...in hating the word 'expat'?

[vivasevilla]

Why do British people (not all) insist on calling themselves 'expats' when they choose to go and live abroad? They are, surely, immigrants, why not call themselves so? (is it possibly because they move abroad and then spend all their time in bars drinking 'cheap' gin and tonics, reading the Daily Mail and whinging about 'immigrants' and 'gangs of feral youth' in their own country while not bothering to learn the language of the country they have chosen to move to?)

waits for expat to arrive

Sirboob not sure why but your name made me lol

i think I might be delirious

Why thank you doffs cap Much more creative than my old one!!

it's an attitude as you say, i lived abroad for 19 years and would never ever have referred to myself as an expat {cringe}

They are ex-patriates, i.e. outside their homeland, from the Latin expatriatus, where patria = fatherland/homeland, so the term is completely valid. They might be immigrants as well, but they are still expats. I really can't see what there is to get worked up about.

I totally agree. I live abroad and I absolutely cringe at the word "expat". For me it implies everything the OP said.

Expatriate and immigrant are fairly equal in terms. Either is correct, and they are interchangeable.

It really depends on when you use it - if you are referring to your life in your adopted country, then you are an immigrant. If you are comparing talking primarily about your country of origin, then you are an expat.

Ah, so it doesn't mean 'formerly (ex) patriotic'?

To me 'expat' implied that you have not emigrated permantly but only temporarily. Immigrant, impled that you were settling for good with a view to taking on another nationality. That's just how I thought of it - as an expat for nearly 10 years (and reluctantly returned not entirely by choice).

Um, expat isn't used exclusively by British people you know.

As Acinonyx says, it is used as short hand for someone who is living overseas (in whatever direction) temporarily. I have not immigrated to the UK, just passing through thanks! (It's nice but it rains all the time ).

I do drink G&Ts whenever the opportunity arises, but I don't bitch about Oz (or here [except for the rain]) and much prefer a frozen 'rita thank you very much.

I refer to myself usually as immigrant. Expats in my book are usually those who actively seek out other expats of their own nationality so they can moan together about their host country.

Hmm.

I never refer to myself as an expat(riate) or as an immigrant. I am a globalised person .

Yeah, pretty much, Viva.
Pots and kettles.

Like Morloth sez, people from other English-speaking countries use the term as well.

Generally, IME an expat is a person on a short- or medium-term posting abroad, living (more or less) in the local community but fully intending to return to the home nation (even if it's in a box).

It also signals an unwillingness to adapt one's identity and preference for hanging out more or less exclusively with one's own kind. The vibe is definitely 'we are here because we have to be, not because we like you and want to be part of the community.'

Nice.

PS I am an immigrant, not an expat but with this accent people treat me like one. I still have to convince them that I am actually here to stay. Guess nobody believes anyone would swop/swap SoCal for London

But I am learning to spell properly

We are expats, we work for a couple of years in a country, then move to a new project in another country. We're always on temp work permits and are not immigrants. Our company refers to us as Expats also. There is a valid use for the word.

while expatriate does mean 'resident in a foreign country' (or exiled to) it appears that only people who detest 'expats' in their own country use the term (and I am aware it's not only British people who use the term, I'm also aware that the people who use 'expat' are normaly right wing, hating immigrants (apart from themselves, who are, of course, the 'best type' of immigrant) non native speaking assholes who do nothing but reinforce the stereotype of their former country)and while I'm not getting worked up about it (I'm an immigrant, and proud to be so)the word does conjure up a negative picture of those that choose to use it.

very cringey imo

That's a bit harsh viva. I am none of those things you describe.

I call myself British. I really dislike the term 'ex-pat', regardless of accuracy. I moved here to stay, took citizenship and made friends with those around me.

JeMeSouviens then why not describe yourself as an immigrant? Do you find something offensive in the term 'immigrant'or are you 'better'?

I'm with JeMeSouviens - an expat for me is someone who lives in another country temporarily, as opposed to an immigrant who moves to another country and plans to stay for good.

I was an 'expat' in Dubai and everyone else there referred to themselves at 'expat' nobody was an 'immigrant' probably as it is a very transient place and full integration into society isn't really a possibility (ie you cannot become a national). That said I did meet a few stereotypical 'expats' who had been there for far too long drinking in the same bar for 30 years with red noses and the word does conjure up that image for me!

LOL, most of the expats I know here in London are Guardian reading lefties...also they are not all from English speaking countries.

I do mostly socialise with expats here but that is because I have found the English quite hard to "crack" (quite unlike Singapore/Hong Kong where we have lived previously). Have been astonished that there is more culture shock between two English speaking cities (i.e. Sydney and London) than there was between Sydney and SE Asia.

I drank Singapore Slings in Raffles as well lots and lots of them.

Have you been reading "Hardship Posting" OP?