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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to not understand why Brits who emigrate to hotter climates

121 replies

sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 08:56

feel the need to go on about how hot it is where they live compared to Britain.

It's like stating the obvious, I feel like saying, you moved to Dubai of course it's hotter than the UK which is covered in snow. But so many Ex pats seem to feel the need to almost brag about the bloody hot weather when the move. Yawn!

Disclaimer: I have lived in hot countries for part of my childhood and again as an adult so I know the pros and cons of living in the sun and so am not remotely jealous.

OP posts:
Original poster
sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 09:33

yes, Loops I am clearly jealous! Hmm

I can't be bothered to justify why I am not jealous as you have obviously made your mind up.

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Iheartpasties · 21/01/2013 09:35

most updates are comments on weather from people who live all over the world all the time. just like it's the main topic of conversation all the time in any office across the globe!!? it's just small talk fodder!!

all facebook updates, generally speaking are boastful anyway, whether its hot temps and swimming pools or any ither topic!?

Iheartpasties · 21/01/2013 09:36

*other

Original poster
sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 09:37

BTW

I am NOT referring to people who put a genuine status update about their weather I am referring to Brits abroad who feel the need to comment about the fact it's hotter where they are than where anyone else is in a bragging way. Often in response to someone else's status. Sometimes it has no relevance to the original status update too. There is a difference.

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CloudsAndTrees · 21/01/2013 09:37

You come across as sounding jealous because you know that people are posting about something that they are feeling good about, and you are labelling it as bragging and saying you don't like it.

Maybe it's not jealousy, but there is some reason why you can't just be happy for them that they are enjoying good weather. Otherwise why would you have started the thread?

No one is asking you to justify why you aren't jealous, but it's interesting that there are plenty of posts that don't accuse you of jealousy, yet you choose to respond to the ones that do.v

LoopsInHoops · 21/01/2013 09:38

Bikini? Moi? Not likely!

Yes, I have made up my mind, based on your posts. I think you should defriend these horrible people who dare to post about their weather, because your weather is far more exciting, and you should only be friends with them if they stop posting anything at all positive about their emigration.

Wallison · 21/01/2013 09:40

I just read it that they're happy with the weather in the place they live in. I don't see how you can 'brag' about weather - after all, it's not like you're in control of it.

freddiefrog · 21/01/2013 09:42

I have a friend that does this too.

On Friday, I posted up a pic of my kids posing with the snowman they'd built (we live a couple of hundred miles away from family and my Mum likes to see pics of my girls). Their comment on this pic was "37 degrees here today, just chilling with a nice cold beer in the garden. jealous? lol"

Erm...no. We'd had a fab day and the girls had had great fun

In the summer I posted up a pic of them learning to surf - their reponse to that "it's winter here, probably still warmer than home! lol"

OK then.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 21/01/2013 09:42
LoopsInHoops · 21/01/2013 09:44

You have to bear in mind that they are probably a bit homesick. FB, when you've moved away is a bit of a double edged sword. It's great to see what everyone's up to, but it really highlights the differences between your old and new homes. It compounds any kind of culture shock or homesickness.

Branleuse · 21/01/2013 09:44

i like it. Itr makes me dreamy and starts of lovely fantasies of when i eventually get round to moving somewhere a bit less arctic

Original poster
sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 09:44

It's precisely the fact some people brag about being in the pool and basking in the sunshine to try to make others jealous and in often out of context that it annoys me.

And as I said I cannot write anything about this without others (like Loops) presuming I am jealous. it's the fact that the people (who write the kind of comments I am referring to) write them to make others jealous, I think it's kind of sad.

I am certainly not jealous of people living in Australia for sure, I have experience of living abroad in hotter climates and it's not for me.

OP posts:
TheOriginalSteamingNit · 21/01/2013 09:47

'I remain unduly delighted by the fact that being in the Southern hemisphere has changed my position relative to the sun at specific times of the year.'

CloudsAndTrees · 21/01/2013 09:47

It's not worth being irritated by, really.

There are times that I might feel a twinge of jealousy mixed in with a feeling of being pleased for my ex pat friends and family, but snowy days like this are not one of those times! I love this weather!

Wallison · 21/01/2013 09:53

Actually, thinking about it, there was one status update from a friend that was 'designed' to sort-of boast during the time that he took an extended sabbatical to travel to various exotic places. It was a photo of him on a beach with a cocktail, and in the sand he'd written 'HOW'S WORK?' in big letters. Made me chuckle, anyway.

Original poster
sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 09:56

Loops I want to say you have completely misunderstood what I am saying.

I have friends who have emigrated who don't do this and I am very happy for them that the climate where they live suits their life style.

These friends do not try to compete by trying too hard to prove their choice to emigrate was right by putting other life styles down.

There is a massive difference and I am saddened you immediately jumped to think that I am the type of person who would not be happy for a friend who emigrated.

I am in NO way jealous of people who emigrate, I do however find it mildly irritating when people feel the need to compete about the weather and TRY to make others feel jealous.

