Well, I’ve already spent a number of years in France and didn’t mind it, but despite its myriad problems and the sometime oppressiveness of the unofficial morality police here I prefer the US and A.
What would or could send me packing again? Well, off the top of my head, a major eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, mass zombie attack, discovering that Dick Cheney was actually a blood relative, maybe. Not much else.
If I could find a job in New Zealand or Australia, I’d emmigrate in a second. I don’t hate the USA, far from it. But, to start a new antipodean life in a land of such natural wonders would be a dream come true. I know that the impressions I’ve got on my visits are through a tourist-coloured glasses, but I liked the people I met there. I think that I could find a place for myself if I had a comparable job to what I have now.
Well, I’m currently living outside of the US. What made me come here? Well, I’m currently working in a field directly related to my course of study, Linguistics, in University. My brother’s working overseas also and for him it’s so he can get paid a serious chunk of change in a field he enjoys, Human Resources.
Neither of us is taking citizenship where we live, though. We’re still happily and proudly US citizens.
Well. I’m quite frustrated with my government. I used to be quite patriotic, but 9-11 was a real wake-up call for me about the motivations behind war and the disasters that can result. I’m 23, and 9-11 happened within the first week of my freshman year of college. It changed everything for me, in that the world shrank 100 sizes that day and I learned just how much impact our foreign policy decisions have on others–and, long-term–on ourselves. I believe world equality has become a matter of self-interest for every country. I believe the U.S. lacks that understanding in a fundamental and concerning way.
I’ve become something of a cynic about this country. I hate that there are only two parties that ever have a chance in hell in winning. Do I waste my vote by voting for who I’d like to win, or do I cast my vote for the lesser of the two evils in the hope of offsetting a major disaster? I usually have to play some kind of balancing game between the two. I don’t feel represented at all by anyone in this country. Nobody represents me. I feel alienated and disenfranchised. I can’t even relate to other liberals, because they mostly spew vitriol and rhetoric that I view as just as damaging and ignorant as conservative vitriol and rhetoric. I think this country needs to be healed… but I don’t think I have any power to change anything. I can’t really relate to much of the popular culture. In many ways I am just despairing and feel helpless. I’m so pissed off about the rampant classism and racism here I can hardly stand it. I don’t even have TV anymore because it makes me nauseated to see such ignorant drivel–especially coming from the mouths of people who claim to be journalists.
I’ve talked seriously about moving to Canada, but my husband’s not on board. He likes it here, he considers it his home. It’s fine. In a way I guess I consider it my home, too. Fleeing at this point seems a little… I mean, almost unfair, in a way. If I am truly a citizen of the U.S. it is my responsibility to do everything I can to protect the rights of others and to shape the direction of this country as best I can. Besides, I don’t think the U.S. in itself is problematic… I think human nature is problematic. There is no world government or state that is immune to these kinds of decisions in the interest of maintaining power and control. It’s worse in other places… WAY worse. Blow-my-mind worse.
So given these considerations, there is really only one thing that would make me move and denounce my citizenship. That would have to be serious, violent oppression-- dissenting voices being gunned down in the streets on a regular basis–that sort of thing. Once I feel my life and the lives of my family members are at stake just for holding my unpopular beliefs, then it would be time to go. My overall goal is to stay here and do everything I can to make sure that never happens. But I’m sure as hell not going to be a martyr either when there’s a perfectly good country just an hour northeast of here.
I guess I’m technically an expat, since I was born in Korea, but I was brought up most of my life in the US so I felt more like an expat in Korea than I do here. I plan to eventually settle down in the US if I can, but it really has nothing to do with patriotism or nationalism. It’s the simple face that I am more comfortable in the US than I was in Korea.
However, I also feel like I don’t need to settle down quite yet. I might live a year in Europe or go back to Korea for a bit before I plant myself anywhere long-term.
Isn’t an expatriate someone who lives in a country than that of their citizenship? Are you asking what’ll make someone become an expatriate or what will make someone emmigrate and take another citizenship?
Um, it doesn’t take that much. Some of us just find certain foregin cultures more appealing.
Also, some us can’t type.
Anyway, I actually sort of see the problems in the USA as a reason to stay. I really have relatively little affection for American culture; I’d probably just as soon live in S. America, the coast of China, or the Mediterranean.
But I already speak the language here, & have unfortunately come to identify with this country as something politically important enough to fight for. I think I should have left before I hit voting age.
