NationStates Jolt Archive

I know there're several folks around who are currently or have been expatriates.

Lets have the details: who, how long, where, why, etc.

Me:
I've been 15 years in Japan (as of March 31 this year). I came as a student in 1988 and was here for 1 year in Nagasaki. I returned in 1992, lived in Niigata for 2 years, and then moved to Osaka.

I know there're several folks around who are currently or have been expatriates.

Lets have the details: who, how long, where, why, etc.

Me:
I've been 15 years in Japan (as of March 31 this year). I came as a student in 1988 and was here for 1 year in Nagasaki. I returned in 1992, lived in Niigata for 2 years, and then moved to Osaka.

Thats sort of similar to my dad, except completely reversed.

He was born in Osaka, grew up in Kiryu, Gumma-ken, went to Tokyo as a student, then went to New York as an art student and is living his life here.

We still visit Japan every summer to see my family and pay our respects to our ancestors at Obon.

I have been 8 years in Brazil. I met and married a Brazilian PhD student while I was at Uni in England, and she had a legal obligation to return to Brazil connected to her scholarship.
I arrived here on Feb 1st 1998, lived for a few weeks in Santos and then moved to Caxias in Rio Grande do Sul. 1 year later we moved again to São Leopoldo where we have been for the last 7 years.
We are now considering moving on. To where will depend on work. (University lecturing in her case. I am more adaptable.)

I'm very likely moving to France when I finish university. I was stationed in Germany for a couple of years (and that's not really being an expat), and absolutely fell in love with France. Right now I'm a French major and intend on doing TEFL work there. Next spring I'm going to a language school in France, so we'll see how it goes from there.

i first left chicago for outer wisconsin nearly 7 years ago to go to college, and met a girl. i've mostly lived here ever since.

i first left chicago for outer wisconsin nearly 7 years ago to go to college, and met a girl. i've mostly lived here ever since.

So Wisconsin is in a different country from the one Chicago's in...

...I actually buy that. :)

So Wisconsin is in a different country from the one Chicago's in...

...I actually buy that. :)

Honestly, I'd consider someone moving from one state to another to be an expat, especially if moving from somewhere like Michigan or Wisconsin to Texas or Arizona.

So Wisconsin is in a different country from the one Chicago's in...

...I actually buy that. :)

as well you should.

the culture shock was rather dramatic, and i have to put up with a lot of xenophobic anti-chicago discrimination. but once you learn the local customs (mainly, discussing beer and the packers) and adopt the local style of dress (like every day is hunting season), they come to accept you.
somewhat.

Honestly, I'd consider someone moving from one state to another to be an expat, especially if moving from somewhere like Michigan or Wisconsin to Texas or Arizona.

i'm kidding about the wisconsin thing (mostly, anyway), but when i lived in idaho it certainly felt more foreign than the time i spent in toronto.

I've been in Japan for a bit more than a year and a half now having arrived in August of 2004. I'll be here until August 2007 when I'll return home till my fiancee (soon to be wife) finishes her program at my university. After that... damned if I know, we still haven't decided on either Japan or the US (Or Canada as our third option).

Likely we'll end up hopping between the Japan and the US quite a bit.

I lived & worked in England for two years, during my early 20s.

I have been 8 years in Brazil. I met and married a Brazilian PhD student while I was at Uni in England, and she had a legal obligation to return to Brazil connected to her scholarship.
I arrived here on Feb 1st 1998, lived for a few weeks in Santos and then moved to Caxias in Rio Grande do Sul. 1 year later we moved again to São Leopoldo where we have been for the last 7 years.
We are now considering moving on. To where will depend on work. (University lecturing in her case. I am more adaptable.)

You're Alien Born? I just worked this out (assuming I'm correct). What happened to you?

You're Alien Born? I just worked this out (assuming I'm correct). What happened to you?

Yes, I am Alien Born.
What happened to me was a masters degree needed work to be done. (There is still a little left to be done, but it is under control now.)

Yes, I am Alien Born.
What happened to me was a masters degree needed work to be done. (There is still a little left to be done, but it is under control now.)

Real life got in the way, eh? Bugger.

I used to enjoy reading your debates & wondered where you'd got to. The Brazil thing tipped me off.

I know there're several folks around who are currently or have been expatriates.

Lets have the details: who, how long, where, why, etc.

Me:
I've been 15 years in Japan (as of March 31 this year). I came as a student in 1988 and was here for 1 year in Nagasaki. I returned in 1992, lived in Niigata for 2 years, and then moved to Osaka.
In Nagasaki? Did you get radiation poisoning or sumthing?

