I have a riddle for you: What do you call a potluck in the UK? Answer: Weird. Actually, the proper answer is more like ‘odd’ or ‘different’ or even to the culturally astute, ‘very American.’ In the US a potluck is something that happens quite a lot in different social gatherings where the budget is … Read more
With the rise of reputable self-publishing systems we have also seen a rise in expat publications: novels, autobiographies, and how-to books are filling the virtual shelves. Our expat lives are often so full of adventure and unique experiences that I can see exactly why someone might feel the desire to record their life for others … Read more
Expat life took me by surprise but it’s only because I wasn’t paying attention. It was probably an obvious destination all along. Some people are expats because they fell in love with a person from another country and followed them there. That’s part of my story, but not all of it. When I was very … Read more
The British Museum, grand home of many national (and international) treasures, hosted the lecture for the London Review of Books on 4 February 2013. People waited expectantly for Hilary Mantel to begin her lecture, titled Royal Bodies, because the subject of royal consorts through the ages is something this author would know a lot about. … Read more
This is not supposed to be a political post. I’m just confused trying to reconcile the country I see in my mind with the country I see in the media. As an American living outside the States I am occasionally asked about the crime in my home country. When I first moved to the UK … Read more
My search for a traditional, fairy tale holiday season started when I was very young growing up in Minnesota. I learned what traditional holidays were from TV, of course. I watched the usual American holiday favourites such as Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life and admired the snow-covered … Read more
Not everyone loves living overseas and even people who do will still find a few difficulties from time to time. These are the top 5 things I found most difficult: 1. Understanding that his friends are not necessarily my friends I hear a lot of expats complain that they have no network or find it … Read more
Sometimes when you’re an expat you want to blame whatever trouble it is you’re having on your expat life. And sometimes it is indeed the case that being an expat may be the cause of or at least an influence on your situation. Certainly some marriages come under a lot of stress with the expat … Read more
I’ve just said goodbye to my parents who have been with me for a month. I love that they stay a month—now that they’re retired they can do that and it makes the visit so much easier, almost like they’re living just next door and I can pop by and see them whenever. That’s what … Read more
I recently had a conversation with Toni Hargis, another Expat Focus columnist, about the lonely position we sometimes find ourselves in as expats. I’m not lonely because I’m the only American in the area, and I’m not lonely because I’m the only person who doesn’t share the cultural history in a group of people at … Read more