When I lived in Geneva
I did a load of boring shit and have felt the need to bore everyone I know with it constantly ever since.

Spending time abroad does not make you a more interesting person. It makes you an up yourself, boring, xenophobic knob. Trust me, I've done it.

I hope I still have interesting parts of my personality, and they probably all came from the UK, because they sure as fuck did not come from huddling with a homogenous bunch of expats trying desperately to find the lowest common denominator entertainment. However, the xenophobia caused by meeting people from other countries and finding they suck in ways I'm not used to and hadn't resigned myself to years ago will take a long time to fade.
(GothicTechie, Mon 22 Apr 2013, 20:43, 12 replies)

Switzerland's like that.
I generally stayed out of the expat scene as it was fucking tedious, apart from a couple of other guys who felt the same. Nearly all of my friends were Swiss, oddly. The people who used to really fuck me off were the more-Swiss-than-the-Swiss type expat.
I cannot understand those in Australia who were forming UK expat cliques. The forums were useful for getting info on dealing with tax and the like.
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Mon 22 Apr 2013, 22:58, closed)

Sounds about right
I find people most pleasant, interesting and knowledgeable about where the cool stuff is when in their natural habitat. Otherwise all conversations descend into what you had for dinner last night or the weather.
(GothicTechie, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 8:53, closed)

Did you watch The Voice last night?

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 23 Apr 2013, 9:05, closed)

Nah, the real problem is you.
I've lived all over the world, but never really bring it up in conversation. I haven't even posted a reply to this QOTW.

So, it's not being an expat that's the problem. It's just you being a boring twat.
( The Awful Puppy Bakery is still bored, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 0:27, closed)

I've always wondered kind of knob would use the word expat.
Now I know.
(the other guy not the one that gave you coochie warts, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 4:13, closed)

Oh fuck
Help me. It's worse than I thought.
(GothicTechie, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 8:47, closed)

Nah, pretty sure you're just a boring, racist bellend.
Where you live doesn't affect that.
( BraynDedd Natasha Kaplinsky's labia majora, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 11:47, closed)

I'm living overseas right now, as it happens.
I've seen and done a lot of amazing things in the past eight months, with another three years to go, but nothing I really want to write up for this QOTW. I've met some very interesting expats, from the Russian classical pianist to a hilarious South African gent who reminds me of Charles Grey but with a sense of humor, but most of them are either really fucked up and living abroad because they can't work at home or are tedious. The worst of the lot inhabit the local rugby club. They might just as well have stayed in the UK. It's okay for going in for a beer or two, but that's about all I can stand.

The really interesting people have been the locals I've met through the offroading club. The Emiratis are pretty cool once they get to know you and have accepted you.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 23 Apr 2013, 14:54, closed)

Living in different countries.
I have lived, for extended periods, in a number of different countries. Yes, expats can be boring drunks, but you don't have to hang out with them. Living in different countries alters you and it humbles you. It gives you a real snapshot of how the rest of the world views your home country, in my case Britain. Often, that snapshot is not flattering.
(Woofie, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 17:08, closed)

Indeed. Try being American.
However, I've been somewhat astonished by the overall enthusiasm I've heard for Obama over here, from Europeans and Middle Easterners alike. I happen to like him myself, but expected a lot more ambivalence about him from non-Americans.

But the hatred of Bush is universal.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 23 Apr 2013, 19:18, closed)

Expats
It's funny how many alcoholics there are in countries where alcohol is banned.
(Woofie, Tue 23 Apr 2013, 19:45, closed)

In the UAE it isn't banned
but it is regulated. You can only drink in hotels and certain clubs and at home. And you can get into serious shit for selling or giving alcohol to a Muslim.

I think the authorities over here don't really give a shit what the westerners do, as long as it doesn't affect the locals. I know some full-blown alcoholics over here, the sort that get the DTs and all, but somehow they manage to keep off of the official radar.

That said, if you have a car accident while drunk, you're toast.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 23 Apr 2013, 20:07, closed)