The life of an expat.

I had often heard the term "expat" after moving to Australia.  I never really FULLY knew what it meant.  Of course, along with all the other things I have learned, I do now know the meaning.. well, at least according to Wiki (and lets face it, wiki does know EVERYTHING.....right??)

 

"An expatriate (commonly abbreviated expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing. "

 

So, yup.  I guess by definition I am indeed an "expat".  (which is far better than other five letter words I've been called in my 30 something years of life).

 

As I write this blog, please keep in mind I am purely discussing moving to an ENGLISH speaking country.  Well.... Australian English for me.  Trust me.  There IS a difference.  Just because we speak the same language does NOT mean things mean the same thing.  THIS is when life gets tricky!

 

When you think about moving to another country, regardless of how near or far, I am not sure that you really fully understand what you are about to get yourself into.  I think at first you are excited.  It's new, challenging.  Then it becomes a learning curve.  You find yourself thinking "huh?"  or asking "I'm sorry, what?" a million times.  Everyday.  Sometimes, every hour.  Then after some time, you find yourself using lingo that before you moved you NEVER would have uttered.  You have learned the words that sound harmless but indeed, are quite offensive. 

 

For me.... here's a few things I have learned since moving down under. (these are my observations..... )

• "Mate" is a word that really is used.  I however, cannot get in the habit of this.  It does not, I repeat, does NOT sound normal or acceptable coming from an American (especially a SOUTHERN) accent.  Sounds more like "might".  No.  Just no
• "Root" means to have sexual intercourse.  You can cheer and support your team of choice all you want, but "rooting" for them.  Well.  This is really not an acceptable act. 
• Nobody has a checking account or writes a check.  Cheque accounts are occasional things and sometimes you can get a cheque from your bank.  But that's the extent of it.  Not sure there is much difference, but the frequency and the spelling is enough to flip me out initially.
• "That's not bad" means that something is actually good.  I still have trouble with this one.  "how is your dinner?"  "yeah, it's not bad".  As a yank, this to me always was a nice way to say, well, it tastes like shit.
• I hear the song "Down Under" daily on the radio.  I really wasn't expecting this.  And please note, this is NOT by choice.
• Americans think we are a great group of people.  And most of us are!  But far too many rich and snobby and rude ass yanks (term for Americans) that have travelled have really set a bad name for those of us who are actually nice, caring, and educated, setting a stereotype that American's are rude ass idiots.  I can't count the number of times that people make comments on how nice I am to be an American.  Way to go rich snobs.  Way to go.
• Years ago, the stores "Big W" hired the "Walmart" advertising team and revamped the entire store.  After living here for almost 20 months, I still call it "walmart" because it looks Just... Like... Walmart.   It annoys Wayne to no end and I even catch myself saying to my staff "does Walmart carry  (insert item)?"  The look on their faces looks like I have worms crawling out of my nose.
• I drive on the wrong side of the car, and on the wrong side of the road.  I have pretty much gotten this one down pat now, but can't count the number of times I initially opened the passenger side of the car... and actually SAT down to drive.  What makes it even more fun is when people are actually watching.
• It's not a cell phone . It's a mobile phone.
• It's not a zip code.  It's a postal code.
• Finding a store open past 9pm is nearly impossible.  Up at 3am and decide to go grocery shopping and beat the crowd.  Ha.  Go back to bed.
•  A purse is a handbag.  A wallet is a purse. 
• A coozie is a stubby holder.
• A grill is a BBQ.  Going to some one's place for a cookout?  That is ALSO called a BBQ.
• You know when you go shopping, and you know all the brands of deodorant, shampoo, undies, clothes, etc, etc that you buy without even thinking (even food items)? Yeah.  Forget about that.  Find a really good online FB forum, and make sure your smart phone has Google.  You will need it.  A lot.
• Cornmeal for cornbread?  It's Polenta.
• Be prepared to have a LOT of websites tell you that you are restricted to view them because you are out of region.  Really?  Screw your restrictions.  (And thanks to said FB forums, you will find ways around this..... ohhhhh the ways around are amazing).
• You will find that your closest friends also come from the same country.  For me my closest friends, are Americans.  The instant connection with those from the same country is shocking.  Comforting.  And shockingly comfortable.
• Your electronic devices?  Yeah, just buy new ones.  They don't work.  And even if you find the converter, there is a good chance it will fault and destroy said appliance.  THIS is not just what I've heard from the grapevine.  THIS has happened.  More.  Than.  Once.
• Christmas = hot in the southern hemisphere.  Get over it.  It isn't going to change.
• Mail takes forever.  Mail Christmas gifts by Halloween. 
• In Australia, nobody drinks Fosters or Yellow Tail Wine(or whatever the crap is called).  Don't drink it to feel Australian.  Australians like their drinks, and like them to taste GOOD.  Said drink choices, are not authentic or tasty.  Avoid.  Avoid.  Avoid. 
• Everything is shortened.  Service station = servo.   Afternoon = arvo.   Breakfast = brekky.  This list could go on and on.
• Even without the above websites for watching tv, we still get most of the shows.  HOWEVER, it's like "Friends, Season 2" and advertised as "new episodes".  Ok, so that is a tad exaggerated, but not by much. 
• Home sick comes and goes.  The craziest things will make you miss home, and I think this is worse for women, and I'm certain that while it may improve, it will never go away. 

This list could seriously go on and on.  But ya know, people who take no chances in life, who don't follow their dream or heart, or whatever brought them to another country, have their own list.  Perhaps they are things they wish they could change about their current way of life.  Or maybe it's their list of regret for not following their hearts.  When I first moved, I was bound and determined not to change my ways.  For example, it was called a "cell phone" so people would just have to learn and accept that.  Not too long later, I learned that actually I have to learn the ways of my new home.  It is now termed as a mobile phone when I speak of it.  I think once you learn that YOU have to change to your new life, and IT doesn't change to YOU, it becomes easier to live a normal life. 

A few years ago, during a really rough pre-expat time of my life, someone told me to always remember the word "embrace".  I will pass that on to you, my fellow expats.

Embrace!

I am closing this with some lyrics to a song I heard today, that I have heard a million times before, but it had more meaning today.  For me, the meaning is no matter where you wander, always remember your roots.  Sure, we have to conform to a certain point to make it in a new place, but keeping our individuality I think is just as important.  Especially for me... this southern girl who likes her biscuits (not scones) and good ole' sweet tea.

"Southern State Of Mind"

Darrius Rucker

 

I was up in New York City just the other week
You should've seen the waitress face when I ordered sweet tea
She said we don't have that here and I apologized
I said please forgive me I'm in a southern state of mind

And those girls out in California they don't understand
They don't like it when I hold the door or when I say yes ma'am
They act like I done something wrong and they give me the evil eye
I say honey I'm sorry I'm in a southern state of mind

[Chorus]
I could be anywhere
In my heart I'm always there
Where they drink sweet tea and they raise you to be polite
No changin' who I am
That's the way I've always been
No matter what state I'm in
I'm in a southern state of mind

I'm always walkin' round tellin' everybody hi
Just a wavin' at the strangers in the cars passin' by
Some people may look at me and say that boy just ain't right
Hey y'all I ain't crazy I'm in a southern state of mind

[Repeat Chorus]

You can see it in the clothes I wear, you can hear it when I talk
Ball cap, boots and jeans and a little southern drawl
I could be up in Ohio or back home in Caroline
No matter what state I'm in
I'm in a southern state of mind
Don't matter what state I'm in
I'm in a southern state of mind
A southern state of mind"