapore is no different from moving from one country to another.

Fact: A Singaporean TCK who grew up overseas faces even more challenges when returning to Singapore than going to another new country.

This may seem counter-intuitive – after all, a Singaporean TCK will be quite familiar with Singapore, right? The TCKs themselves and their parents may also think this, which makes the transition challenges even more stressful, because they were unexpected.

Some of the challenges:

• Singaporean TCKs look … well, Singaporean! They will find that they are expected to “know” how things are done. People they meet are unlikely to make allowances for unfamiliarity, mistakes and misunderstandings.

• Since they don’t look like a visitor, Singaporean TCKs are rarely offered the same kind of hospitality and help as a foreigner would be. The TCKs may stick out as strange, or worse, stupid, which is something teens really hate.

• Singaporean TCKs are generally expected to be very happy to be returning “home”. Family and friends may not understand that TCKs are conflicted about returning to Singapore as they cope with griefs and losses from leaving familiar people and places.

• There is no exit strategy! To TCKs are used to relocations having some kind of expected end point, or an option to move somewhere else. But re-entry to Singapore is usually meant to be “home for good” which can make them feel trapped.

This doesn’t mean that a Singaporean TCK will always have a difficult transition back to Singapore; it just means that they need sufficient preparation with realistic expectations so that the transition can be managed well.

* A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is someone who has spent a significant part of their childhood living outside their passport country.