THE WORLD OF EXPATS

Many of you are wondering what the word "expat" means and why it is important. Expat is a short version of the word expatriate. A dictionary will tell you that an expatriate is someone who has been banished from his country or living in exile. The dictionary will also point out that an expat is someone who lives away from his home country but has not been banished. As far as I can remember, those of us who live and work steadily in a foreign country use the term Expat. There is a kind of bond between Expats that probably comes from the marked difference in the American way of life and that of the foreign country in which we live and work. The acculturation process also includes the family, and to include them in the process is not an easy task.

Expats are not given short-term assignments of one or two years. They have proven their worth to the company they work for or to their own entrepreneurial operation by staying the course, not blinking, and learning that the dramatic differences in the rules of the game are often for the benefit of their company and themselves and are necessary to succeed. A good Expat is worth as much to his company as a top tier quarterback is worth to an NFL team. The company and the NFL team look after their asset as they would any other valuable property they control.