Dear Miss Move Abroad.
I’m an executive and I travel a good deal for my work. I’ve visited 41 countries on five continents. I’ve had the dubious pleasure of meeting many so called “expats” and have come to this conclusion: Most expats are losers who can’t cut it at home. I’ve yet to meet an expat, anywhere in the world, that makes me say to myself, Now there’s a winner!”
You’re Miss Move Abroad, so I don’t expect you to agree with me. But I dare you to print my letter.
Been There, Met Them
Dear Mr. Been,
How did you know that I can never resist a dare? That’s probably why I’ve lived in so many different places over the years, loser that I am.
But believe it or not, I can see where you might come to your conclusion. Many people flee their home country to escape—from the law, from child support payments, or from their own unfathomable selves. And it’s true that in expat communities all over the world you’ll find some pretty shady characters, people who come for lax law enforcement, the cheap drugs, the discounted sex. Those who in their home countries are either unwanted or wanted (think notices on post office walls).
This, however, is only one of the many varieties of expat, and your views make me suspect that you’re a Layover Larry, with your experience heavy on airports and underlings. Have you ever been to the homes of your colleagues overseas? Do you stay on after your business is concluded, to see what the place is like without your “work” filter operating? You may also be unwittingly narrowing your experience of a place. Do you work hard all day in a sequestered setting and then spend your nights in an expat bar surrounded by herds of expaticus alcoholicus complaining about the natives as they slowly slide off their barstools? Needless to say, these folks aren’t the best representatives of the expat species.
If you take a little more time and seek out other kinds of expats, you might find Peace Corps volunteers, academics or scientists chasing after their subjects, students on a gap year abroad, artists and writers looking for new material or a place cheap enough so that they can concentrate on their vocation rather than on being a wage slave, students of the language or culture, parents who want to broaden their kid’s horizons, or retirees who can finally live where they want regardless of work opportunities.
And Mr. Been, if I may ask, what exactly would cause you to exclaim, “Now there’s a winner?” Seeing yourself in the mirror? Does a person have to match up exactly with your version of success to be worthy? Sounds like you’re ripe for a long-term experience in a radically different culture, if only to show you that there are many, many definitions of success, many of which will look nothing like yours.
You have Ann Landers and Dear Abby beat in all ways. I hope Mr. Been reads your reply and learns something from it.
You’re so right Kathy!
I really like your blog! It’s really, really well written which is a rare thing to find in travel blogs. I posted a few links from your site on my facebook page and linked to you on my blog…They’re so thoroughly thought out. I hope you keep writing!
PS I’ve lived abroad a lot too, (Austria, Germany and Japan) and am home for the time being trying to save up money. It’s tough though, and I can’t wait to get back out there. I’m thinking about moving to South or Central America next. Did you enjoy Guatamala? Would you recommend teaching English there?
Hi Reannon,
Thanks for your comments and the links! Sounds like you’ve really been around. I know how it is trying to save up for the next adventure. And though it’s not a great time economy-wise, it’s always a good time to be heading out into the wider world (or just dreaming about it).
As for Guatemala, I loved it–I think it’s one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in Central America. Teaching English is always a good (if popular) option. I’d list a slew of places to start looking but I’m on the road in Costa Rica right now and research is a little tricky.
Buena suerte!
Miss Move Abroad
In a large part I can agree with the sentiment of mr traveling executive. I’ve been living in China for about 2 months and probably 85% of the expats i’ve met are pretty lame or defective. I’m not sure what it is about a foreign country that draws those types but I agree there are other types also.
Personally I came to China for a change. I had just turned 30 and wanted some excitement in my life. China has a booming economy and I wanted to learn and be apart of it instead of fighting the slugging economy back home.
But it should be noted that many normal people behave differently in a foreign country.
IMO the worst expats are the ones that go native, this is especially prevalent in asian countries, i believe.
Dear Miss Move Abroad:
I’ve seen those self-important executives who travel a good deal for those predatory global imperialist corporations. They stay at the good hotels, drink too much, get laid by exploited sex-workers as they sell their overpriced crap to a world that doesn’t need them or their products.
Most business executives are losers who can’t cut it abroad, if it weren’t for the platinum credit cards and expense accounts. I’ve yet to meet a corporate executive anywhere in the world who makes me say to myself, “Now there’s a decent human being who isn’t exploiting people and ripping off the wealth of the planet for corporate profits.”
Why can’t these corporate losers stay home and go to meetings, or exercise their stock options and just leave the planet alone?
Zoltan