I'm an expat

[huha]

Lived in UK for 14 years and now live in North America. From a very different part of North America (US) than where I live now.

Why an 'expat' rather than an immigrant? I lived in the US for years, then France for a while, and then moved to the UK I'm not from any of these places and didn't consider myself an expat.

I lived in Japan, then the Middle East, USA then back to UK.

As pp^ why an expat?

I'm an immigrant, 4 EU countries so far. I studiously avoid "expats".

Did you move for work or another reason?

How difficult do you find meeting new people? Have you always sort of slid right in, or have you experienced any animosity? Have you had to move children? What were their struggles?

Lots of questions

@Matutinal Expat because I never intend to stay where I am "forever", at least not while I was in the UK. Immigrants makes moves that are permanent; mine never was.

@Clionba why did you go back to the US?

@elQuintoConyo Did you move for work or another reason?
I was 22 and I needed to get out of the US. I chose here because 1) it was English speaking and 2) it was close enough to Europe that I (thought) I could manage weekend trips abroad and see all of Europe.

How difficult do you find meeting new people? Have you always sort of slid right in, or have you experienced any animosity? Have you had to move children? What were their struggles?

I'm quite shy so meeting new people has always been a struggle, especially in the UK where people are way more "reserved". Most of my long standing friends in the uk are not British. I haven't had a lot of animosity, but when I first moved I was 22 so there wasn't a lot of animosity anyway! My children were born in the uk so have only had to live once. Two of the three were young when we moved so didn't struggle. My oldest was 7 and struggled with new school, friends, etc but she is also very very shy.

*move once

My husband got a job in a hospital in the USA (he's a hospital consultant). Loved it, but it was temporary. Not keen on the ME. Japan was before I was married. It was a challenging place to live and work, but fascinating. Did you like living in the UK as an American? I was treated very well the other way around!

I did like some parts, like how cultured the UK is and how cultured the people are. I missed how much nicer Americans are and the convenience of America, e.g. store hours, bug washing machine and dryers, big fridges, better sales! I don't live in the US currently and as long as Trump is in power I don't plan to. I don't even like to admit I'm American where I live and tend not to tell people unless they ask. It's also been way easier to fit in socially where I am now compared to the UK.

I lived on the East Coast and did feel spoiled, so much was available, so many conveniences and cheap petrol! The people I met were very hospitable, although I did miss walking everywhere and /or taking public transport. Japan is a very particular culture and they are very polite, but you're never one of them.