6 things that should not be said to an expat

Veröffentlicht: 16. Juli 2022, 22:44 Uhr

Von: wom87

As part of the cultural questionnaire of International, people were asked to tell what they were to hear from people in their old or new country - and share. Here is a list of recurring topics in words directly from the mouth of expats. If you have an expat friend or a family member, you may want to refrain from it ...

"You are so happy"

Yes, we understand that we are in a sunnier country with friendly people and better job opportunities, but to repeat how "happy" we are, implies that courage, hard work and persistence have not played a role. If you want to live where we live, you can, but you decide against it. This is not because you are unlucky; It is a decision you made, just like my new country is a decision that I have made.

"Can you already speak fluently?"

Seriously, do you know how long it takes to control a language fluently? So many of us spend hours with our new language every day and it is frustrating enough if we are not even at kindergarten level after a year. If we ask whether we speak fluently, we still feel embarrassed and inferior, so please don't do it!

"Please, it can't be that bad"

If I complain about how frustrating it is to open a new bank account, if I don't have a permanent address yet, please do not say "It can't be that bad! You live on the beach!" Or "You have sunshine all year round! Try to rely on Natwest in the pouring rain!"

just because I moved, it does not mean that all my problems have melted away. My new country may have better weather, but that doesn't automatically remove all my problems.

"not that it would be important to you"

I am in a new country that I call my home, yes, but that doesn't mean that I am not interested in or worry about the conditions in my old home. In the run -up to the British parliamentary elections in 2015, I was more than once told that I was not concerned because I have been in Australia for two years. I still take care of the NHS, our education system and all the things that Great Britain do with Great Britain. It means something to me. Don't tell me that doesn't do that.

"You should try to make friends with more locals"

okay, I know that I have more English -language friends than not, but it's easier to contact you - at the moment. Until I learn the national language at an advanced level, I can only talk to locals for a limited extent. English is the language in which I think wines become high, and sometimes I just need people with whom you are effortlessly together. Local friends will come over time, promise.

"When do you move back home?"

Do you think I packed 20 tons of luggage and dragged over the Atlantic for fun? No. My new country is my new home. Maybe one day I'll "move home", but I don't know exactly. At the moment I am trying it in my new home. Please support me instead of pretending to be a phase.