In Nagasaki? Did you get radiation poisoning or sumthing?
*Pounds repeatedly with a hammerspace mallet*

*Pounds repeatedly with a hammerspace mallet*

I think he's immature & starved of attention. Not much you can do about it really.

I think he's immature & starved of attention. Not much you can do about it really.
Oh I dunno, seems to work well in Japan.

Of course usually it's a cute girl that's doing it so... ;)

*Pounds repeatedly with a hammerspace mallet*
But seriously, do they still have radiation and whatnot?

I think he's immature & starved of attention. Not much you can do about it really.
No, I just have a tendency to make inane, insensitive comments for the sake of dumb comedy. Immature? Your call.

Oh I dunno, seems to work well in Japan.

Of course usually it's a cute girl that's doing it so... ;)

In that case, there are mitigating circumstances. :p

But seriously, do they still have radiation and whatnot?
No, the background radiation of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well within safe limits. I believe it is something like 5% higher, if that. You get more from being in front of your computer typing on NSGeneral or from nuking your frozen burrito than you do there.

Both cities are fully rebuilt and, as per Japan, very crowded.

No, I just have a tendency to make inane, insensitive comments for the sake of dumb comedy. Immature? Your call.

Pity it's not funny. It doesn't offend me either. I find it tedious more than anything.

My call? Immature, definitely.

Edit: There's a word for you in my vernacular - wanker.

No, the background radiation of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well within safe limits. I believe it is something like 5% higher, if that. You get more from being in front of your computer typing on NSGeneral or from nuking your frozen burrito than you do there.

Both cities are fully rebuilt and, as per Japan, very crowded.

My little sister's in Japan at the moment, in Fukuoka (sp?). She visited Nagasaki recently. I'm going to visit her in July for 10 days, but we'll be moslty in the north, around Tokyo. I wouldn't mind visiting Hiroshima, if it's nearby.

My little sister's in Japan at the moment, in Fukuoka (sp?). She visited Nagasaki recently. I'm going to visit her in July for 10 days, but we'll be moslty in the north, around Tokyo. I wouldn't mind visiting Hiroshima, if it's nearby.
Hiroshima is about 5 or so hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. You're actually closer to it when you're in Fukuoka.

Hiroshima is about 5 or so hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. You're actually closer to it when you're in Fukuoka.

I'm meeting her in Tokyo, because she's explored a fair bit around Fukuoka & wants to see some different parts of the country! :p

No, the background radiation of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well within safe limits. I believe it is something like 5% higher, if that. You get more from being in front of your computer typing on NSGeneral or from nuking your frozen burrito than you do there.

Both cities are fully rebuilt and, as per Japan, very crowded.
Thanks, now I feel enlightened. :)

Pity it's not funny. It doesn't offend me either. I find it tedious more than anything.

My call? Immature, definitely.

Edit: There's a word for you in my vernacular - wanker.
There's a word for you in my vernacular also-asshat.

I'm meeting her in Tokyo, because she's explored a fair bit around Fukuoka & wants to see some different parts of the country! :p
Ah, in which case I would say try to get her to take you to Yokohama, the waterfront area is beautiful and Chinatown is a treat if you love good food.

I'm also saying sorry that your experiance of Japan will be that soul sucking monstrosity known as Tokyo.

Thanks, now I feel enlightened. :)


There's a word for you in my vernacular also-asshat.

I can live with it.

Ah, in which case I would say try to get her to take you to Yokohama, the waterfront area is beautiful and Chinatown is a treat if you love good food.

I'm also saying sorry that your experiance of Japan will be that soul sucking monstrosity known as Tokyo.

We're just meeting in Tokyo, we're not going to stay there more than a couple of days. We're planning to visit a few different places, including staying at a Buddhist monastery (off the top of my head I can't remember where). It's just that my knowledge of Japanese geography is pretty ordinary. I'll speak to her about Yokohama, it sounds cool!

I'm part of the 'left behind.' My friends from High School, all the bright kids (and then me...) all cut out the first chance they got. Doing science and jobs I don't understand (business, which I honestly think involves voodoo and chicken sacrafices since I can't for the life of me figure out what all those people in cubicles do) Now it's me, one guy who's got one foot out the door but is trying to get everyone to bail and another friend who, like me, doesn't have the means to up and split.

We're just meeting in Tokyo, we're not going to stay there more than a couple of days. We're planning to visit a few different places, including staying at a Buddhist monastery (off the top of my head I can't remember where). It's just that my knowledge of Japanese geography is pretty ordinary. I'll speak to her about Yokohama, it sounds cool!
Oh, ok. Everyone should visit Tokyo for a few days, the damage isn't too bad from that.

