Office for International Students:

A third place for International Students, Third Culture Kids, Missionary Kids

Welcome: I grew up as a missionary kid in Haiti, a beautiful country in the Caribbean. I moved to the U.S. while in high school and learned to adjust to many cultural differences. At Erskine Theological Seminary, we understand change and to this end we would like to ease your transition into this new journey.

In The Great Good Place (Oldenburg, 1989) there is a discussion about the loss of an informal public place, similar to coffeehouses in Europe where people gather for social discourse. Oldenburg maintained that the problem of place is magnified by the inability to establish common experiences outside of family or professional contacts. His solution for the problem of place is what he termed the third place or components in society that allow for the engagement of sociopolitical structures. Oldenburg reminds us that in ancient times, the agora, or public place, was centrally significant to the culture. We want Erskine Seminary to function as a third place for you to establish community, make new friends, and share in cross-cultural experiences.

Background: Erskine Theological Seminary has a commitment to serve the global community with theological education. We currently have 30 South Sudanese pastors studying by way of solar-powered MP3 players. We also have a sister seminary relationship with the Bible Institute of Light in Les Cayes, Haiti. Moreover, we have established connections in Kenya and Rwanda to begin offering theological studies to students who cannot travel to the United States. Our international student population includes those from Pakistan, Mexico, Kenya, Germany, Brazil, France, and Korea.

International Students

International Students: We are excited to know that you are considering attending Erskine Theological Seminary where we seek to educate persons for service in the Christian Church. We warmly welcome you to our global community. If you are applying for a Master’s level degree, please click here. If you are applying for the Doctoral level degree, please click here.

Resources: The following sites may provide helpful information as you begin the process of applying for theological studies at Erskine Theological Seminary.

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)
• Travel information

Things to consider: We recommend that international students applying to Erskine Theological Seminary begin the admission process nine to twelve months (9-12) in advance of the enrollment date. The following information should help you in the process of applying.

1. TOEFL: A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)is mandatory. A minimum score of 550 is required on the paper version or a minimum score of 213 is required for the computer version. The TOEFL is available through the American Consular Office. Our TOEFL code is 5188. The TOEFL is waived if you completed an under-graduate degree in which English was the medium of instruction.

2. Affidavit of Support: You or your sponsor must submit an Affidavit of Support to prove that financial resources are available for you to attend Erskine. In addition, you must include a statement from your bank that certifies the funds listed on the form. Click here to access U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Click on forms and then select the I-134 form, the Affidavit of Support. The form must be submitted to the Director of Admissions along with any accompanying documents such as bank statements, CD’s, or investments statements which must be reflected in U.S. Dollars.

3. Entrance Postponement: If you choose to delay entrance more than one year, you will be required to repeat the application process in its entirety.

4. Obtaining the I-20 or F-1 visa:

i. must be accepted into program at Erskine Theological Seminary
ii. must submit a photo
iii. complete form I-134, Affidavit of Support and submit appropriate financial statements in U.S. Dollars
iv. Erskine Theological Seminary, the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) Mary Stephens will issue I-20 and mail to the student
v. Student pays I-901 fee to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at http://www.FMJfee.com
vi. DHS will note payment of fee in SEVIS
vii. Student visits home Embassy or Consulate for interview and application of F-1 visa
viii. Student travels to U.S. (no more than 30 days prior to 1st day of class) and enters at port of entry (POE)
ix. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspects I-20 and approves entry
x. Student reports to PDSO

5. Complete the Application Process: Complete each question applicable to you and sign the application form. The application needs to be typed or printed in blue or black ink.

a. Master’s level application form
b. Doctoral level application form

Please note that the admissions process cannot begin until all items listed on the application form have been received.

Third Culture Kids Third Culture Kid (TCK): Ruth Hill Useem first identified the term Third Culture Kid as a way of identifying those children who may reside or spend a significant portion of their childhood in a country other than their birth or passport country. A TCK is one who some sociologists describe as "a person who builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership of any culture” (David Pollock).

Definition

The reality of that third culture is that you both don’t belong entirely to either one and yet you belong completely. In one country, you may be clearly an outsider – the color of your skin, your hair, your language, or the way you view yourself may be different from those around you. And yet, you may speak the language fluently, you may have lived among the nationals, adopted their ways of doing, and in most respects, consider yourself “one of them.”

According to Roa (1995) “Many TCKs experience cultural marginality in which they do not fit perfectly into any specific culture where they have lived, but on the other hand, fit comfortably on the edge or margin of any one of them.” Schaetii (1996) describes the process as the feeling that one is at home anywhere and yet feels disconnected at the same time. “TCKs who feel at home anywhere may exhibit constructive marginality in which they feel different from others, but are able to use their differences constructively” (Schaetti).

Click here for more information.

Culture

Our culture plays a large part in helping us define ourselves. John and Diane Larsen wrote that “In large part, culture determines and defines values, basic social skills, verbal and nonverbal communication styles, perceptions of reality, and worldviews” (2001). The problem arises when a child exists in two different worlds and there are either cultural clashes or there may not be well-defined cultural definitions. In this clash, adolescents may have a hard time navigating those murky waters.

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Characteristics

• TCKs are most likely to have jobs in the field of education, medicine, and other professional positions
• 90% feel "out of sync" with their peers.
• 90% report feeling as if they understand other cultures/peoples better than the average American.
• 80% believe they can get along with anybody.
• Lack a sense of "where home is" but often nationalistic.
• Some studies show a desire to "settle down" others a "restlessness to move".
• Third culture kids are often tolerant cultural chameleons who can choose to what degree they wish to display their background.

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Strengths

• They are much more comfortable communicating with adults than the average American teenager. • They tend to possess greater maturity in social skills. They are able to adapt well and notice details others might not.
• TCK’s possess global perspective. They are able to understand the perspectives other nations have and relate them one to another. As a result, they are usually less prejudiced than others their age.
• They are achievers. A far greater percentage of TCK’s go on to earn Bachelor degrees and advanced degrees than other groups.
• Because of their own experiences of feeling different, they are much more likely to reach out and accept new people, especially those with different cultural backgrounds.

Click here for more information.

Missionary Kids (MKs)

Missionary Kids (MKs) are usually considered TCKs and typically spend most of their formative years overseas in one country. In most cases, their parents serve as missionaries to one country but increasingly, missionaries spend their ministry in more than one country. Since missionaries have traditionally lived among the nationals in order to better serve them, MKs have adapted to the local culture more so than people from their birth culture or country or passport origin. In many cases, MKs can adapt more easily to change and appear to behave as a chameleon in order to more comfortably fit in to their surroundings.

Resources

• Letters Never Sent: One Woman's Journey from Hurt to Wholeness
• Mu Kappa – a fraternal organization for MKs http://www.mukappa.org/