Expat Life
Ex-pat-ri-ate: to withdraw oneself from residence in one’s native country – American College Dictionary
Expat: a person who lives outside their country – Oxford Languages
Expatriate/Expat: A person who leaves his or her home to find the world, and finds his or her home in the world
This is one of my favourite photos from my years as an expat in Indonesia. My friends and I are walking on a synthetic beach that had just opened in northern Jakarta.
​
Can you tell which of us are expats? Not at first glance.​ But all four of us are! Each of us were not in our country of origin.
​
The bonds that fellow expats form with each other are incredibly strong, and sometimes you forget who is from where because it just doesn't matter too much. Other times, it matters a lot, such as when you're teaching a fun custom or sharing a certain food.
​
The expat life is unique, challenging, and rewarding. It is not for everyone, but it is a life that I hope most people get to live at some point, whether it is for a few months or a few decades.