Archive for May 21st, 2008

Is/Is not: Being an expat

NS May 21st, 2008

I haven’t done one of these in awhile so thought it was time to roll out another.

Being an expat is:

  • Exciting in the beginning
  • Confusing and annoying at times
  • Rewarding often
  • An adventure always
  • Being absent
  • Grieving alone
  • A cultural education
  • The experience of a lifetime
  • Getting lost
  • Finding yourself
  • Calling two places ‘home’
  • Feeling guilty that you aren’t there, physically, for your family

    • Being an expat is not:

  • Easy or effortless
  • Severing ties
  • Forgetting your roots
  • Running away
  • An excuse for lack of communication
  • The same as your summer in Europe
  • Cheap
  • Without heartache