An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. That's me!
Immigrants commit themselves to becoming party of their country of residence. Expats are more temporarily placed, destined to return one day to their homeland. Does that mean expats never adopt the culture? I don't think so.
Which one am I? I'm definitely committed to being a part of this country. But let's face it, I'm never going to be British. And I will probably return to my roots one day. Is it possible to be a hybrid of the two? An expatigrant. Yes, that's what I am.
I've picked up some of the lingo but I haven't changed my accent. If anything I now annunciate my words the way the British do. Like as in "do you?" "should do" and "cheers luv". I say them all now. I have tried and failed to drink like the British. I hope that I never catch up to them. Sunday seems to be the biggest drinking day of the weeek. Perhaps it's because I'm in London, and moved from CA where people are health-nuts so the drinking seems to happen more often?
I am ashamed and afraid for myself because I haven't been to the dentist in 9 months. That is due to my laziness and lack of organising appointments. I haven't been to the dentist in the UK before, and even when I go in the US it's never fun.
How sad. I think my new year's resolution for 2006 will be to go to the dentist. What has my life as an expat become?
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