US citizen living in China for over 12 years. A large backlog and expansion allows a precious once-yearly return(non-business related) to the States with the family. Things are booming so I don’t know when I would ever be able to return full-time.
I guess after all this time I’m comfortable here, but one’s roots aren’t all that easy to dislodge.
It’s actually over twenty when all the time is added up. I first came here in '81 to a small town in Kyushu.
Yup, things have changed.
I’ve been here… let me get my socks off… eighteen years, next month.
When has one “gone native” to the extent that one is no longer an expat, I wonder?
When the food back home is the one that smells weird. Dual nationality for non-legal purposes is achieved the first time when, being back home, you find yourself missing something which those weird folks over there cook.
points at his ‘location’ information
Englishman in Denmark for about 6 years now…don’t ask me how ‘good’ my Danish is though…
I’ve always wanted to live in Canada, no idea why I just do. So that’s next on my list of things to do. I know I qualify for a work visa already but the decision is do I try and find a job first and then move or just sell everything here and move hoping to find a job…decisions, decisions.
Shanghai for the past 10 years. about 23 years altogether in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Japan. Maybe moving to Beijing, which will feel like a new country.
may have to move back to the US when the Chinettes reach school age as the youngest has some challenges.
That’s what we all say.
Man, you guys are making me feel like the new kid with just 13 years.
I’m trying desperately to not knock up any nihonjin in my time here.
I’m English, live in the US but spend my working days in Azerbaijan. It’s good for the airmiles.
I’m British living in Greece, where I’m writing a guidebook.
I’m an Englishman. Married to a Czech girl, we both wanted to try living in her home country while we’re still young enough to change our minds if it all fell apart. We’ve been here for almost a year now.
What do I miss: Understanding how everything works, the BBC, cheddar cheese, fish and chips, HP sauce, my mates, mum.
What don’t I miss: Chavs, MacDonalds, politics, the weather.
The language is the only real difficulty for me. 3 genders, 7 declension cases, Perfective and Imperfective verbs… ow my head. I’m making slow progress though.
I think a couple of years ago (so, four years in) I realized that I don’t think I can live in Canada any longer. Certainly not in the West (Alberta) where I’m from. It’s too small, things are too far apart, I wouldn’t have the conveniences that I have here now. Maybe I would be ok in Calgary or Edmonton, but probably not. More like Toronto or Montreal - but my husband doesn’t speak any French at all, and mine, while always sort of crappy and Alberta-patois-y, is failing after so long away from others to speak it with.
We’re sorta-kinda planning to buy a home later on down the road in Alberta; we’d like the eldest to go to university there, near my parents. It is worlds less expensive and the education is still excellent. It’s not Johns Hopkins, but the University of Alberta system is pretty excellent.
Edit: I realize that Canada and the US aren’t really all that different, and my heart goes out to those of you who surrounded by a different language and culture altogether. I know how difficult it was for me coming here preparing to be married, even with the same language and mostly-same culture, it was heart-wrenching.
American in England; I’ve lived in SE England for 6.7 years now.
Obviously, the actual natives may have different ideas, but for me it was I started homesickness and culture shock while I was back in America. Oddly, I didn’t get either of those when I first came here.
Ah, the pleasures of a Slavic language… 
I’m in the US for another week and then off to Kabul for a year. I just finished living in Germany for the past three years and before that I lived in Kosovo, Albania and London.
I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
I always wondered what the Baku tourist board would use for their slogan, I think you got it right there.
Canadian living in California since 2000. I also lived in Belgium for 4 years from1989 through 1993. So I have been an ex-pat for 12 of my 32 years.
I am married to a California girl who barely survives the once yearly trips to Ontario for Christmas. So I think that I will be staying.
Minor hijack: Thanks for the tips on buying suits a while back. A couple months ago I received 7 and have been getting raves about them. I can’t remember if I thanked you properly then, so better late than never.
It’d all good happy they worked out for you :=)