I often come across websites for expats discussing the different reasons people move abroad. For some people, it’s to address their sense of adventure. For others, it’s always been a dream and now they are ready to take the plunge. Let’s not forget those who become involuntary expats because of their or their spouses’ careers. I somehow fit in to all three of those categories. Although these labels can lead to self-induced confusion, they also provide me with various perspectives about the US depending on the situation.

My Perspective

As a person with a sense of adventure, being an expat has made me realize how much Americans don’t travel. When I noticed how much more Europeans traveled while living in France, I assumed it was because of the facility the European Union provided. But then again, Americans can easily travel within the 50 states without any problem, as well. Now in Venezuela, I notice that any time there is a holiday, you see groups of people dragging suitcases on their way to bus stations. This is in addition to those who have travelled the US, Europe, or other South American countries. Travel is not considered a luxury; it’s a way of life. One of the first things that Venezuelans will ask you when seeing you after a holiday is “Where did you go?”

About four years in South Florida after repatriating for the second time, I started to feel like I needed to live abroad again for a while. I really enjoy living in a new place and adapting to a new culture, but I think I will always need to spend some time living in the US from time to time. From the point of view of someone who loves learning about cultures which in essence dictate how others see the world, I find that the US is often sheltered from realities outside of its borders. It’s very easy coming from such an economic powerhouse to assume that everything done in a non-US way is wrong. After all, haven’t we figured out how to conduct business in the most efficient way?

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Money Doesn't Buy Happiness..

Well, that may be true in some respects, but at the end of the day it’s just not that important to other cultures. Moreover, the different value system does not make them less than, it just makes them different. I think this is a lesson many Americans traveling tend to miss. Money does not equal happiness and while US is good at making it, this doesn’t mean that those skills are necessary or even sought after in other cultures. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that US is ethnocentric, but it can make some progress in learning to accept the ways of other cultures.

Finally, as someone who has expatriated for my spouse’s career, I know what it’s like to suddenly wonder what your purpose will be in your new country. This has been exacerbated by the fact that I was moving along my career path, as well prior to moving. Unfortunately, I have found myself in a country where is not at all easy for a foreigner to find employment. I guess the bright side is I’m not alone and there are many other trailing spouses who can understand my frustration.

.. But America is Still Home

My rude awakening in the job department has reminded me how many opportunities the US affords to anyone willing to work hard. Very often I have seen people, especially foreigners, arrive in the US determined to succeed professionally and make it happen. I used to think that it was their determination that made overcoming obstacles possible, but I now know that the way the US is structured – with all its faults – allows anyone who has a goal to achieve it, and then some. As cliché as it sounds, the American dream is not a fairy tale, it’s a reality.

I continue to learn and appreciate the various aspects of American culture that makes it unique. When it comes to the saying “out of sight out of mind”, for me the US does not apply. Traveling and living abroad constantly remind that there is no other place like the US and that alone will always secure its place in my heart.

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