But you have judge me to simply just be jealous of them, which is exactly what irritates me in the first place.

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WowOoo · 21/01/2013 09:58

I think for some recent ex pats they can't believe they are actually warm in December. A couple of my friends have been doing this anyway.

I keep reading some 'in t-shirts' type ones. They have only recently moved and I'm sure it's a novelty thing. Can't wait til summer when it'll be more of a 'oh my God, it's so fecking hot I can't cope'. Smile

But, yes some do state the obvious. Some, I think, try to make me a bit jealous. It works a little bit. Slightly envious of the temperature and the fact you seem to be permanently in a swimming pool but wouldn't want to live in Dubai actually.

newNN · 21/01/2013 10:00

Too much sun is annoying, anyway. Don't get why people think hot temperatures are a good thing - it's fine for a week, but then I start craving rain not least because I am too lazy to go out and water the garden.

I always feel a bit sorry for people who live in hot countries - I like the variety of Britain where you can pretty much get everything admittedly mostly grey and wet, but it's rarely extreme enough to cause serious harm.

freddiefrog · 21/01/2013 10:01

These friends do not try to compete by trying too hard to prove their choice to emigrate was right by putting other life styles down

Yes, this! I've got other friends in New Zealand and Australia who never make comments like that.

On the other hand, I've also got family in Canada who also like to compete with weather with "call that snow....?" etc, etc

LoopsInHoops · 21/01/2013 10:02

Could you just give me a brief outline of what expats are, and aren't allowed to tell you about then? Because I'm confused.

CloudsAndTrees · 21/01/2013 10:09

Do you think that the ones who make the bragging type comments might actually be trying to convince themselves that they made the right choice when they moved away?

After all, emigrating is a big decision for anyone, and it's natural that they would spend some time doubting they made the right choice and seeking confirmation that they did.

LoopsInHoops · 21/01/2013 10:10

And, C&T, they will have just experienced Christmas away from friends, family, cold and über commercialism, which is hard.

differentnameforthis · 21/01/2013 10:11

Oh so it is OK to bang on about the snow & how cold it is & how bothered you are that the schools are/aren't closing, but no one is allowed to say how hot it is in case you take it the wrong way?

I emigrated for family, I hate the heat & I will moan about it as much as I like.

And snow isn't rare. Something that happens every year isn't rare, it isn't even relatively rare. And for all those who post about snow on my facebook are NOT mentioning a weather change, they are saying how pissed off they are that it is snowing again & how they won't be able to do XYZ. So doing what I do, only because of snow, not heat!

I am in hot Australia & on Friday I was in cold UK on holiday. I posted about both, saying how cold it is, how hot it is etc. I even posted saying how weird it was being in rugged up 48hrs earlier, when I was slapping on sunscreen this morning.

I really don't understand people who bang on about what their friends post in their own space. To me, it is akin to telling them what they can/can't talk about in their own home. Being someone's friend on facebook means you get to read what they are thinking, you don't have to do it. You do have options. People are allowed to post what they like. You don't like it, delete them/hide them. But don't criticise them because you don't like what they are saying.

Why is it smug to say that they are on the beach? And you say you aren't jealous? Because that is exactly what you sound like with that comment. And is it not smug to say "snow day, school closed, going to lie on the sofa & drink hot chocolate while the kids build a snowman"? Oh & I am big enough to admit that I am jealous of that!

Original poster
sockmuppet · 21/01/2013 10:18

Loops,

If I had a friend who was telling me a story I would not jump in and say well I've got a better story. It's just normal human communication to listen and show interest in others lives.

If my expat friend posted a picture of her children on the beach where she lives with the caption 35 degrees lovely weather. I would internally smile, I would likely comment on the kids and how lovely it all looked. Possibly even ask some questions about the day. I would not say, oh dear looks horrid, glad I don't live there any more, it's lovely and snowy here.

IF I posted a picture of my son sledging I would not expect to received the comment. Yuk snow, it's 40 degrees here we're on the beach !

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MidniteScribbler · 21/01/2013 10:20

Can I add in my Brit neighbours. Keep knocking on my door asking when the weather is going to change. It's summer your numbnuts. Didn't you think to look up the temperature chart before choosing where to live? Yes it's hot. Yes, the garden is dead. That's what happens in summer here. No, it's not my problem that no one told you it's actually too hot to use your pool in the middle of the day without turning yourself in to a lobster. Yes, sunburn hurts. That's why we all sensibly stay in our airconditioned houses and offices in the hottest parts of the day.

And when I try and be neighbourly and tell them that a bushfire is only ten minutes away and it's time to put their bushfire survival plan in to place and GTFO (Get the Fuck Out!) they smile and say "oh we don't have one of those, we'll just wait for the firefighters to come and tell us what to do." Fucking fuckwits. The CFA have enough to do without playing chauffeur to bloody idiots who have been ignoring the months of television, radio, letter box drops, door to door visits, town meetings and billboards telling you to get fire ready!