Columnists > Toni Hargis

Most people aren’t aware of a shocking situation that some non-American families, legally in the USA, find themselves in. Although the DREAM Act aims to help undocumented children gain continuous residency in the US, children of legal “aliens” (E2 Treaty Investment visa holders) still face deportation.    more ...

We hear a lot about repatriation being just as difficult as re-locating in the first place. Usually I wonder how I would fare, moving back to England after twenty six years in the USA, but a comment on a friend’s Facebook page made me wonder what it’s like for Americans moving back to the States after years abroad.    more ...

It’s traveling time for many expats - that means, long journeys to see friends and family, and staying in their houses (possibly sleeping on their floors), sometimes for extended periods of time. Many of us also host friends and family in our current location, which I wrote about back in 2014. This time I’m sharing some suggestions on being a good house guest and making sure you don’t end up on anyone’s black list.    more ...

In my last post I discussed how Brits in America often play up their British-ness depending on the circumstances. Most of us have received preferential treatment, or at least a flurry of compliments, purely because we're British, or British sounding. (“It sounds so much more intelligent when you say it”. “You could read the phone book and I would listen”.) Most of us also know exactly how to make our national identity work for us too.    more ...

I’m reading a rather interesting book at the moment about Brits in America. Called “Accent on Privilege; English Identities and Anglophilia in the U.S.” by Katherine W. Jones, it talks about the privileges white (usually) Brits experience in the USA, often on account of the Anglophilia here. Throughout the book the author interviews a handful of expat Brits and a number of very interesting questions arise. One that particularly caught my attention was whether or not you can have more than one national identity, or, whether you can identify with more than one country? (Which raises another question - is that one and the same thing?)    more ...

The other day I read a very sensible post by a seasoned traveler, giving advice on what to take and what to omit when flying long haul.

Unfortunately, the first item on the list prompted a response that many of us might have had - “Oh yeah, when travelling on your own maybe”. Let me explain.    more ...

I was lucky enough to spend almost a month in the UK this summer. It was a joy to be back in an English summer garden - nothing beats that smell -and a treat to wander around gleaming grocery aisles, salivating at all the new flavours of Branston pickle, and marveling at the Marmite range.

Truth be told though, there was one thing I didn't miss at all -
Gestapo rubbish collectors and the stress that comes with them.
Yup. They’re still at it. We had a rather large party at my mother’s house, and paid the price for weeks in terms of rubbish pick up, or the lack thereof.    more ...

A recent article about smart packing got me thinking about my packing list for the annual, month-long trip to the motherland. With weight restrictions these days, any kind of packing requires some forethought but for many expats, staying with family for extended periods of time and often attending a variety of events, throwing items into a suitcase and hoping for the best doesn’t work.

In addition to the tips in the article, I would add the following gems –

Make a packing list – this is essential if you want to get as much packing bang for your buck. In the time leading up to your trip, make a note of garments that go well together, including shoes, so that you’re not staring at a rack of clothes when the time comes to pack. Think about what you’re going to be doing on your trip to avoid having to “panic shop” at the other end.    more ...

Like many expats, I do a fair bit of traveling but it has never occurred to me to try to look like a native at my destinations. Who am I kidding? With my lily-white skin and fair hair, I stick out like a sore thumb in some countries. I came across this article however, which seems to suggest you don’t ever want to look like a tourist when traveling. Hmmm…did I not get the memo?

The writer claims – “The consequences of looking like a tourist in a foreign place can range from serious (becoming a target for theft and scams) to humorous (awkwardness, frustration, public embarrassment). Here are a few of the most blatant ways that your lack of familiarity with local culture in Europe can bring you public shame and humiliation, plus advice on keeping it cool while abroad.”    more ...

I recently read “Maeve’s Times – In her own words”, selected writings from the late Maeve Binchy’s pieces in the Irish Times. Whether you’re a fan of her novels or not, I recommend this book as it shows what great a journalist she was, writing eloquently on everything from her days as a teacher to weight loss, abortion, and arthritis. One post was all about the people she ended up sitting next to on planes, and one sentiment, I could have written myself:

“I often hear people saying they sat beside a frightfully interesting chap on a plane, but I just don’t believe it. The only people I sit beside are people who read the safety card with an intensity that could only come from certainty of disaster.”    more ...