Went overseas after college for new experiences, stayed overseas because I found many of the things I’d been looking for in life. I may have still found them if I’d stayed in the US, but I didn’t and that’s that.
I still have US citizenship and vote absentee, but if my salary went over the current tax exemption level, I might consider switching to Japanese citizenship. I don’t dislike the US, but I’m not in the mood to be double-taxed for a country I don’t live or work in.
My dad joked that when he was in Iraq, all the 7-11s were manned by good ol’ boys from Alabama.
That said, I’ve heard that they like Americans a lot in Ireland, for what it’s worth, though I’ve never gone there to test the theory.
Being a history geek/photographer, I’d consider moving to another country for an extended period of time in order to study the history and culture, and get some great pictures. That said, it’s not QUITE in the cards for me, though since I’m joining the Air Force, I’ll probably get to see some foreign countries anyhow.
Does being in the military and deployed overseas count as being an expatriate?
A good job opportunity and my spouse’s willingness to go would be all I would need.
Oh, and I’d prefer to only move to an Enlgish speaking country. I’m terrible at learning new languages.
Not really, esp. not if you’re on base all the time. If you were an agent of your country’s imperial ambitions & sent to go native in a foreign country, then I suppose you would be.
If everything here was utterly destroyed somehow, all was ash and everyone I know and love dead – only then might I decide to leave New Zealand. It would take a lot to make me want to leave.
Moved to the US three times, all three for economic reasons. The last two, with intent of permanence.
Moved to Costa Rica (although working for a spanish firm) for economic reasons. Probably could have gotten a good job and stayed, but tropical climates and my body don’t like each other.
Currently in Switzerland, again for job. I was told it was for 6 months, apparently it’s more likely to be 6 years. I dislike this because given my lack of German skills dangit, it’s not a place I intended to move to. If it had been the French of Italian cantons I wouldn’t have the language problem.
When Mom complains about having me too far I remark on the most exotic of the headhunter calls I’ve gotten lately. Nothing like a mention of “Korea” to make her shut up about that 
Barcelona, Antinor01; Antinor01, Barcelona. The double-language thing can be disconcerting, but it’s not so bad if it doesn’t blindside you.
'im indoors spent several years living and working in Europe, and would very much like to go back again. So if he got a good job offer I think we’d seriously consider moving abroad, guess it depends on how hard it is to learn Dutch!
I’ve lived abroad quite a bit and have various countries that I’d like to go back to, perhaps on a permanent basis. At the moment it’s something I don’t think is likely to happen while my mother is still alive because I’d like to be in easy visiting distance of her. She’s in her 70s but still very alert and active so I don’t foresee a move any time soon.
I’m afraid that’s changed a little since Iraq. In '96 Clinton stood in College Green surrounded by 50,000 cheering Irish people. After 9/11 there was an official day of mourning and the line to sign the book of condolences at the American embassy was two or three miles long.
But when Dubya visited in 2004, there was a ten-mile exclusion zone around the hotel he stayed in. A conservative American friend who lived in Dublin got some serious abuse on a regular basis and ended up moving back to the US.
That said, though there’s always been a bit of “slagging” that can be misinterpreted too if the sarcasm filter isn’t turned on, most Americans in Ireland, provided they’re not behaving in a “stereotypical” manner, are tolerated or liked. See Des Bishop.
Let’s see…what would it take?
If we had a president whose misguided policies make us more and more disliked every day…
If there were local school boards and other agencies that actually believe an ancient origin myth is just as valid as science…
If my country showed no sign of casting off its Puritan shackles when it comes to things like nude beaches and parks…
If all the logistics in my country, outside of a handful of very exceptional cities, were based on the notion of everone having their own individual car, and I thought that might not be sustainable in a few decades…
If it seemed that most of my countryment were not merely resigned to selling us out for cheap imports, but actually seemed happy about it, and a currency crash loomed as a result…
Then yeah, I’d consider leaving.
Wait a minute…
It just boils down to money and climate for me. Yes, I think the federal government is full of jerks and they’re ruining the world. But I think the same is true everywhere. If I lived in some cultural backwater like the midwest or south I’d want to move, maybe out of the country, but I live in a relatively “liberal” area. I’d love to be able to live abroad for a while, just for new experiences, but I don’t look forward to the hassles involved with moving and finding a new job.
So I guess I wouldn’t do it purely as a form of protest. I’d need a tangible reason.
The questionable nature of the 2000 elections in the US, the US invasion of Iraq, and the retarded gay marrage “debate” were enough for me and my family.
We left the United States Sept 2006.