Hi:
Further to this thread of the last few days, the most exciting aspect of an expat life is, in my opinion, the social interaction.
When you become an expat, you move into a new community. This will be the new country you live in. The experiences of meeting new people in that community, doing business with them, being exposed to a culture different than your own can be very enriching. You observe the universal similarities and the tiny quirks that make a people and culture unique.
In the larger expat community you also start to observe cultural differences. This is not with the people from your host country, however, but with the folks who are also expats. To use the slang, you see how the Brits, the Aussies, the Yanks, and the Canucks act under the same circumstances.
Besides learning about the place you are in, you learn about the places your new friends are from. You start to compare all sorts of things. Every topic is interesting, from the government policies, the education system, the social system.
The natural extension of this is a broadening of perspective and a greater tolerance. It is not a paucity, but an enrichment of interaction, stimulating discussion and learning.
More tomorrow.
M.
retirement and expatriates
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