What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
#16
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I was about the same. I had been coming here for years on vacation, so thought I knew the place. I quickly found out visiting here and living here are wildly different. Nearly 10 years later, I feel completely at home. After 20 years I should, but the Facebook group I’m a member of is just full of stuff going on back in the uk, or people trying to find British items over here, so I guess some people never feel at home over here.
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I was about the same. I had been coming here for years on vacation, so thought I knew the place. I quickly found out visiting here and living here are wildly different. Nearly 10 years later, I feel completely at home. After 20 years I should, but the Facebook group I’m a member of is just full of stuff going on back in the uk, or people trying to find British items over here, so I guess some people never feel at home over here.
#19
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I've been an expat for about 15 years' total between Canada and the US.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
#20
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I've been an expat for about 15 years' total between Canada and the US.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
#21
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,547
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I've been an expat for about 15 years' total between Canada and the US.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
Last edited by robin1234; May 28th 2022 at 6:26 pm.
#22
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
My observation is those expats who establish friendships and links in the community tend to transition better than those who seek to stay in closer "expat" circles and seek out pople from back home. Not saying it's the same for everyone, but the ones that go home tend to be that way.
#23
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I was ecstatic about being here by the end of my first month; my job was fantastic, the pay was great, my co-workers were upbeat, I found a wonderful apartment overlooking the ocean in SF, I was eating the best food I'd ever discovered, and the sky was blue every day. Only as I got much, much older did some of the downsides, like health insurance, become apparent; but on balance, I wouldn't change it for anything.
The biggest factor in being happy here, it seems to me, is whether you really wanted to be here in the first place. The people who are most unhappy here tend to be the 'reluctant spouses' who came with their partners, or those that came here for marriage (but not for the country).
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 473
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
The biggest factor in being happy here, it seems to me, is whether you really wanted to be here in the first place. The people who are most unhappy here tend to be the 'reluctant spouses' who came with their partners, or those that came here for marriage (but not for the country).
#25
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I'd like to see some clarification on what constitutes expat failure. OP defined this failure as expatting for less than 12 months, but now we seem to be veering into "failure = feeling unhappy".
Surely one can be considered as expat passed if expatted for longer 12 months, even if feeling unhappy?
Surely one can be considered as expat passed if expatted for longer 12 months, even if feeling unhappy?
#26
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2021
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 20
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
I'd like to see some clarification on what constitutes expat failure. OP defined this failure as expatting for less than 12 months, but now we seem to be veering into "failure = feeling unhappy".
Surely one can be considered as expat passed if expatted for longer 12 months, even if feeling unhappy?
Surely one can be considered as expat passed if expatted for longer 12 months, even if feeling unhappy?
Does it even matter??...probably not. Let's not put boundaries on ourselves. Life is hard enough already.
Let's just say that adding to life's experiences by being worldly enough to have delved into other cultures, makes us better people.
#27
#29
#30
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2021
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 20
Re: What All Considering Becoming Expats Should Consider
We tried, but the desk clerk said he was too old to be my dad and only a parent could sign the credit card transaction. (The dentures might have given it away)
Never mind. We'll find another way....me....Pulaski....and poor silicone spatula....that he promised me would be fun.
Never mind. We'll find another way....me....Pulaski....and poor silicone spatula....that he promised me would be fun.