As a life long expat / economic migrant (moving abroad for the first time at 2 years old), every place has had its challenges but they have all been amazing and magical in some way. And sure, lots of people love to moan, but I feel like it is the same desire to moan as those who stay in the same place and complain about their local commune or council, why the recycling system isn’t perfect or how often the pot holes are mended. People love to moan. And there is certainly a sub-set of expats who like to do it a little much. But most people who I’ve met in many countries really love the place they find themselves in and make the most of it. Right now Switzerland is my 2nd favourite country to have ever lived in and I would love to stay here forever.
And then there are expats who can't wait to visit their native homeland ---only to start hating it within days of landing there and start pining about "back home". Here's Ved Mehta, India-born writer, on his impressions of India on a short visit there after spending ten years in America and England: "I did return to India in the summer of 1959 only to have my fantasies about my homeland rudely shattered. Everywhere I went I was assaulted by putrid odors rising from the streets,by flies relentlessly swarming around my face, by octapuslike hands of scabrous, deformed beggars clutching at my hands and feet. I could not escape the choking dust, the still, oppressive air, and the incinerating heat of a summer in India ...I could hardly wait to get back (to America)."--From his essay, Naturalised Citizen No 984-5165.(included in A Ved Mehta Reader: The Craft of the Essay).
I must confess I have some sympathy for his views. I too start missing London within hours of arriving in Delhi.
Any thoughts on the difference between expats and halfpats? Having spent most of my youthful career overseas as a "halfpat," I found a bit more grit and openness in that particular (and largely perk-free) community. But I definitely relate to rose-colored revisionist history about places from my past.
Oh boy! Where do I begin about Indian expats in the US? Forgetting that they had, quite literally FLED India, they now rhapsodize about the land, the people, the culture, and hospitality, ease of life... Personally, I yearn to 'come home' now after an extended visit to India. And while this may sound cliche, for a not so well travelled person, I love London!
Thoroughly enjoyed the article Pallavi and can completely relate to it. As an accompanying spouse to a diplomat I feel I have a home nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I have often been asked which of our postings I have enjoyed the most and the question befuddles me as much today as it did some 20 years ago- so hard to choose! Each place comes with its own set of ‘wows’ and idiosyncrasies (for lack of a better word) but that’s what makes it so unique and such a fabulous experience! Sharing with your permission:)
Totally agree. When we travel to visit or stay, we probably gain more or as much as we miss from home or wherever home was.
One of the nicest things that happened to me in Zambia where I lived was when my girlfriends and I were on our way back from a road trip to a place near the Tanzania border when one of the tyres on our vehicle blew and a Tanzania bound truck stopped to help us. It was raining and they insisted that they will change the tyre with makeshift tools and also insisted we stay in the car and out of rain whilst they did that (we didn't take them up on that!) and most importantly refused any compensation in return for helping.
Another lovely incident that i remember is from our visit to Turkey many years ago. My husband and I were driving into the town of Izmir and between the traffic and one ways we lost our way and couldn't find the way to our hotel. This was pre-google map days. On our paper map we can see our hotel two streets away but have no idea how to make the turn to it with all the one ways. No one spoke English and finally we stopped near a police officer to ask for help. With all the gesturing he understood what and where we needed to go but he didn't know English to tell us to how to do it. He gestured for us to follow him, strode to his patrol car parked on one side, put on his lights and there we were following a police car with lights on for the right reasons!! One of my fondest memories.
What you describe is the behaviour akin to that of the young Victorian ladies in the “fishing fleet” to India. Stranded after the catch somewhere in a complex setting beyond their comprehension, they insisted on superiority and monochrome identity. How pleasant was it all before, when Anglos and their bibis were settled conveniently.
I’d go back to the ancient Mediterranean world: Achilles kills Penthesilea and falls in love with her at the same time. To understand, one needs to destroy. Taken a contemporary myth about the Amazons in the Persian highlands: the first day the two sides fight; the second day the two chiefs fight; the third day they all make love. Nine months later, the babies are sorted out.
If you ask me for an anthropological explanation, I’d point to the prevalence of strict monogamy in the Mediterranean, possibly related to the scarcity of property.
Finally, Western know-how has swept the world. With it, categorical thinking. One forgets the difference between know-how, knowledge, and wisdom. Slaves are provided with know-how but not knowledge, for they would no longer accept their situation. In particular, they would be able to look over the fence and understand freedom.
