They're immigrants not expats

A subtle form of geographic othering

An expat or an immigrant? Photo by Humphrey M on Unsplash

I need to get something off my chest. Over the last year and a half, I’ve traveled throughout much of the world. I’ve been all throughout east and southeast Asia. I bopped around Europe and even into the Caucuses region. I’ve been to Australia and New Zealand. I even managed to go to Guatemala and Costa Rica. Needless to say, it’s been quite the journey that Alexa and I have documented extensively. So, if you want to know more about any of the places we’ve been, I can assure you we have a video on it!

But today’s subject is less about my travels and about something that was an ever-present aspect of traveling when you’re “from the west” or simply from any of the wealthier countries of the world. It’s about the concept of the expat. If you spend enough time abroad, you’re bound to be asked if you are an expat, if you know where the expat community is, or if you plan on moving to whatever place you’re in as an expat.

Now, I know this might get me in some hot water with some of you, but this term has always rubbed me the wrong way. Mostly because what’s the actual difference between an expat and an immigrant? Well, if you’re living in a foreign country and you find yourself automatically recoiling from being considered an immigrant then… boom! You’ve already hit on at least one part of the answer.

But let’s dive in a bit deeper.