15 Nov 05 Expatriate
1. One who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
2. One who has renounced one’s native land.
The last thing I’ll do is renounce my native land! I’m Canadian through and through, but it’s time now to face reality: I’ll be living as an expatriate for many years to come. The past 18ish months living in the US has been fun and sometimes troubling (politics, ugh) and I’ve even adopted some American ways. For example, I don’t say ‘aboot’ anymore and I chuckle when my family and friends say it over the phone. Prior to moving here last year I firmly believed that Canadians saying ‘aboot’ was an idea not based in fact, that it was just a joke that drove me nuts everytime I heard it. But it is very very… REAL! Also in the US I think I’ve gotten used to having access to more and different ’stuff’. Which means I’m going to miss Target! And I’ll miss the option of taking a last-minute trip into NYC, a city I love.
Then there’s the stuff I won’t miss, like when you say “Thank You” to someone and they respond with a blunt “Uh huh.” It’s an expression that rings ungrateful for my display of gratitude :) I won’t miss seeing cops with machine guns on the street guarding subway stations (in NYC) but then again hmmm, maybe London’s got some of that. I won’t miss not being able to work!
So what’s weird is now that we’re moving to the UK from the US I’m feeling a bit like a double-expatriate, at least in the realm of the world wide web. I’ve been cruising expat websites looking for shipping advice, and the best stuff is available over at the UK Yankee forum: Americans from Florida and California and Wisconsin discussing the best way to get your personal possessions across the sea. It’s been very helpful. I felt a bit left out, being not American, so I surfed on over to the forums at Canuck Abroad and Canadian Expats in the UK. Then I REALLY felt left out since I’m not in Canada…
I’m thankful all these sites exist though, and there’s priceless advice to gather from people who have already moved to the UK. At UK Yankee they’ve created three helpful topics: Things about The UK you wish you had known; Things you wish you had brought with you and Things you SHOULDN’T have brought with you.
Who knew you couldn’t get proper deoderant over there?
Then I saw this quote from Bette Midler and got a bit worried:
“When it’s three o’clock in New York, it’s still 1938 in London.”
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GET FED:
Hi Tiffany! A bit of a shock to see you will be moving to London! Does Jennifer know? I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous time. Lester and I are going to be in Calgary for Christmas. It would be great to have a cup of coffee with you while we’re there. Is there a number we can call you at? We’re there from the 20th to the 27th. Jen will be here and hopefully spending some time with her Seattle boyfriend. Regarding the “aboot” - I REALLY haven’t heard anyone say that except in Newfoundland. Or is that something they say in the states? Hope your move is beginning to go smoothly. It’s never fun to move! Bye for now,
Love, Sharon
Comment by Sharon Lightstone — December 6, 2005 #
Sharon, Hi! Yes, it’s a shocker for us, too :O) Jen does know, was one of the first in fact. I thought she would have told you by now. We’d love to hook up with you and Lester for coffee! I’ll email you with our contact info. The Canadians say “aboot” - I will analyze your own “about” when we see you and report my findings on the spot.
Comment by Tiffany — December 7, 2005 #