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Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I was born in France, grew up in America and make my home in Japan.
I call myself an ex-patriot but I am probably not by definition.
I never plan on living in America but may some day.
Who knows?

yodetta · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 68 Location: California, USA

so, i guess the critical distinction between immigrant and expat is that the former seeks citizenship status and a new national identity, whereas the expat "just lives there"..........yeh?

so then, nomadic slackers that move from country to country with no interest in national loyalties are......just....
expats.
kinda like mercenaries, no?

good work guys!
Razz

Y

Aramas · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 2:49 am Post subject:

I want a UN passport. Countries are just too limiting.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's ex-patriate not ex-patriot.

Many ex-patriates are the most chauvinistic types you can imagine, whilst others were never patriots in the first place.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 4:13 am Post subject:

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Wherever I move, I am citizen of my very own REPUBLIC OF FREE SPIRIT!

JosephP · Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 445

I rather like the idea of expatriate English teacher slackers. Kind of brings back the romance of the "remittance man."

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:57 am Post subject: Staying away for good

Hi
I would consider myself very much the permanant ex-pat . I have no intention of returning to the country of my birth to live or work again .However, I do not seek another citizen ship ,I have one passport ,thats enough .
I have prepared myself to think this is the place I have chosen to spend the rest of my life, although the emotional ties are small its a place that suits me and its a place I shall be laid to rest in when that day comes ,I don't see myself as an immigrant for reasons that have already been stated .

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

Just an example of the narrowminded ethnocentricity that drives many people abroad to broaden their horizons
[quote]so, an Expat is one who leaves the USA on her own volition for personal reasons[/quote]

nomadder

Maybe we need a few words instead of one that describes a few situations.

Maybe immigrant is a nicer word to describe someone living in our countries from another place as it at least implies permanence and the fact that they have been accepted into the culture somewhat. And it is true that alot of immigrants were poor and came for economic or political reasons. I see nothing wrong with that.

In other countries are we not simply known as foreigners in most cases? Perhaps they assume(hope? Razz

) that we will leave one day which is often the case.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Here in Mexico the Immigration folks issue visas for stays in the country based on immigrant or non-immigrant status. I have been here for over ten years, but my permission is Vistor/Non-Immigrant because I have not applied for Immigrant status.

JosephP mentioned the term, "remittance man"--as if those folks no longer existed. If you go to the gringo-fied town of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, you will see that they are still with us--spending the better part of the day drinking beer at various bars around the main plaza. Some of them are the same folks who were remittance men in Taos, New Mexico, before it became so expensive....

nomadder · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject:

I failed to see the attraction of S.M de Allende. On the other hand there is a nearby town I absolutely loved.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I was NOT recommending it. Hate the place. Full of gringo remittance men.

Aramas · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:33 pm Post subject:

I wish I could be a remittance man. Unfortunately I can't find anyone to mit me the first time, let alone do it again.