Just an observation: Been living in 3rd world countries over 30 yrs (and 6 countries) and based on what I’ve seen the expats generally speaking fall into two broad categories: 1. Those that are physically living in a foreign country but whose living situations are exactly the same as it was in the 1st world country they migrated from. Same type of lodging, same food, same furniture, same language as where they came from. The extent of their assimilation is cohabitation with a local girl who must communicate in English (or French, or German, or Italian). They rarely eat the local food; rarely go to the pagoda to be exposed to the local way of worship. Any kind of deviation from the western lifestyle is viewed as roughing it. Viewed as inferior and desperate. The perspective among that group tends toward viewing the locals as inferior and in a predominately negative light. This group as a rule needs a couple of grand a month to suffice their western consumer and culinary needs. 90% OF THE EXPATS FALL INTO THAT GROUP. 2. The next group is the iconoclasts. Those that go native and enjoy it. They prefer the so-called rigors of the local lifestyle to that of the west. That bunch eats the local cuisine, make attempts (at times fumbling attempts) to speak the native language. They gravitate to the “deep immersion” methodology, jumping into the native lifestyle with what the other group of expats view as reckless abandon. This group of expats is in a dramatic minority, 10% tops. They are both physically and mentally in the 3rd world country. They see the positive aspects of the local sensibility. The local customs are preferred. They visit the pagoda. This group needs $500 to $600 a month to live extremely comfortably and suffice their local orientated needs. No value judgments - no hierarchy of preference implied - just an observation.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:47:09 +0000
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