I once was an ex-pat in Singapore. I was there for an undersea tunnel project for about 3 years. I was mercenarily paid a load of money and buggered-off back to Oz when I completed the project.
During my stay in Singapore I had such a great time and was treated very well by the locals. I made lots of friends and eventually, 5 years later, married a Singapore girl. After returning to Oz, I took my vacations in Singapore and always stopped over whenever the opportunity arose.
Eventually, finding Oz too vanilla I quit and returned to Singapore to work not as an ex-pat but on equal terms as a local. I considered myslef an immigrant even though I did not actually applying for citizenship. There I met my current wife and all things Singapore have been great since.
I'm here in Qatar on a limited service contract as part of an opportunity to make some money just like an ex-pat and will return to my business in Singapore in the very near future. I doubt however that I will be singing praises for Qatar, the culture and the country. I also doubt that I will ever return and immigrate here like I did in Singapore.
So an ex-pat to me is someone who comes to make a load of money similar to a mercenary. There is no love for a country or its life style and culture. Once that occurs, the definition must surely change. No?
I need to qualify my statements.
I once was an ex-pat in Singapore. I was there for an undersea tunnel project for about 3 years. I was mercenarily paid a load of money and buggered-off back to Oz when I completed the project.
During my stay in Singapore I had such a great time and was treated very well by the locals. I made lots of friends and eventually, 5 years later, married a Singapore girl. After returning to Oz, I took my vacations in Singapore and always stopped over whenever the opportunity arose.
Eventually, finding Oz too vanilla I quit and returned to Singapore to work not as an ex-pat but on equal terms as a local. I considered myslef an immigrant even though I did not actually applying for citizenship. There I met my current wife and all things Singapore have been great since.
I'm here in Qatar on a limited service contract as part of an opportunity to make some money just like an ex-pat and will return to my business in Singapore in the very near future. I doubt however that I will be singing praises for Qatar, the culture and the country. I also doubt that I will ever return and immigrate here like I did in Singapore.
So an ex-pat to me is someone who comes to make a load of money similar to a mercenary. There is no love for a country or its life style and culture. Once that occurs, the definition must surely change. No?