Some people on SF get rather pedantic about how the words “expat” and “immigrant” are used.
Because of my work, I always worked in foreign countries. I was always referred to as an expat and I used the same term to refer to myself.
Interestingly, because my projects had a defined ending (usually), expat seems to be the correct word to use even though to enter the country I had to pass through immigration control.
I continue to call myself an expat in France. Although I have no plan to return to UK neither have I plans to spend the rest of my life in France. Never say never. If I insist on being called an immigrant that rather infers that I believe I will eventually expire in France.
If I did call myself an immigrant, I would also be an emigrant. The only way to distinguish between the two descriptions is to say where I am an immigrant to and where I am an emigrant from which is a bit of as hassle.
I notice that the hordes of foreigners crossing Europe to get to their final destination are most frequently called immigrants. Technically, shouldn’t they be expats? They are definitely emigrants (from somewhere)
It’s too hot to function outdoors, so I’m indoors pretending to do something interesting.
I think your definitions would be universally accepted Chris. What I object to - well "object is rather too strong an emotion - what I gently raise one eyebrow to, is when I call myself an expat and am told that I am an immigrant. That infers that the accuser knows my intentions better than I do. For the moment, I choose to hang my hat in France
The main difference to local yokels like me (ie those of us who are neither) is that those terms are very loaded, esp in English: if you’re brown you’re an immigrant and it’s a loaded term with concomitant stereotypes (backwardness, criminality etc), whereas if you’re various shades of white you’re an expat which carries its own set of stereotypes (not learning language, drinking rosé in the morning, condescending to locals etc).
As a French person my view is that unless you’re on a short- to medium-term posting on behalf of an organisation, you’re an immigrant. Obv you call yourself what you like.
That’s sort of what I follow. I am an immigrant into France, but will I stay here for the rest of my life ? I don’t know the answer to that question although we have been talking about just that recently.
I think expat is seen as pejorative to those who have deliberately chosen to settle in France (or a different country from their origin). An expat is an individual intentionally living temporarily in a foreign country with no commitment or dedication to that country. They might be there for work commitments or to leave behind a situation at home, but it is firmly not their home.
An immigrant has chosen to settle for the foreseeable, and has a dedication and commitment to the country.
Indeed people can call themselves what they want, but it’s courteous to call others according to their expressed preferences.
I’d like to underline that, in my eyes, immigrant and expat don’t carry the stereotypes I described in my previous post. If I’m talking about people from elsewhere who choose to come and live here they are generally M et Mme Smith/ Schmidt/ Kovács/ Haddad/ Herrero and their precise status is nobody’s business.
We are all entitled to our own opinion… and mine is that I am definitely an immigrant. Here for the full whammy, throwing myself into French Life in all its many forms.
I know several Brits who are definitely expats, as they like to slightly ruffle the surface of French Life, then scuttle back to the UK for a cure
Fair enough! You’ve had a wonderful time
OH came here to die and I came to keep him company… he’s on borrowed time but neither of us plans to go anywhere else right now
Thats fine, its when persons known or unknown call you an expat that pisses me off. My late parents hated it when I referred to myself as a migrant/immigrant, but they were both frighful snobs.