Buddhist monastery? If you're interested in that, I recomend Zenkoji in Nagano City.

I'm part of the 'left behind.' My friends from High School, all the bright kids (and then me...) all cut out the first chance they got. Doing science and jobs I don't understand (business, which I honestly think involves voodoo and chicken sacrafices since I can't for the life of me figure out what all those people in cubicles do) Now it's me, one guy who's got one foot out the door but is trying to get everyone to bail and another friend who, like me, doesn't have the means to up and split.
Excuse me, but what the hell are you talking about?

I'm no expat, but my dad is.

Excuse me, but what the hell are you talking about?
Tacos...

I'm hoping to get into med school just after the NHS starts clearing out hospitals and public health services. I might have no choice!

Look out Commonwealth, here I come!

I could very well become an expat.
*does guess-math*
I calculate, depending on what path I'll blaze, in 4-7 years we'll know. By the by, when I say "we" I really mean at least "I".

Well I'm in France...

Though it doesn't reqlly count.

But these French keyboqrds are really confusing. Especially since I touch type. It took ages to realise why I wasn't loging in :s

When i was 3 I moved to saudi arabia with my parents and sisters, we lived in Riyadh till the gulf war, we then moved back to the netherlands for a while, and then in 1992 we moved back to saudi arabia, this time al-khobar (went to dhahran academy/british section)and we stayed there till 1996. We went back to the netherlands for 2 years, and then to saudi arabia again for 2 years. I've been back in the netherlands now for a few years and i've started uni, but i'm hoping to be moving abroad for my Masters, or at least then for whatever i'll be doing after my masters.

I was wondering, for those expats who spent part of their school years abroad, did you go to an international school? what did you do when back in your own country (if yourcountry is one that doesn't have english as its main language), did you go to an international school or to a 'normal one'?

I'm not, though I've considered moving to Canada, but if I were to move from here it would most likely be to Massachusetts.

I came here when I was 16, in 2001. It's a long and sad story. But at the end of it will be me, rising from the ashes. :)

Tacos...
ahhh...

http://www.hahapages.com/pics/tacobellsecret.jpeg

In Nagasaki? Did you get radiation poisoning or sumthing?

Yes. I got raditation poisoning and died a horrible death.

No, the background radiation of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are well within safe limits. I believe it is something like 5% higher, if that. You get more from being in front of your computer typing on NSGeneral or from nuking your frozen burrito than you do there.

Both cities are fully rebuilt and, as per Japan, very crowded.

Not to mention that I wasn't living in the city of Nagasaki, but the prefecture - Isahaya, to be precise. (And whoa! When did you sig. me? :D)

I came here when I was 16, in 2001. It's a long and sad story. But at the end of it will be me, rising from the ashes. :)

I'm curious. Do you like living in Aus? Like some things, dislike other things? Would prefer to live in another part of the country? Would move back to Germany tomorrow if you could?

Just a little longer and I will no longer be dodging the Slovak draft.

I'm curious. Do you like living in Aus? Like some things, dislike other things? Would prefer to live in another part of the country? Would move back to Germany tomorrow if you could?
I would enjoy it much more if my family wasn't so poor, let's just put it like that.

(And whoa! When did you sig. me? :D)
Right after you typed that because I couldn't look at it without laughing hard.

I figured it was very sig worthy. ;)

I was an expat for most of my life because of my dad's job in the State Department.

Two years in Kenya, two years in Sierra Leone, three and a half years in Malaysia, three years in Botswana, two years in Italy, four years in Belgium. After leaving Belgium, I returned to the US for university, but my parents were transferred to Zambia. So I spent two summers there as well.

I have been 8 years in Brazil. I met and married a Brazilian PhD student while I was at Uni in England, and she had a legal obligation to return to Brazil connected to her scholarship.
I arrived here on Feb 1st 1998, lived for a few weeks in Santos and then moved to Caxias in Rio Grande do Sul. 1 year later we moved again to São Leopoldo where we have been for the last 7 years.
We are now considering moving on. To where will depend on work. (University lecturing in her case. I am more adaptable.)


You're a very fortunate man ;)


I met a charming, extremely beautiful brazilian when I was in London, but I didnt marry her 8(

I was born in Italy, although, I only lived there until I was 5 years (and age 16-17) old because the US offered a better education. However, I go back home for most vacations and if not for my choice of career I would probably take up residence in Italy, so I'm not sure if I'd really qualify as an expatriate.

I was an expat for most of my life because of my dad's job in the State Department.

