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Monday 8 February 2010
Nine rules for living in a foreign country
Monday 8 February 2010
Nine rules for living in a foreign country
19 comments:
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Speaking as an ex-expat the "motherland" doesn't stink as badly as I remembered, in fact it feels nice to be back surrounded by theatre, museums, jazz , opera and of course the ballet, but you do have to put up with a few drawbacks but then every place we live we have to compromise a little.
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- LindyLouMac said...
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Your excellent post made me laugh this morning when I needed cheering up,thankyou.
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
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I'll let you know when it stops stinking and you're safe to come home.
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- Caution/Lisa said...
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Please tell me this is the genesis of an article I will someday read in a magazine. You have such a talent for cobbling humor, insight, and beautiful phrasing together!
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- Lady Fi said...
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Oh goodness - this was brilliant and hysterically funny! And true.
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- PiNG aka Patti said...
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Excellent advice - particularly the bit about the home country!
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- Unknown said...
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Hi there! Great advice.
You commented on my wife-carrying championship post. I'd never heard of Cow Bingo! That, too, is hysterical! lol - Monday, 08 February, 2010
- Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...
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Awesome, love this!
- Monday, 08 February, 2010
- Carol said...
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Having been an expat myself I couldn't agree more!! I would perhaps also add (but this might have been a Thai thing) don't mess with the process...if there is a way of doing things go with it...the minute you do something out of order then you are buggered!!
eg. If a Thai waiter asks you what you want to drink/eat..just order something...if you ask them to come back you will never see them again!!
C x - Monday, 08 February, 2010
- ♥ Braja said...
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"I'm not on contract, I haven't been seconded, I don't want to keep the peace and I'm not on a mission. I just live here."
Touche :) Love it :) - Tuesday, 09 February, 2010
- Carole Poirot said...
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Oh how funny, this really made me laugh, thanks. I do (being French and living in London) struggle with point 4 though myself, I tend to verbalise my frustrations (about everything) far too often, but I guess I can always claim to try to fit in by moaning about the weather ;-) Fantastic writing by the way. Carole x
- Tuesday, 09 February, 2010
- Queenie Jeannie said...
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I had to laugh at this post, but nodded my head along the way too! I'm an American, but we will be moving to Italy in August (Vicenza). We are beyond excited, but a bit nervous too. Sort of like when you finally get what you've spent three years working on and then all of a sudden, suddenly get it, lol!
- Tuesday, 09 February, 2010
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Cabbages! I wonder if it works in the Italian restaurants in Manhattan!
- Tuesday, 09 February, 2010
- injaynesworld said...
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Wonderful advice! Alas, I am not a traveler, but how I do enjoy living vicariously through those who do. Your home and life there sound lovely. I look forward to hearing much more.
Jayne - Tuesday, 09 February, 2010
- Katja said...
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Oh god, I'm buggered. No time to learn the language properly, and neither the will nor (after working with the little horrors all day) the inclination to produce children. I'm a trained teacher, reduced to the status of a bum!
- Friday, 12 February, 2010
- Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...
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Great post, and pretty funny. I've never been an expat, but my travel experiences would seem to confirm what you say.
- Sunday, 14 February, 2010
- betty-NZ said...
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You'd think another English-speaking country would be a piece of cake.....but not NZ! It's another story all together!
- Monday, 15 February, 2010
- Sandy said...
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Sounds like good advice. I have always said if I lived in a country where the language wasn't English that I would do all I could to learn the language.
I hope someday to be able to put some of your advice to use. - Tuesday, 02 March, 2010
- Powell River Books said...
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My husband and I just had our second anniversary of landing in Canada. You advice applies even for us moving not so far from our former home in the States. We feel very fortunate to have been invited into many homes and feel we are becoming accepted into the community. Thanks for the reminders about how to be gracious in a new land. - Margy
- Wednesday, 03 March, 2010
19 comments:
Speaking as an ex-expat the "motherland" doesn't stink as badly as I remembered, in fact it feels nice to be back surrounded by theatre, museums, jazz , opera and of course the ballet, but you do have to put up with a few drawbacks but then every place we live we have to compromise a little.
Your excellent post made me laugh this morning when I needed cheering up,thankyou.
I'll let you know when it stops stinking and you're safe to come home.
Please tell me this is the genesis of an article I will someday read in a magazine. You have such a talent for cobbling humor, insight, and beautiful phrasing together!
Oh goodness - this was brilliant and hysterically funny! And true.
Excellent advice - particularly the bit about the home country!
Hi there! Great advice.
You commented on my wife-carrying championship post. I'd never heard of Cow Bingo! That, too, is hysterical! lol
Awesome, love this!
Having been an expat myself I couldn't agree more!! I would perhaps also add (but this might have been a Thai thing) don't mess with the process...if there is a way of doing things go with it...the minute you do something out of order then you are buggered!!
eg. If a Thai waiter asks you what you want to drink/eat..just order something...if you ask them to come back you will never see them again!!
C x
"I'm not on contract, I haven't been seconded, I don't want to keep the peace and I'm not on a mission. I just live here."
Touche :) Love it :)
Oh how funny, this really made me laugh, thanks. I do (being French and living in London) struggle with point 4 though myself, I tend to verbalise my frustrations (about everything) far too often, but I guess I can always claim to try to fit in by moaning about the weather ;-) Fantastic writing by the way. Carole x
I had to laugh at this post, but nodded my head along the way too! I'm an American, but we will be moving to Italy in August (Vicenza). We are beyond excited, but a bit nervous too. Sort of like when you finally get what you've spent three years working on and then all of a sudden, suddenly get it, lol!
Cabbages! I wonder if it works in the Italian restaurants in Manhattan!
Wonderful advice! Alas, I am not a traveler, but how I do enjoy living vicariously through those who do. Your home and life there sound lovely. I look forward to hearing much more.
Jayne
Oh god, I'm buggered. No time to learn the language properly, and neither the will nor (after working with the little horrors all day) the inclination to produce children. I'm a trained teacher, reduced to the status of a bum!
Great post, and pretty funny. I've never been an expat, but my travel experiences would seem to confirm what you say.
You'd think another English-speaking country would be a piece of cake.....but not NZ! It's another story all together!
Sounds like good advice. I have always said if I lived in a country where the language wasn't English that I would do all I could to learn the language.
I hope someday to be able to put some of your advice to use.
My husband and I just had our second anniversary of landing in Canada. You advice applies even for us moving not so far from our former home in the States. We feel very fortunate to have been invited into many homes and feel we are becoming accepted into the community. Thanks for the reminders about how to be gracious in a new land. - Margy
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