The ability to organize and write an essay that has a central argument, clearly and logically supported, without pointless repetition.
Other than that, Indonesia has everything I want.
Hi! I’m here too but somehow overlooked this thread, sorry!
It’s nice to watch the Olympics at nearly normal time for once! (Apart from the fact that I seem to see more of my husband’s back as he lounges on the floor glued to the telly than I do of his front, sigh…)
How come not technically an expat?
I am not sure if I am one or not, myself. I have “gone native” - married one, gave birth to two more and can go for hours at a time without speaking English. (If I didn’t teach English for a living it would be even less!) I do keep my British nationality but I have Permanent Residence and have no plans to ever live in England again. I might if my kids ever moved there but I doubt they will. I certainly don’t live the expat lifestyle nor do I earn the money, nor even do I live in the right area, being up up away in Hokkaido!
Three not yet mentioned:
[ul]
[li]Monty in Busan, South Korea.[/li][li]Dottygumdrop in Bahrain.[/li][li]False_God in Kabul, Afghanistan. [/ul][/li]I suppose one should also count Alessan and Noone Special in Israel.
There were a bunch of other Asia-based Dopers who showed up in Zeldar’s Non-USA Dopers: Stand and be counted. Please. thread of exactly two years ago; at the final count, we’d found 25 Asia/Middle East Dopers[sup]*[/sup] out of a total of 331 based outside the US (a few more showed up after the count, so I think the total was actually 336}.
Perhaps it’s time to update that list? Obviously some people have left either Asia or the SDMB since August 2006, but I suspect that there are currently over 400 non-US-based SDMB Members.
[[sup][/sup] The previous three posts in that thread give totals for Canada (100 Dopers), British Isles (78 Dopers), and Oceania (59 Dopers).]*
Here is a small update on Melaka.
By the way, what’s the difference between an expat and an immigrant?
Oh, and hello from sunny Gifu, land of melting pavement.
Interesting question. The dictionary definition of the two seem to be pretty similar, but here in Korea expat usually refers to people from Western countries in white-collar jobs, while immigrant refers to foreigners from mostly SE Asian countries working as laborers. YMMV, I suppose.
Also, I suppose I’m not technically an expat either, since on paper I am a Korean citizen. :smack:
yep, pretty quick biz trip. only be in country about 24 hours, but made a date already to have with my Taiwanese ‘mom’ and brother. i lived with their family 25 years ago when i was a student. still in the name 'hood on Roosevelt Road section 1.
Hokkaido Brit - are you still in Hokkaido? thought you moved to be near in-laws elsewhere? i loved Hokkaido and spent a couple of days backpacking in Daisetsusan national park near Asahikawa in 1989.
expat has a lot of definitions. either someone on an expat package or a non-immigrant.
Of course it doesn’t. Just means you need to suggest something. Do you like FC Seoul games? What about your evenings? Do you like bars, clubs, quiet places…
Let me know.
I’ll most likely be hitting up a soccer game or two. Eating at the Dokaebi in Sinchon, drinking at Blue Moon in Jonggak, and going to some clubs around Hongdae. Not sure yet what I’ll spend my days doing yet. Let me know if any of that interests you, or let me know what you’re interested in. I love a huge variety of everything.
Soon I will be starting a vacation thread. In it I’ll be asking Dopers in the vicinity of where I’ll be to get together and suggest some local, nontouristy fun. Check out this awesome vacation plan:
Around 15 November: Fly from Germany to Korea. Spend about 10-14 days visiting family, doing Chuseok stuff, partying my ass off, going skiing a couple times, catching a couple FC Seoul games, checking out old stomping grounds and whatever else I come up with.
Then fly to London, England. Explore a bit around there (hopefully meet up with local dopers), then its an apprx 20 day road/car/train trip from there to Nurnburg Germany. Along the way I’ll stop at as many crazy and interesting places as I can. Definitely on the list are Amsterdam and Berlin. Going to be making the thread to help me come up with a route and things to do. Money will be no object for this! I can’t wait.
Then, once back in Bavaria, Germany I’ll rest for a couple days (I think I’ll need it). Then we’ll fly from there to Florida to spend Christmas and New Years with my family. More partying, visiting friends, jet skiing, getting my motorcycle license so I have it when I go back to Germany and buy a motorcyle.
Then after the New Year, a very tired and hung over me will fly back to Germany to recover.
God I can’t wait! Anyway, so let me know what you’re up for in Korea. I wanted to visit North Korea too, but after that lady tourist was shot, they cancelled those trips from what I hear.
Since I specifically have a “Non-Immigrant Visa,” I guess I’m not an immigrant. But I always thought it was a citizenship thing: An expat keeps his original citizenship, while an immigrant takes on that of the new country.
You’ll hate me! This year in Hokkaido it’s only gone past 30 degrees for about three or four days and mostly has hovered around the 26 degree mark with little humidity. I am sitting here at 8:30pm with all the windows shut (it’s raining) and a fan on but I still have all my clothes on! The kids are naked, mind you.
Maybe I’m an immigrant then… I really don’t know how to categorise myself, I try not to think about it!
Yes! We moved to Hokkaido seven years ago, and bought this house where we are now about five years ago because my husband’s family are here. I first came to Japan in 1991 and was in Hokkaido for three years during which we met and married, then we were sent to Honshu for seven years for a total here of 17 years so far! Now with land, house, outlaws and a business not to mention spouse and kids who speak but don’t read or write English I think I am here forever.
Isn’t Windwalker in China?