As a life long expat / economic migrant (moving abroad for the first time at 2 years old), every place has had its challenges but they have all been amazing and magical in some way. And sure, lots of people love to moan, but I feel like it is the same desire to moan as those who stay in the same place and complain about their local commune or council, why the recycling system isn’t perfect or how often the pot holes are mended. People love to moan. And there is certainly a sub-set of expats who like to do it a little much. But most people who I’ve met in many countries really love the place they find themselves in and make the most of it. Right now Switzerland is my 2nd favourite country to have ever lived in and I would love to stay here forever.
Can't wait to visit Switzerland and see it through your eyes. Also what's your most fave country, since Switzerland is only #2?
And then there are expats who can't wait to visit their native homeland ---only to start hating it within days of landing there and start pining about "back home". Here's Ved Mehta, India-born writer, on his impressions of India on a short visit there after spending ten years in America and England: "I did return to India in the summer of 1959 only to have my fantasies about my homeland rudely shattered. Everywhere I went I was assaulted by putrid odors rising from the streets,by flies relentlessly swarming around my face, by octapuslike hands of scabrous, deformed beggars clutching at my hands and feet. I could not escape the choking dust, the still, oppressive air, and the incinerating heat of a summer in India ...I could hardly wait to get back (to America)."--From his essay, Naturalised Citizen No 984-5165.(included in A Ved Mehta Reader: The Craft of the Essay).
I must confess I have some sympathy for his views. I too start missing London within hours of arriving in Delhi.
Any thoughts on the difference between expats and halfpats? Having spent most of my youthful career overseas as a "halfpat," I found a bit more grit and openness in that particular (and largely perk-free) community. But I definitely relate to rose-colored revisionist history about places from my past.
Oh boy! Where do I begin about Indian expats in the US? Forgetting that they had, quite literally FLED India, they now rhapsodize about the land, the people, the culture, and hospitality, ease of life... Personally, I yearn to 'come home' now after an extended visit to India. And while this may sound cliche, for a not so well travelled person, I love London!
Thoroughly enjoyed the article Pallavi and can completely relate to it. As an accompanying spouse to a diplomat I feel I have a home nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I have often been asked which of our postings I have enjoyed the most and the question befuddles me as much today as it did some 20 years ago- so hard to choose! Each place comes with its own set of ‘wows’ and idiosyncrasies (for lack of a better word) but that’s what makes it so unique and such a fabulous experience! Sharing with your permission:)
Please do share! So happy this resonated with you 😊
Totally agree. When we travel to visit or stay, we probably gain more or as much as we miss from home or wherever home was.
One of the nicest things that happened to me in Zambia where I lived was when my girlfriends and I were on our way back from a road trip to a place near the Tanzania border when one of the tyres on our vehicle blew and a Tanzania bound truck stopped to help us. It was raining and they insisted that they will change the tyre with makeshift tools and also insisted we stay in the car and out of rain whilst they did that (we didn't take them up on that!) and most importantly refused any compensation in return for helping.
Another lovely incident that i remember is from our visit to Turkey many years ago. My husband and I were driving into the town of Izmir and between the traffic and one ways we lost our way and couldn't find the way to our hotel. This was pre-google map days. On our paper map we can see our hotel two streets away but have no idea how to make the turn to it with all the one ways. No one spoke English and finally we stopped near a police officer to ask for help. With all the gesturing he understood what and where we needed to go but he didn't know English to tell us to how to do it. He gestured for us to follow him, strode to his patrol car parked on one side, put on his lights and there we were following a police car with lights on for the right reasons!! One of my fondest memories.
What you describe is the behaviour akin to that of the young Victorian ladies in the “fishing fleet” to India. Stranded after the catch somewhere in a complex setting beyond their comprehension, they insisted on superiority and monochrome identity. How pleasant was it all before, when Anglos and their bibis were settled conveniently.
I’d go back to the ancient Mediterranean world: Achilles kills Penthesilea and falls in love with her at the same time. To understand, one needs to destroy. Taken a contemporary myth about the Amazons in the Persian highlands: the first day the two sides fight; the second day the two chiefs fight; the third day they all make love. Nine months later, the babies are sorted out.
If you ask me for an anthropological explanation, I’d point to the prevalence of strict monogamy in the Mediterranean, possibly related to the scarcity of property.
Finally, Western know-how has swept the world. With it, categorical thinking. One forgets the difference between know-how, knowledge, and wisdom. Slaves are provided with know-how but not knowledge, for they would no longer accept their situation. In particular, they would be able to look over the fence and understand freedom.