Comments on: Do different types of expats move to different areas?

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:21:26 +0000

In reply to Seph. Seph, very interesting topic, and thanks for commenting. It's probably a relatively small number in total, but with a big influence. And I think it's more than just the visual arts because music is also a force that causes many to move from one part of the world to another. I'm reminded of all the jazz musicians who relocated to Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe during the decades when the music was more widely appreciated there. And those who moved to Brazil because new sounds were emerging faster there are brought to mind as well. As a musician myself, I moved to Amsterdam for a while because it was (and is) the center of the big-room trance style I was producing. Wonderful discussion point. -Tom

By: Seph

Seph — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:43:36 +0000

Yes, you did miss one crucial group of expats, the Visual Arts expat. Let me be clear, when I say Visual Arts I’m saying those persons that create things with their blood, sweat and tears – their hands. All throughout history artist, specifically visual artists ie. painters have moved here and there to get fresh starts or just to get known outside their own country. Then the irony of it all, their nation of birth jumps on the bandwagon after all others find them to be of worth. More often than not, a visual artist expat’s move abroad is permanent than just say a retiree or Economic expat living on the cheap. For most Visual arts expats living on the cheap is the way of life. Art is more than just singing a song on American Idol or dancing on Dancing with the Stars. So, now I don’t say I’m an artist anymore, I say I’m a visual artist so the distinction is made upfront. I’m now trying to find a word that will replace “artist”. There are no real traditional visual artists left in the U.S., only commercial artists because all things must sale, sale and sale more and more by bulk Wal-Mart style. Anyway I am responding because most, if not all, traditional visual artists eventually become expats regardless of their country of citizenship or roadblocks put up to attempt to constrict their movement. For example, Ai Weiwei. This departure from our nation of birth can be based on internal and external curiosity that their country of birth cannot give them, ever. Freedom, in almost all circumstances. Visual artists expats leave their nation of birth to reset their creative gauge, heighten their sense of creative awareness, expand their creative network and cleanse the creative air. The U.S. doesn’t have a monopoly on democracy, especially “social” democracy.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:27:56 +0000

In reply to Ellen.

Ellen,

Thanks for your comments, and it’s sort of nice to know others are in the same bind over trying to find a place with a compatible social circle. I haven’t been to Panama yet, but it’s not surprising to hear that many expats complain about it, as they do most other cheap and sunny places.

I’m actually going to write a new post on this today based on some of my own research, but it’s definitely an open question. I’ve been in a small Mediterranean town in Turkey called Kas for the past year and the expats here (mostly British) seem to love it. Complaints are few and there is a lot of positive energy here. I think it may be partly because it’s well off the beaten path. -Tom

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:55 +0000

I had to laugh when I read your description of the “cheap and sunny” expat. I met a large number of really grumpy (and very boring) people when I went to Panama six years ago scouting a new home. I live in NYC and I love big cities, so PC (Panama City) was not the place for me. I thought I could do it and the truth is that PC is a nice city with some really lovely aspects, the most important being the very kind Panamanians. I liked the people I met there who were from Panama, but the many expats I met did nothing but complain about Panama as you mentioned.

The thing is, as you mention as well, is that I would like to live somewhere that people with similar intersts and passions live. Paris, Rome, Barcelona come to mind. I’m thinking that perhaps Sao Paulo in Brazil would be that kind of city in S. America. But who can afford to live in those cities? I’ve thought about this a lot and I’m wondering if I would be happy beyond the first few months of getting to know a place. I’m looking for a place where I could make friends with other expats of a similar nature and of course, the natives of that country. I speak some French and Spanish and could probably perfect them in a relatively short time.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:47:29 +0000

In reply to Connor Davies. Connor, that's a great point, the "accidental expat" perhaps? I came to Turkey for 2 months and I've been here over a year now, so I would probably qualify for that as well. I'm moving on soon, but I might be back later in the year, so here I am. -Tom

By: Connor Davies

Connor Davies — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:58:28 +0000

I can’t think of any particular groups you have missed out, but there are also lots of expats who just seem to ‘end up’ in places for a million different reasons without ever having really chosen their destination (I count myself in that group!).

They are usually people who were traveling through a country and ended up getting stuck for whatever reason (work, love, etc), then end up growing to love their new homes over a period of months and years (whilst always secretly thinking that they would opt for a different destination if they could choose again!)