What Is an Expat?
According to the Cambridge dictionary, an expat, which is short for expatriate, is ‘someone who does not live in their own country‘.
Wikipedia adds some more detail to that:
“In common usage, the term expat often refers to professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either independently or sent abroad by their employers.
These employers can be companies, universities, governments, or non-governmental organizations. However, the term ‘expatriate’ is also used for retirees and others who have chosen to live outside their native country.”
I have lived in over a dozen countries all over the world and met many expats, from many different backgrounds.
Is There Such a Thing as ‘The Typical Expat’?
My first reaction is to say no because I believe every person is different and therefore so is every expat.
But I do believe we have certain things in common, a certain way of looking at life at least that makes living and working abroad more appealing to us. And I feel the following article describes that quite well…
12 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXPAT
1. Eagerness to Learn
Expats are open minded and eager to learn new things – from culture through to history and where to find the best hair of the dog on a Sunday, expats are eager to learn everything there is to know about their new city, culture, and way of life. There’s (almost) nothing they’d say no to!
2. Not Afraid of a Challenge
Expats throw themselves into the deep end and they’re not afraid of a new challenge. Relocating to a new city is equal parts exciting and terrifying, but they do it anyway…
3. Open to Seeing, Doing, Trying New Things
Expats are about as close to Jim Carey in Yes Man as you will find in the world. Most of the time they’re apprehensive to what you’ve offered them, but they’ll just say yes anyway. After all, how bad can it be!?
4. Comfortable in Their Own Skin
Expats know who they are, what they like, what they don’t like… They’re comfortable in their own skin, confident but not cocky, and happy go lucky.
5. They Enjoy Alone Time
Expats aren’t afraid to spend extended periods of time alone. They value this time as a chance to get to know themselves and ready themselves to meet others along the way. They’re not looking for approval. They’re just living – no more and no less.
6. Glass Half Full
Expats won’t rain on your parade and mostly, they won’t have a narrow view of life. They’re open minded, optimistic, and up for anything.
7. Happy Go Lucky
Similarly, they’re a pretty easy going bunch. They don’t need to make plans to have plans, they’ll be the ones you can call two days prior to say that you’re coming to visit, and they’ll be the ones who are always ready to have a good time. After all… life is unexpected. It’s all a part of it!
8. Why Not?
Many people consider the idea of living in a foreign country as a scary thought – but not expats. You might ask them why? But they’ll mostly just answer why not?
9. Generally Likes (All Kinds Of) Food
So we know expats like trying new things, but no realm is this more true than food. Expats love trying new food and will soon become addicted to new foods in their new home country – so much so that they rely on them!
10. They Like to Meet New People (Especially Other Expats)
Expats are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. They’re open to meeting new people and will go out of their way to meet new people in their city and others visiting their city.
11. Will be The First Person to Recommend Expat Life
Moreover, expats will be eager to encourage others to try the expat life. Why? Because they love it so much, of course!
12. Expats are ‘unstuck’
Expats have plans, like anyone, but they’re not stuck with them. They don’t see too far into the future, they go with the flow, and they’re never stuck anywhere. If an expat is unhappy, they’ll take whatever measure necessary to change that. They’re not stuck in their ways or stuck in any location. If they need a change, they’ve done it once so they can do it again!
First published on worldofwanderlust.com
If you are interested in expat life check out my ‘Ask an Expat Series‘. In this series of articles I interview expats all over the world about their experiences living and working abroad.
More Expat Related Articles Worth Reading:
- 5 Types of Expats You Will Meet Abroad
- Why Moving Abroad is Such a Valuable Experience
- How to Find a Job Abroad and Make It Work
- Living and Working Abroad: What You Thought vs What It’s Really Like
- The Reverse Culture Shock Many Expats Deal With When Moving Home
Featured image: taken in Athens while traveling through Greece just after I left my job on the island of Kos.