Two years in Kenya, two years in Sierra Leone, three and a half years in Malaysia, three years in Botswana, two years in Italy, four years in Belgium. After leaving Belgium, I returned to the US for university, but my parents were transferred to Zambia. So I spent two summers there as well.


I'm going to become an FSO after grad school. Are you glad for all the travel? I'm not sure how it will work out when I have kids.

Honestly, I'd consider someone moving from one state to another to be an expat, especially if moving from somewhere like Michigan or Wisconsin to Texas or Arizona.
When tickets went on sale for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, they were only available to U.S. residents at first. There were more than a few people that called in from New Mexico to buy tickets, only to be refused because they weren't part of the U.S. So I suppose you would be an expatriate if you moved from Georgia to New Mexico.

I'm going to become an FSO after grad school. Are you glad for all the travel? I'm not sure how it will work out when I have kids.

Wouldn't trade it for the world. I did more traveling as a child than many do in a lifetime, and I count myself very lucky for it. The catch, though, is that my family started moving when I was very young (six months old), so I never knew anything else. It was just my life - for me, all the traveling was normal. I have friends, however, who spent their lives in one place for many years, then started moving around, and they hated it. For them, their parents were uprooting them from everything they'd ever known. For me, there was nothing to uproot. People ask me where I'm from, and I still tell them I don't really know.

Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. :)

Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. :)
Ever been to Zimbabwe?... and what's your favorite type of pie?

Ever been to Zimbabwe?... and what's your favorite type of pie?

Yes, several times. And my favourite kind of pie is peach, but only if it's made by my grandmother. :p

I'm an expat from the NorthEast - Jersey.

Now living in Arizona for coming up on 4 years. That was quite the culture and climate shock. New York, closed in but friendly type to the bleach-blond dyed, overly tanned idiot that pretends to either be British or from California.

Dear god I hate scottsdale, old people, big cars, and plastic surgery.

I swear they are all robots, I think I've found maybe 4 real actual people with personalities. Its scary.

Right after you typed that because I couldn't look at it without laughing hard.

I figured it was very sig worthy. ;)

First time that I've been sigged here.

Yes, several times. And my favourite kind of pie is peach, but only if it's made by my grandmother. :p
What region haven't you been to then?

I would enjoy it much more if my family wasn't so poor, let's just put it like that.

Ah, fair enough. I just assumed your father must be a fairly high-up exec & got posted here.

What region haven't you been to then?

I've never been anywhere in South America. I also haven't been to Australia, Russia, or the Middle East. Or Antarctica. I hope to remedy this over the course of my life.

I've never been anywhere in South America. I also haven't been to Australia, Russia, or the Middle East. Or Antarctica. I hope to remedy this over the course of my life.
The best of luck to you with that, my friend.

The best of luck to you with that, my friend.

Thank you. I'm 22, so I figure I have lots of time left to do all that traveling. :)

I'm an expat from the NorthEast - Jersey.

Now living in Arizona for coming up on 4 years. That was quite the culture and climate shock. New York, closed in but friendly type to the bleach-blond dyed, overly tanned idiot that pretends to either be British or from California.

Dear god I hate scottsdale, old people, big cars, and plastic surgery.

I swear they are all robots, I think I've found maybe 4 real actual people with personalities. Its scary.


Especially "north scottsdale."

Especially "north scottsdale."
That's where my parents live. Horrible, horrible little place.


Except I do like the mountain in the backyard, makes for good hiking. But other than, nothing to do but eat and sleep and talk to people who aren't from that corner of the world.

Ah, fair enough. I just assumed your father must be a fairly high-up exec & got posted here.
Well, he used to be pretty high up in a German company. He was head of the IT in Hamburg.

But in his midlife crisis (and happily reinforced by my mum), he figured that a change was in order.

Figuring that IT-skills were in demand, we came to Australia...not so, it turned out.

Trying to get into the same positions he had in Germany, he was told that he didn't have enough working experience in Australia.

Trying to get into lower-level positions to gain that experience, he was told that he was overqualified (and Australians will never, never employ someone they think could become a threat to themselves by virtue of ability).

And it went downhill from there...:(

My lovely boyfriend is Canadian, he moved to England from Toronto last year, for the wild hot sex and beer. He really likes it here and thinks that moving from a big modern city to a small Enhlish Village with a Norman Castle is pretty cool....He has even got used to driving on the 'correct' side of the VERY VERY narrow and windy roads...

I am Dutch, but I have been living in Italy now for bit less than a year. In the past, I lived in Australia for a year and Greece for half a year.

And I do definitely not plan to go back to the Netherlands! It was a great place to get (part of) my education, but I do not want to work there. Probably Switzerland or the US is gonna be it in the future...