November 28, 2006

the ex-pat manifesto

Ben Curtis, a British expatriate living in Spain, sent me "The Ex-Pat Manifesto":

1. I live here because I want to. Just because I could be paid better for the same job back home does not give me the right to complain about it. In fact, just because anything at all is different here, I do not have the right to be rude about those whose country it really is (”the locals”).

2. Having infinite patience means it goes on forever, or, no matter how long those effing Spaniards (insert other expletive/nationality as appropriate) take to process a form or fix the plumbing, I’m the only one that cares if I loose my patience.

3. Even if I am conned, robbed, humiliated, lonely or homesick, it is worth remembering afterwards that I decided to step out of my comfort zone in the first place.

4. It really doesn’t matter if I hang out with the locals or with other ex-pats, as long as I am happy…

5. But those who continually complain about their new surroundings are to be avoided. It’s contagious.

6. Wow, everything is… new… it’s not the same as where I came from! What a chance to stimulate my senses! I will take photographs, maybe write a blog or keep a diary, produce podcasts, videos - I’m enjoying the fact that my new point of view is necessarily different, I’m revelling in these new opportunities to feel creative!

I liked this manifesto because it is about SOMETHING relatively tangible and real-world, not just touchy-feely etc.

[gapingvoid manifesto submission guidelines are here.][Manifesto archive is here.]


Posted by hugh macleod at November 28, 2006 12:30 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I am not too sure of point 4. If everything was geared towards making one 'happy', what exactly are the points raised by 1-3?

Posted by: Srijith at November 28, 2006 12:46 PM

Thanks Ben for the manifesto. As an expat (Indian living in UK), I could totally relate to it.

And a big "Thank you" Hugh, for making this (& all the other manifestos) possible!

Rock on!

Posted by: Just Mohit at November 28, 2006 1:21 PM

Another useful and positive minifesto -- thanks, Hugh! thanks, Ben! -- yet I can't help but quibble about that third point.

As a fellow expat, I'd suggest that a) those of us who tolerate being conned or robbed as part of the expat deal risk being complicit in allowing other poor suckers to be shafted; and b) expats (especially longstanding expats) can help change things for the better in their new homes, and expat status isn't always an obstacle to doing so. The trick is to avoid being an obnoxious tool about it. . . .

My own 7th point would be "now that I've moved to this splendid new country I will not waste my days (nor tolerate other expats wasting my days) whinging about politics back home."

Nice work, Ben. Hope you continue to love being "abroad" as much as I do.

Posted by: MG at November 29, 2006 1:55 AM

7. Only eat Heinz beans made in Hayes, Middlesex.

Posted by: veedub at November 29, 2006 5:40 AM