Comments on: Escaping the Expat Trap: How To Live Like a Local When You’re Abroad

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:47:39 +0000

I think immersing yourself in your new culture and learning all you can is a wonderful opportunity one has while living abroad. The word for the day is a great idea and I may need to do that when I start teaching in China next week. As for avoiding Expats/Expat bars…I am not so sure about that. I hope to meet expats, as well as locals, that can help me with any adjustments or problems I have to my new “home”. One thing I hope to do is take cultural classes or cooking classes – those are always a great way of learning about where you are living or just visiting.

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By: Eva

Eva — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:11:06 +0000

Kyle — The intention of the article was certainly not to "diss" expats. The fact that you wrote "it can be a completely enriching experience if you do it right" suggests that we're actually in agreement here — the idea of the article was to encourage people to "do it right", by diversifying their experience and making an effort to get involved in the local scene as well as the foreign community. I don't think there was a suggestion here that you should, at all times, avoid all things American. As for the headline, the author didn't write it — I did.

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By: Kyle

Kyle — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:40:26 +0000

I agree. I actually came on here to leave a comment and say something similar. While all the tips for living like a local are great, there's no reason to diss living like an expat. It's not a trap, it can be a completely enriching experience if you do it right. I've also found that people who are super anxious to avoid all things American and "live like a local" are usually people who are here in Chile short term. I call anything under a year and a half short term. Most people who stay long term need and appreciate the community of expats. The term "escaping the expat trap" sort of gave me the idea that the author has never been an expat in one place for a significant period of time.

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By: soultravelers3

soultravelers3 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:35:00 +0000

We are not expats, but have been away from our home country going on our 3rd year as we are on an open ended world tour. I like these suggests and think many of them can apply to travelers as well. I think the very best way to immerse is through having your kids in the local schools! You become part of the community instantly that way through walking your child to school, talking to parents at pickup time, arranging play dates, sleep overs, through the kids participating in after school events together like flamenco class and football practice etc. Too many expats miss this by going to International or American schools. We have spent the last three winters in a 15th century small village in Spain and it has been a highlight for us!

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By: annette

annette — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:24:19 +0000

yes i agree greg. if you don't fall into a trap there is a best of both worlds to be had. i've seen both sides as have you, when expats either completely disconnect from their realities, or never enter into the new reality in which they have arrived. but again, i'm not one to romanticize, and while it's great to emerge oneself in local culture, it's also equally great to enjoy the international communities at your finger tips. my exboyfriend was mainland chinese, and the best was the mingling of one world with others. i came to meet great friends in beijing, from india, germany, france, singapore, hongkong, taiwan, tibet, mongolia not to mention the us and canada. so again, i don't favour cultures, but try to appreciate the people that all experiences bring us into contact with. cheers to you and your adventurous soul!

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By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Annette, I tend to agree. I've done the expat thing for 20 plus years, 6 years in Germany for work and study (degreed there). Mexico, Brazil and lastly Egypt ( all assignments 18+ months), and the expat experience can be very rewarding, but do take advantage of all the local opportunities that come to you.

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By: Annette

Annette — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:15:10 +0000

i loved living like an expat, and living like a local in both shanghai and beijing – there are great benefits in both experiences i hate to see people always slam the expat connection – living as an expat often leads to incredible bonds with other expats, as well as a huge community of like-minded adventurers that can never be accessed otherwise. these friendships are incredibly accelerated and long lasting. my advice – while abroad you'd be a fool NOT to take advantage of ALL of the inspirational environments that present themselves.

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By: Eric Roth

Eric Roth — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:05:55 +0000

Practical, sensible, and difficult to practice for most first ex-pats. Thanks for sharing.

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By: Bob Stellabota

Bob Stellabota — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:09:03 +0000

Having lived as an expat for almost a year in Eastern Europe (Austria & The Czech Republic) I find your suggestions very true. It's so important to "get with" the local kulture and not be an "ugly American". I brought a German/English English/German here in the states and found it quite invaluable whilst living in Austria. And I discovered that the German I'd learned helped me out quite a bit while living in Prague. I'd read some of the guide books, but soon found out that they weren't much help to an expat. The may have provided some help to a vacationer who'd be in town for 4 days, but not much help for a resident like me. I had to get to know the people in my neighborhood, the shops and stores, in order to be able to "get by". Your tips should be used by all, and not just us expats. Bob

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By: brian

brian — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:53:46 +0000

Some of these tips should be used by travelers even if they are not ex-pats and just passing thru. Like practicing words and accepting all invitations.

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