The expatriate

'An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat see link) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence'. The types below are mostly stereotypes and refer to professional expats abroad and their reasons for being abroad. It also includes non working expats. Warning, information below contains adult content.

The five types: economic, trailing spouse, love lust drop out, traveler, other. These are general 'stereotypes'. See below.

Type 1: Economic lucky bastard

This type of expat is living abroad for financial gain or for reasons of career advancement or opportunity. These kinds of expats are usually on a contract for a set period, working abroad for a high profile international company. Usual types are to be found in accounting, construction, banking, hospitality, industry, law and advertising, for example. Some work in oil, geology and scientific areas. Stereotypes: Single, male and on very high pay, they live now now pay later, have full perks and benefits such as free rent, free schooling for kids if married, driver, free flights, regular business trips excellent generous expense accounts. If young and single, they do the minimum in work and party hard, they can do this as they are 'specialists' and know how to play the system, office rules that would apply back home, dont apply abroad. If single, they enjoy the fruits of many women and have a great time abroad.

On the other hand, many expats abroad, work very long hours and although they receive good benefits, they earn their pay and have little free time as their jobs are highly demanding and very deadline driven.These groups, can also include 'civil servants' (state employees) from many countries employed at embassies on set contracts working for the foreign office, visa office or economic development. These types are abroad as the job requires relocation and regular country moves. Roots are hard, to impossible to put down and life as an international gypsy is the norm for these types of expats.

Some of these groups, relocate seeking a new life and to get rich abroad some make it some don't, they learn the local language and integrate fully into their host country, while still maintaining their identity and a strong relationship with their own country of origin and fellow nationals. Countries of origin are usually international depending on the country, however Russia attracts many American men for reasons that I will never understand. These groups also include economic migrants who flee legally or illegally abroad to seek a new life and better opportunities usually heading for Europe, see below.

Type 2: Trailing spouse.

This type can include a wife or husband following their partner abroad. This type does not work either because they have taken on the full time child caring role or don't want to work and dont need to. The kids are their 'career' they give up their careers back home to follow their partner abroad. Their husband or wife is on big money with full benefits. They have a nanny full time or part time and stay at home. They either love their role in this situation abroad or totally hate it, especially in relation to moving to Moscow. They join woman's cubs and embrace their domestic roles as a full time job. Some are able to work part time in between looking after their child or children. Countries of origin are always international. This type are usually female but there are some males in this position. See above.

Type 3: Love, lust and the drop out

This type has moved abroad to be with a female or male partner. This type is usually a guy who has either met his girl abroad or who found her on an online dating site. The pull of the pussy has sucked many a guy into its vortex, gripping onto him and never releasing him like a ship lost at sea. Russian women can lock onto many  a man with their beauty, reeling him in like a helpless fish on a hook. (Sorry for the nautical/fishing/anatomy analogies, it was the best I could do).

These guys give up their homes, lives and countries to be with their lady. The relationship begins as lust and becomes love or is a confused combination of the two. These guys can be older (divorced or widowed) who met their women online on a Russian dating sites (for example) and who then sell up and move to Russia. Sometimes, these relationships work out but many fail badly due to an inability to accept the new country, loneliness, culture conflict or relationship failure. These types are often romantics, devil may care guys and brave at hearts.

Rarely, woman move abroad to be with her partner to start a new life with him these situations can work out as women generally follow their hearts, while men often tend to follow their dicks. These situations can also fail where culture and religion conflict in Muslim countries for example. In reverse, many lonely women and young girls have been duped into marriage for reasons of visas by dishonest immigrants looking to become permanent expats from the African continent and Asia for example, in these situations men move to their countries. Countries of origin for these women and girls is more European than international and that's what attracts these want to be expats from abroad.

Good old fashioned love can also be the biggest pull for some expats abroad. For some, true love is the only reason and for some the move abroad works out and they really do live happily ever after.  I think these situations are rare but when you hear about them, it makes you feel good.

