July 30, 2012

I DID NOT write this. It was an editorial from the Panama Visitante  Newspaper (July 26 edition) that we read.   We loved reading this article, because most every word is just so true.    When we were back this summer, we experienced everyone one of these except for the Police officer one!!  Hopefully we don’t have that experience but it is doubtful  if you live here. 

When my lovely wife and I were visiting Italy recently, people we met, fellow travelers, divers, tour guides, waiters – even pickpockets  -- they all naturally asked us where we were from. We got a big kick out of saying “Panama”.  The look on our newfound friends’ faces was almost always confused surprise.
Since most people in the world don’t know much about Panama, they don’t know what language is spoken or what the natives look like, so even though we spoke with an “American” accent, most were reluctant to fire back “Oh no You’re NOT!”

The point is we are expatriates, which is simply defined as people who reside in a country and a culture other than that of their upbringing. 

My wife and I were very lucky and sold our house some and then we “jumped off the cliff” and came here. We do  not have anywhere in the states to be from and saying you are “from the States” is a bit vague if not downright evasive, at least from where we are standing these days.

So how do you know if you are a true expat or not?  One way is to go back to your country of origin and see how you feel.  How does where you used to live compare to where you are now?

You know you have become a TRUE expat, when you are “back” because:

...you are annoyed in US airports at having to pay for a cart for your bags.
….you catch yourself saying “gracias” instead of “thank you”.
…you find US traffic structured in an overly-orderly manner.
….the road lanes and parking spaces seem inordinately oversized.
…you have to remind yourself not to bribe police officers
…you just can NOT believe that you have found a parking space at the grocery store or the mall.
…everything seems manicured – not only people’s front yard and public parks, but parking lots, median strips, the roadside, farmer’s fields.  Everything.
…you have to remind yourself not to bribe police offices.
…you say hello to strangers on the street AND wonder why they DO NOT say hello back.
…you head for the local supermarket and spend hours walking around because there is so much more choice.
…you can’t read in a coffee shop or on the bus because all the English being spokenis distracting
…or you find yourself eavesdropping on nearby conversations just because you can!
….you think gas prices in the US are low
…you realize you are NOT the tallest person in the country anymore.
….you get tired of people asking you “So what is it like??? Is it scary???
…you count the days until you can go “home”.