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

    • 7 Responses to “Is/Is not: Being an expat”

    1. Stacey says:
      21 May 2008 at 4:03 pm

      The same as your summer in Europe – heeeeeeeeeee!

    2. jen says:
      21 May 2008 at 6:12 pm

      Stacey beat me to it! ;)

    3. Souad says:
      21 May 2008 at 9:06 pm

      Is not without heartache … My eyes are welling up with tears.

    4. Becky says:
      23 May 2008 at 1:12 am

      A resounding ‘Yes’ to all that.

    5. NS says:
      23 May 2008 at 7:13 am

      Stacey, that one was for you especially. :)

    6. Nicole says:
      31 May 2008 at 1:48 pm

      Amen sister!

    7. Babychaos says:
      2 June 2008 at 4:21 pm

      Yeh. I know I couldn’t do it.

      Cheers

      BC