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Expatriation, anyone?

  
 
Francine I
22:32 / 09.09.06
I'm beginning this thread in hopes of sparking some discussion on the subject of expatriation. In particular, I suppose, I am personally interested in certain questions from the perspective of a US citizen. Namely; ease of assimilation, cultural and business attitudes towards US immigrants, political attitudes in general, cultural attitudes that might be difficult to glean for someone who has not visited, and whatsoever natives of possible destinations for a potential US escapee might think is important information to convey. I beg people with particular knowledge of contrast between cultures to soap box here. I'm primarily curious about English-speaking countries (thinking of the UK), but not at all close-minded, and I'm very much hoping there are others tossing some of these questions around.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
22:48 / 09.09.06
Americans are reasonably popular in the UK, at least in my city. Certainly not hated on sight. The only problems that my few USAquaintances have headed up are:

1) People assuming you support Bush and thus being your enemy (not very nice, considering my mate's dad was actually head of the Alaskan Socialist Party or somesuch).

2) People assuming you support Bush and thus being your friend (worse, much worse).

Generally, in the UK, you'll probably be seen as a celebrity and appear in loads of films. Canadians are the ones who get the shitty end of the stick from people thinking they're American and fealing cheated.
 
 
MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!
23:10 / 09.09.06
You probably already know that Canada is very American-friendly, generally speaking.
 
 
COG
23:38 / 09.09.06
You may be interested in this thread as well. Discussing some of the effects of moving abroad.
 
 
grant
23:57 / 09.09.06
Funnily, my better half just found this job listing and we're having some talky talky.

I don't know if this counts, exactly, but almost.
 
 
Francine I
01:06 / 10.09.06
Legba:

I figure the specter of Bush (and US support for him, two times 'round the electoral bend) will haunt me wheresoever I go. I also figure I'd rather live with assumptions, right or wrong, than live under Bush, his installed Supreme Court, and a loaded U.S. Congress. I'd also rather pay my taxes somewhere where they contribute more to social welfare and less to violence.

Matt:

This is true, though I'd like to be somewhere over the pond, all things being equal. If I were to consider Canada, I'd probably head for Quebec.

Cog:

Thanks for the link -- in fact, that thread helped to start the wheels turning for me.

Grant:

Obviously, I empathize with your interest. However, I find this bit from the Wikipedia article a little creepy:

"Between 1946 and 1958 the USA tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, including the largest nuclear test the US ever conducted, Castle Bravo, which resulted in the radiation poisoning of 236 Marshallese. Nuclear claims between the United States and the Marshall Islands are ongoing, and health effects still linger from these tests. (see Rongelap)"
 
 
stabbystabby
02:05 / 10.09.06
i found Americans were pretty popular in Japan - while there was a bit of Bush-bashing, most people were fairly friendly. There was a tacit understanding that if you were working overseas, you probably weren't a cliched Bush freak - and if you were a Republican, you'd probably at least thought about it.

I think the key is to not just hang around with other Americans - if you make an effort to get out and talk to other people, and accept you'll probably get some knee-jerk Anti-American comments every now and then, you'll do fine.

If you can keep up with the English, Australian and Canadian drinkers, you'll do fine.
 
 
grant
02:40 / 10.09.06
Between 1946 and 1958 the USA tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands,

Bikini Atoll and Enewetak are in the Marshalls... but you're also near Danger Island (it's the next group over, the Cook Islands).

And the job pays for travel expenses....
 
 
All Acting Regiment
02:55 / 10.09.06
If you can keep up with the English, Australian and Canadian drinkers, you'll do fine.

If you can keep up with the English drinkers, you've got horns and fins.
 
 
stabbystabby
03:05 / 10.09.06
If you can keep up with the Australian drinkers, you've a liver made of cast iron.

At least make an effort to drink the local beer too, that'll endear you to the locals. Even if you can't hack it.
 
 
Cherielabombe
09:50 / 10.09.06
As an American who's lived in the UK for over four years I can give you some perspective on how it's been. I know there are a few other American expats on the board who might give you some more perpsective as well.

I find living here pretty easy on a day-to-day basis, but it is different. A lot of the differences are really good things - like I think there's more of an emphasis on intellectual debate here. The news shows tend to be a lot lighter on amazing graphics and a lot heavier on intellectual debate, for example. But other things can be really frustrating.

Americans are more direct about things and it can be really annoying (for an American!) when you're trying to get to the bottom of a problem/issue and you have to wade through all sorts of "Well... it's a bit... I'm afraid that... actually... " etc. etc. Two of my favorite English expressions I think illustrate the British habit of not saying exactly what you mean: "It's a bit of a way" = it's far and "I'm in a spot of bother" - this means you could actually be in a lot of trouble!

I have travelled quite a bit and I can still say that the worst culture shock I ever got was in the U.K. I think that's because I just stupidly, ignorantly assumed that because the language was (somewhat) the same, it would be very easy to fit in. It's not MASSIVELY different, but it is DIFFERENT and I think that was the shock for me.

Another thing I've found interesting about living here is the British way of expressing emotion. I think it's wrapped somewhat up in the whole "Blitz Spirit"/Stiff Upper Lip thing. It seems like it's OK to express emotion behind closed doors alone or with people you trust - but getting too emotional in public is a big-time no no. I think there's a lot of value placed on restraining your emotions.

I'm not saying these things are good or bad... just... different from what I am used to. And sometimes I think they're great, and sometimes they irritate the fuck out of me, and other times I look at them with the detached bemusement of a social anthropologist.

It's also a really fantastic experience seeing your country from a distance. I think you really get a sense of your identity and how that is wrapped up in your own national identity when you get to watch your country from afar, and find out how another country perceives you.

Of course it's been really sucktastic with the whole war in Iraq/Bush regime... I do sometimes fantasize about what it must have been like to be an American abroad when people didn't hate us so much. But truth be told I've never really had a negative experience with someone because I'm an American. I have had people say some really ridiculous things to me, like, "normally I hate Americans, but you're OK." Usually I find out I'm the only American they've ever spoken with! And some people start slagging off Americans and then someone (not me) tells them *I* am American and they have to start back-pedaling with "But I really like the people..." but that's OK. It's just like anyone - we all have our prejudices about people from different countries and they often don't hold up entirely when you actually get to know someone from that country.

So, yeah. I could go on, but on the whole I'd say it's a great experience. Both in terms of really getting to know another country and its culture, and getting to know yourself.
 
  
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