Why are white people expats and the rest of us are "immigrants"?

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:44 pm

TheGrinchSR wrote:I can't believe people are still dragging out that Guardian article... it's not racism, it's classism. Though expats normally intend to go home many do not, and many immigrants don't intend to go home and do.

But immigrants occupy the lowest rung of the ladder in their new countries; Polish immigrants to the UK for example (and I don't hate Polish immigrants given that both of my maternal grandparents were Polish and immigrated to the UK at the request of the British government in the aftermath of WW2) tend to clean toilets, tend bar, etc. Not because they lack skills but because that's how you start life when you migrate for economic reasons. A toilet cleaner on minimum wage in the UK is earning 5-7 times as much as they would in a profession in Poland.

Expats, on the other hand, are normally recruited for skills lacking in the host nation. When I was in Dubai, for example, there were more than 100 nationalities (of all colours) working at the telco I worked for - they all did skilled work and were all classed as expats. I'd put a lot of money on the fact that many of them will never leave Dubai in their lives but that's how it works.

good post

4000islandsguy · Post by **4000islandsguy** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:45 pm

Ex pats normally only have a temporary status as far as residency goes. They may stay somewhere a very long time but more often than not will go where ever the money takes them as far as work and contracts are concerned. they are usually guests in a country that have no interest in getting involved with the countries internal affairs. Although they will probably give you an earful about how to fix the countries every problem from the comfort of their bar stool.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 5:38 pm

i hold an extension on my NON immigrant visa
I am an expat an have been for 34 out of the last 36 years

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:53 pm

If you are an EXPAT, doesn't that imply that you have a country to go back to ? That you have left your country by choice, but that you are keeping your options open to return ?

IMO the expat/immigrant difference is more about your passport than your skin colour. If you come from a "desirable" country then you have choices about leaving, so you are called an expat. People leaving their country permanently, usually out of necessity, are called immigrants.

All BS really, but there's definitely been a linguistic shift between pre and post- WWII immigration and today's migrants. What was seen as positive - immigrants' contribution to society - is now perceived as negative - immigrants are taking "our" whatever...

The term "expat/expatriate" imparts the idea of a temporary expatriation from a "patrie" or homeland.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriate
Definition of immigrant is someone seeking permanent residence in a foreign country:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defin ... /immigrant

Conclusion: Temporary vs permanent stay in a foreign country.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:09 pm

....Conclusion: Temporary vs permanent stay in a foreign country.

I dont think it has anything to do with time..

but even after 30+++ years in a foreign country ur still an expat
even if u give up ur home country nationality and passport i would say
the richest American in Thailand ( William Heinecke) still is not thai even though he holds a thai passport
even Jim Thompson was always an expat even though he made Thailand his home for most of his life

juansweetpotato · Post by **juansweetpotato** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 12:41 pm

Samouth wrote:

Why are white people expats when the rest of us are immigrants?

Not sure, but is it something to do with washing their hands after they've been to the toilet?

Barang_doa_slae · Post by **Barang_doa_slae** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 5:50 pm

phuketrichard wrote:....Conclusion: Temporary vs permanent stay in a foreign country.

I dont think it has anything to do with time..

but even after 30+++ years in a foreign country ur still an expat
even if u give up ur home country nationality and passport i would say
the richest American in Thailand ( William Heinecke) still is not thai even though he holds a thai passport
even Jim Thompson was always an expat even though he made Thailand his home for most of his life

This "temporary vs permanent stay" both make sense and can stands as a definition according to quite a few posters that researched it online.

In any case you state some interesting examples.
My own user name reflect that I think; "Barang doa slae" stands for "la mousse de l'arbre" or in english "the tree moss"
The way my khmer friends who gave me this nickname put it, I won't ever be khmer but I belong here nonetheless, and good luck to get rid of me.
I think your examples explain the difference there is between integration and assimilation.
For my part, even though I am now a Cambodian citizen and without doubt integrated in the community, I made the choice not to relinquish my french traits, hence choosing integration over assimilation.
Back to the OP question I always considered myself as an immigrant and never as an expat, even if I can use this term from time to time when generalizing about local foreigners.
The way I see it "expat" has a lot of pejorative meanings

juansweetpotato · Post by **juansweetpotato** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:10 pm

Barang_doa_slae wrote:
phuketrichard wrote:....Conclusion: Temporary vs permanent stay in a foreign country.

I dont think it has anything to do with time..

but even after 30+++ years in a foreign country ur still an expat
even if u give up ur home country nationality and passport i would say
the richest American in Thailand ( William Heinecke) still is not thai even though he holds a thai passport
even Jim Thompson was always an expat even though he made Thailand his home for most of his life
This "temporary vs permanent stay" both make sense and can stands as a definition according to quite a few posters that researched it online.

In any case you state some interesting examples.
My own user name reflect that I think; "Barang doa slae" stands for "la mousse de l'arbre" or in english "the tree moss"
The way my khmer friends who gave me this nickname put it, I won't ever be khmer but I belong here nonetheless, and good luck to get rid of me.
I think your examples explain the difference there is between integration and assimilation.
For my part, even though I am now a Cambodian citizen and without doubt integrated in the community, I made the choice not to relinquish my french traits, hence choosing integration over assimilation.
Back to the OP question I always considered myself as an immigrant and never as an expat, even if I can use this term from time to time when generalizing about local foreigners.
The way I see it "expat" has a lot of pejorative meanings

I was told it translated into 'party dog'. All this time I though you were a raver.

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:20 pm

@JSP
It helps to switch brain into ON position before posting.
Probably just a result of all those westerns, but you know, you're not doing yourself any favours.

juansweetpotato · Post by **juansweetpotato** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:28 pm

Anchor Moy wrote:@JSP
It helps to switch brain into ON position before posting.
Probably just a result of all those westerns, but you know, you're not doing yourself any favours.

I was /am being serious. I was told by a Khmer that it translated in party dog, well Foreign party dog to be precise. I don't speak Khmer so I just have what the locals tell me to go on. lol. Mostly I find out what things really mean from Barang that speak Khmer. As far as switching goes, I think there are a lot of expats who need to switch their brains on in Cambodia.

Why are white people expats and the rest of us are "immigrants"?

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Re: Why are white people expats and the rest of us are

Who is online

Register/Login to CEO with your Social Media Account: