Our own cultural traditions influence us more than we wish to admit. When I first took a foreign language (Latin in Jr. High School), I began to understand English grammar for the first time. Why? I finally had another grammar with which to compare it. The same thing happens with other aspects of our culture. We are not aware of many of our beliefs and customs and how they effect everything we do in life until we are confronted with a different set of beliefs and customs. Living in a expatriate cultural environment is one of the quickest ways to realize these differences.

Expatriate living is basically the act of living in a country other than your own; one which has a different geographical, political, and cultural environment. So, we see that the definition of expatriate living is based on residence and not on citizenship. Some may only think of the term "expatriate" when referring to an individual who has given up his citizenship to become a citizen in another country. Although this type of expatriation is an extreme example of expatriate living, it is not part of my definition here. In my definition, expatriate living does not require giving up your citizenship.

Serial expatriatism (my coined terminology for the actions of serial expatriates) is a form of expatriate living where an expatriate continues to remain outside of his home country, often times moving from country to country. A short term vacation or work assignment may trigger the desire to remain in a country for a longer period of time, starting their extended journey. There are numerous individuals living this lifestyle. Many utilize the temporary tourist visa loophole (usually 3 to 6 months) to live in a country, and then at the termination of the visa, move on to another country, likewise under a tourist visa.

As children, we generally absorb the values, actions, language, religion, and all other aspects of our culture subconsciously, i.e., it is learned behavior. As adults moving to an expatriate living situation, we are "burdened" with this subconscious blueprint that effects how we adapt to our new situation. If we remain in a community of our compatriots, we experience a minimum amount of conflict. If we live among the local populace, we quickly realize the differences and "culture shock" may set in. Comparisons between the cultures seem to accentuate the differences. It takes time and effort to overcome this culture shock.

Expatriate's children however may fit into another category, one that has been called a third culture. These individuals have grown up in foreign countries during their formative years, absorbing the local culture at the same time they are being raised according to the values of their parent's home culture(s). In one discussion I recently read of this cultural group, it was said that they were more tolerant, more adaptable, and more grounded in their beliefs. I can not say if this is true or not, but having watched a generation of Cuban immigrant children growing up in Miami, Florida, I can say that they seem to not only have absorbed the basic values of their family, but the majority of the local values. Cultural value conflicts to some extent still exist between the two generations but the blend of cultures have led to many successful adaptations.

One of the benefits of expatriate living and serial expatriatism is the opportunity to explore and hopefully learn to successfully adapt to a multicultural experience. If you can accomplish this adaptation, your expatriate experience will be much more satisfying.

Author SIG

Dr. Lamar Ross, a cultural anthropologist by training, has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living and providing information on unique travel destinations. He is an author, educator, photographer, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has lived in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and India and has traveled extensively in 29 different countries. His pensionado visa for Panama has been approved and he presently alternates his residence between the U.S. and the Republic of Panama. For more information on expatriate living, check out the blog Expatriate Traveler Notes. Check out also his Everything Travel Blog.

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