What is an "Ex-Pat"? Is this a bad thing or good? How did you become one?

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   J.S.Matthewposted 11 years ago

   What is an "Ex-Pat"? Is this a bad thing or good? How did you become one?

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   livelongerposted 11 years ago

   An expat (short for expatriate) is someone who lives outside their country of citizenship. It's a neutral term for a neutral phenomenon, as far as I'm concerned.

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      J.S.Matthewposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Jason! Although I don't hear this term in the States, I have seen a lot of people from Europe and other places use this term on HubPages. Was never sure if it was a good or bad thing! Glad the comments on questions have been fixed! TY! JS~

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      livelongerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I think Europeans are more likely to be expats (it's easy to move to other EU countries and live and work legally). I was one for four years, though, and wasn't the only American.

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   freecampingaussieposted 11 years ago

   We sailed from Britain to New Zealand when I was 5 & I now live in Australia . As we love it here it is a good thing ,however I am hoping to spend time back in Wales next year .

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      J.S.Matthewposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hello freecampingaussie, long time no see! I hope you are well and enjoy your trip back to Whales next year! Thanks for sharing your experience.  JS~

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   bac2basicsposted 11 years ago

   Hi JS. I suppose I´m one. I moved to Spain 10 years ago with my husband. Unlike many ex pats out here we actually wanted to fit in with the Spanish and embrace their culture. Why bother moving to another country if not to try and fit in and see what´s on offer.  I have some really great Spanish friends now who have helped me through thick and thin, actually they feel more like family. Ex pats who move here and don´t try to integrate have no idea what they are missing out on.

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   Attikosposted 11 years ago

   You can become an expat by changing your citizenship from one nation to another.
   
   You can become an expat by changing your name from Patrick to Fred.
   
   You can become an expat by growing a spine to stop being a patsy.
   
   I'm sure there are more ways to do it. Given some time we'll think of them. Whether it's a good or bad idea is what I'd consider a situational question.

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   ackman1465posted 11 years ago

   These are athletes who used to play for the New England football team.  Most of them are pretty good guys......

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      LaThingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      lol, good answer! That's ex PATRIOTS......

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      J.S.Matthewposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm a Pats fan here!  JS~

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   dksuttleposted 11 years ago

   I feel really good about being an ex-pat.  It means that I am a US citizen living in another country.  We do it because we can live quite well on way less than we would spend in the US.  We live in a place where the climate barely changes in temp but does go between wet season and dry season.  Life is very casual.  Life style is healthy.  Recreation potiental is almost unlimited.  What more could you want?

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   Alexander Markposted 11 years ago

   I wasn't sure what an expat was until now, and it describes me! I am reluctant to get my American citizenship for political reasons, but I consider myself a better American than most - a true American. If things ever change as far as the Federal government running everything, I would become an American, but as a citizen of a state. Does anyone know if any states allow this?
   
   Ah yes, to answer the question, I became one by immigrating with my family to America from Holland when I was little.
   
   The bad and good: there is always a slight chance Holland and the US will go to war and I might be deported ha ha! I can't vote. I don't have to sit on a jury and I can't become president. Only voting holds any sway over my decision, but voting for a person to be dictator over America is like deciding which demon will run hell. If the states ever fight for independence again, I'll become an American legally.
   
   (And no, I don't think America is hell, it's just that the Federal government is becoming more and more communistic every year, and it is dead wrong).

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