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As a backpacker I see all y'all and I am always curious. I can easily see some of the charms here and it's cheap enough. What did you fall in love with?

I am an expat myself, just not here. I went from USA to Australia where I have had permanent residency for some years now. I arrived there as a backpacker (my usual occupation since the GFC in 2009) and fell in love with a lady who is now traveling Asia with me. Oz is like USA Junior in many ways (don't tell any Aussies I said that!) so it wasn't that big of a deal, other than missing all my friends and family.

So now that I have shared, perhaps you will tell me your motivations? How have you assimilated? Do you hang out with expats of your old country? Have you picked up the language? Is it lonely or are expats here quite open? Just curious, thanks!

To answer your question "because they let me" simple

Those are some low standards, mate! But I am sure it worked out for the best? Good food to be had here and I am sure you've met some lovely folks. How hard is it to stay permanently?

In Cambodia you can always find someone that makes you feel better about your self.

Not hard at all , and yes, my standards are low but if no other country would allow you to stay ( 18 years ago) what else would you do?

rexdart wrote:Oz is like USA Junior in many ways (don't tell any Aussies I said that!)...

You wish, you Yank basta... nah, you're right. And THAT is why we're in Cambodia.

Take it either way, StroppyChops. It's so true, so many of the kids love emulating America and praise my American accent, like I was working hard on it for years or something.

And Horace, stop me if I am getting too personal or incorrect with my immigration info, but would it not have been easy as a Brit to move to other Commonwealth countries. Or why leave in the first place? I suppose I should have made that one of my initial questions. What does Cambodia have that your home country doesn't?

rexdart wrote:As a backpacker I see all y'all and I am always curious. I can easily see some of the charms here and it's cheap enough. What did you fall in love with?

I am an expat myself, just not here. I went from USA to Australia where I have had permanent residency for some years now. I arrived there as a backpacker (my usual occupation since the GFC in 2009) and fell in love with a lady who is now traveling Asia with me. Oz is like USA Junior in many ways (don't tell any Aussies I said that!) so it wasn't that big of a deal, other than missing all my friends and family.

So now that I have shared, perhaps you will tell me your motivations? How have you assimilated? Do you hang out with expats of your old country? Have you picked up the language? Is it lonely or are expats here quite open? Just curious, thanks!

Cannot speak for others but I would think that ease of Visa situation would be at the top of the list,and a low cost of living a close second. A genuinely friendly local population helps plus it is refreshing to live in a place that has not yet evolved into the sterile mono culture and politically correct brain washing that dominates so many "developed" places.

Obviously some come for other "darker" reasons but I do not think that is a significant factor for most these days.

I get asked this several times a day when I'm behind the bar, normally I just point at the beautiful ocean view complete with ladies in bikinis and say London doesn't have that...

I take it you are in Sihanoukville, Sohi? A world apart from London. What brought you out here in the first place?