The drop out, can be a guy who could not make it in his own country or who fled his own country for personal reasons or for a new fresh start. Often this group of expats move abroad becuase of a criminal record making it hard to find work back home or they move when they were released from prison for certain 'offenses'. They set up a new life abroad and often carry on abroad as they did back home where checks and controls abroad are less strict (Gary Glitter for example see link) than back home in their own country. This group could be sexual predators, political or financial criminals for example. They work abroad undetected with a fresh history often with a new name and a fake invented past.

The drop out, also includes eccentrics and artists who move abroad to places like India. Their ethos is freedom without ties and responsibilities with a hippie dream. Former socialist countries attract want to be 'socialists' or left wingers who are disenfranchised with their own countries. The great outdoors and nature attracts many drop outs to move to Australia, New Zealand to live a healthier and simpler life. Disenfranchisement and disappointment are the biggest pull for these types of expats.

Type 4: Traveler

This type is often aged under 30, has itchy feet and is looking for life experience, adventure and fun. He or she (often he) moves abroad to non English speaking countries to work as a teacher legally or illegally, qualified or unqualified. They work hard and make a good living teaching. Many meet girls/guys and settle down in their host country. This group also includes student exchanges in areas such as language and medical students. Many countries of origin are the US, UK and Canada. Gender types: Male and female but mostly male.

Type 5: Other

This type of expat can be a person who moved abroad for a few months for an experience and who liked the country so much that they settled abroad, often marrying a local and staying full time. These people are happy in their new countries, do well and embrace their new country, giving it 100% commitment. They learn the language and speak it fluently often helping other expats with a service or advice free or as a business. Many of these types have country national links via grandparents or older generations to their host expat country in that they have it in their 'blood' as being half or a quarter Russian, Italian, Slovak Polish for example.

Of course, some people become expats for all of the reasons above and more, there is often no single reason. They move abroad for a few months, years or for good. However, some return home very disappointed from their experience abroad.

Note: Many of the above are 'stereotypes' and there are of course many exceptions to the descriptions and types mentioned here.  

Other facts

Many expatriates earn a high income. The average annual income of British expatriates was £67,000 (€80,000) in 2007, or 43% above the UK average (NatWest IPB Expat Wealth Ranking Survey, 2007).

More than 30% of expats earn expatriate salaries in excess of £100,000 (€120,000) per year (HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, 2008).In addition to their salaries, many expat also receive special expatriate benefits that go significantly beyond the benefits of other employees. These can include relocation help, accommodation benefits and special family benefits such as financial support for private schooling.

The Telegraph is reporting on new figures coming out of the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). The headline figure is a new estimate that 2 Million British citizens have emigrated in the last 10 years. Over the same period, the figures show 1.58 million foreign nationals left the UK. In 2006, it is estimated 200,000 Brits left. Although there is some argument over the statistics, this level of emigration is historically high and highlights that moving country has become a reality for an increasingly significant percentage of Britons.

Due to their higher than average incomes and addition support from employers, many expatriates experience a more luxurious lifestyle abroad than at home. More than half (58%) of expatriates save and invest more money abroad than in their home country - despite spending more money abroad than at home. After their move abroad, expatriates tend to spend more on food (+25%), shopping (+22%), accommodation (+18%) and socialising (+15%) (HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, 2008). Nevertheless, their expatriate benefits often allow them to enjoy luxuries abroad that they didn’t have at home, such as private health care and private education for their children.

Source 'other facts' as above: Justlanded.com

The above information (other facts) is less true now (dated) due to the credit crunch and world financial costs and cuts in benefits.

Mercer's 2010 Cost of Living survey

Luanda, Angola (1st)
Tokyo, Japan (2nd)

N'Djamena, Chad (3rd)

Moscow, Russia (4th)

Geneva, Switzerland (5th)

Source Mercer

Conclusion

In my own opinion, Britain has not got much to offer anyone anymore socially or economically, unless you come from a very poor country seeking a better life and manual work or unless you are highly skilled and well qualified in certain skilled professions. The main reasons for becoming an expat are financial, cultural and to experience new countries, languages and cuisines. Britain is dead as a country and will remain so for a long time unless it can drastically improve socially, morally and politically. The reasons for leaving, outweigh the reasons for staying. I don't know about other countries, although globally we are all in an economic crisis and reasons for leaving ones own country can vary between people.

For a more detailed published version of my article 8 types see Passport Magazine 

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