MrCanary Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Is there anybody else besides me who really dislikes the term 'expats'? I always conjur up a picture of frumpy old folk in khaki clothing playing Bridge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 .......or dodgy geezers with lots of gold living on the Costas with their wrinkly sun pruned wives with brassy blonde hair and a ring with MUM on.[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share Posted June 18, 2007 Don't they make you cringe Katie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Mel, I may not share you musical preferences but I am with you 100% on this one. I find it even more hateful when mis-spelled 'ex-patriot' which seems to have died out a bit now but was once rife on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 [quote user="Will"]Mel, I may not share you musical preferences but I am with you 100% on this one. [/quote]Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Me too........................................................Pimms anyone ?.................................[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 So what are we then? Foreigners, etrangers, immigrants? Or just english, scots etc as the case may be. I don't like "brits" either . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I agree with all the above, so what is a more consise way of saying 'Person now living in a country where he/she is not a citizen'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I think we are explorers -trying to find out how to live and adjust to another way of life-if you try and integrate then so much the better and you will not be tagged as an expat perhaps.maybe we need our head examined as to what made the decision to move but it is better than just continuing to live in the U.K. without any changes being made and it can be very interesting although hardto adjust when you leave some family and friends behind.vive La Differance!!!!!!!!!![:)][:P][:'(][I][:P][:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 [quote user="Renaud"]I agree with all the above, so what is a more consise way of saying 'Person now living in a country where he/she is not a citizen'?[/quote]Gone Native ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte3 Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 [quote user="Renaud"]I agree with all the above, so what is a more consise way of saying 'Person now living in a country where he/she is not a citizen'?[/quote]Immigrant?Aly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Sorry, but you are a load of expats!!! Do you go to cafes which serve a full english every morning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 No Katie, but I would if I could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 With a nice cup of yorkshire tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 No, juice and coffee, not together of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chauffour Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 [8-)] so.. the expats used to be pats? [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 The thing is ex-pat means ex patriotic doesn't it? Does that mean we are no longer Patriotic. I mean why ex-pat. It does conjur up Col Blimps drinking pims etc. I detest the word. I do seem to be able to spot an expat easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote user="trumpet"]The thing is ex-pat means ex patriotic doesn't it? Does that mean we are no longer Patriotic.[/quote]No, it doesn't. It means expatriate ie someone living abroad so no longer living in their native country.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Thank you Sue. Now I see the conection.[quote user="spg"][quote user="trumpet"]The thing is ex-pat means ex patriotic doesn't it? Does that mean we are no longer Patriotic.[/quote]No, it doesn't. It means expatriate ie someone living abroad so no longer living in their native country.Sue[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote user="trumpet"]Thank you Sue. Now I see the conection[/quote]Sorry if I sounded a bit fierce there. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 You could use "NRBs" ie non - resident brits ( The Indian expats use NRI), but, as the majority of Brits in France are actually resident I dont suppose that would work. I guess Ex-pat is most suitable except for the fact that most of our passports refer to being a European rather than just British, so you cant be an expat either. The most logical term would be "immigrant" which should really upset some people. [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Its ok I have stopped shaking now.[quote user="spg"][quote user="trumpet"]Thank you Sue. Now I see the conection[/quote]Sorry if I sounded a bit fierce there. Sue[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted June 22, 2007 Author Share Posted June 22, 2007 I quite like the sound of 'British'.For example, a TV news item might begin, "British people living in the Dordogne area of France recently etc., etc........"Rather than, "Expats living in the Dordogne area of France recently etc., etc......."Bit radical though isn't it....Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Ex-pat always suggests to me (inaccurately, I know) that someone is temporarily in another country but plans to return to their country of origin eventually. Immigrant sounds more permanent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Here in Luxembourg I describe myself as a 'Migrant Worker' That always gets a reponse from Lux people and they say things like 'No, no, you're not a migrant worker, you have a professional job in an office - migrant workers come from the East and Morocco and pick fruit and things' I don't see the difference personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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