Interesting take! I've lived and worked abroad for almost my whole career and you described this type of place perfectly, they're universal. I don't know anything about the HK context, but curious about the need to differentiate these "expats" from other immigrants or migrant workers. That class modifier has always bugged me
Thanks Katy! So I definitely agree with you on how the term privileges mostly white/Western people and I do wish the same legal privileges offered to expats was offered to other foreigners. But I also don’t think it’s useful to collapse all migrants into one word/term… expats (in my experience) exist usually because Western countries invest in non-Western countries (and if they didn’t, the reason/dynamic is still similar). Collapsing this privileged experience with that of other foreigners like migrant laborer or asylum seekers would not do a lot of justice.
Long ass reply but glad you enjoyed reading the piece!
Oh I could talk about this all day lol I haven't thought about it that way, actually. I've typically thought that expats self-define that way as a way to demand elite status and to set themselves apart from less desirable categories of migrants, but you're right -- it doesn't do anyone justice to deny the existence of their privilege. Thanks for adding complexity to this idea for me :)
I've always thought there was a clear distinction: expats are temporary migrants that intend to eventually return to their home countries, immigrants put down roots and create a lasting home in the new country
really enjoyed this piece as someone who grew up the child of expats in HK and now looks back at the whole culture of it with a bit of bewilderment. and the fact that it really is so dead now… it’s definitely strange to have an upbringing so unique and of its time. there’ll never be anything quite like it again, and almost nobody else on the planet will remember how it was! even at the time it felt like a fake childhood, almost. an absurd privileged golden age!
Thank you! Globalization-era childhood was really something else... I went to international school growing up and lived in something you might consider an expat compound in early childhood. It's so insane to think that you had these small microcosms of the world in cities around East/Southeast Asia (in my case). My mom was always perplexed by how "colorblind" my younger brother and I were as kids. Truly such a weird experience. RIP forever...
Employers’ decreasing loyalty to their employees is something that gets on the way of that lifestyle too, it’s harder that way to trust that things will work out
This is only tangentially related, especially since I've been a nomad for the past eight years, and not an expat, I'm alway slightly puzzled by the very common belief that so many expats are "looking to lose themselves" in HK or Singapore. Isn't it possible that some people are fascinated by other cultures and simply want to experience them? Even as a nomad, I'm often tagged as running from something -- and it's true, I want nothing to do with the US -- but I'm driven by how much I enjoy exploring other cities and countries; immersing myself (as much as is possible in three months) in other cultures, and just experiencing life in other places.
Regardless, thanks for this interesting read about HK, where we are headed in two months for the first time.
Appreciate the comment Michael! I’ll say that HK is very transient but isn’t known to be a super nomadic city… would to hear what you think of it when you get here
Interesting work, interesting people, long hours (-), good pay, Wednesday night at Happy Valley, bbq Saturdays at Stanley or Shek O before clubs in Mong Kok or TST or Midlevels, hangover dim sum followed by footie at whatever pub of the moment…all happening in a garden. Would’ve been a fun, hard, fast life.
Great post Patrick. I’m going to dig up an old post on expats vs immigrants from around 10 years ago. :). I look forward to reading more of your writing. I now live in Hawaii- and have made the observation that many global “expats” find Hawaii a good place to retire to.
I've been an "expat" in Singapore and lived in the part of the city locals mostly lived in. Made some local friends but more global friends, from China, Australia, Europe.
I wouldn't give up that experience for anything but I'm glad I didn't live in the stereotype expat zones. Just went to them when the mood struck.
I always was fascinated by foreign culture and have learned a lot but ultimately decided at the end we never have that many close friends and we just need to find our people wherever they are from and keep them as close as we can.
Interesting take! I've lived and worked abroad for almost my whole career and you described this type of place perfectly, they're universal. I don't know anything about the HK context, but curious about the need to differentiate these "expats" from other immigrants or migrant workers. That class modifier has always bugged me
Thanks Katy! So I definitely agree with you on how the term privileges mostly white/Western people and I do wish the same legal privileges offered to expats was offered to other foreigners. But I also don’t think it’s useful to collapse all migrants into one word/term… expats (in my experience) exist usually because Western countries invest in non-Western countries (and if they didn’t, the reason/dynamic is still similar). Collapsing this privileged experience with that of other foreigners like migrant laborer or asylum seekers would not do a lot of justice.
Long ass reply but glad you enjoyed reading the piece!
Oh I could talk about this all day lol I haven't thought about it that way, actually. I've typically thought that expats self-define that way as a way to demand elite status and to set themselves apart from less desirable categories of migrants, but you're right -- it doesn't do anyone justice to deny the existence of their privilege. Thanks for adding complexity to this idea for me :)
I've always thought there was a clear distinction: expats are temporary migrants that intend to eventually return to their home countries, immigrants put down roots and create a lasting home in the new country
I guess the distinction between the two is now being blurred!
reading from a window above an expat-infested street in Wan Chai (loved this one)
Thank you rika! 🙏🏻
really enjoyed this piece as someone who grew up the child of expats in HK and now looks back at the whole culture of it with a bit of bewilderment. and the fact that it really is so dead now… it’s definitely strange to have an upbringing so unique and of its time. there’ll never be anything quite like it again, and almost nobody else on the planet will remember how it was! even at the time it felt like a fake childhood, almost. an absurd privileged golden age!
Thank you! Globalization-era childhood was really something else... I went to international school growing up and lived in something you might consider an expat compound in early childhood. It's so insane to think that you had these small microcosms of the world in cities around East/Southeast Asia (in my case). My mom was always perplexed by how "colorblind" my younger brother and I were as kids. Truly such a weird experience. RIP forever...
Totally forgot to add: when the global nomads in Bali / Dubai have kids (if they even do), it will NOT be the same
Great piece. I noticed the same thing about thinning expats in Hong Kong on my recent visit. Same thing in Mainland, too. I hope these opportunities can continue for young people somewhere. Going abroad did so much for me... https://www.collegetowns.org/p/what-studying-abroad-did-for-me?utm_source=publication-search
I hope so too Ryan - do you come by Asia often?
Yes, I try to get back every summer.
Employers’ decreasing loyalty to their employees is something that gets on the way of that lifestyle too, it’s harder that way to trust that things will work out
This is only tangentially related, especially since I've been a nomad for the past eight years, and not an expat, I'm alway slightly puzzled by the very common belief that so many expats are "looking to lose themselves" in HK or Singapore. Isn't it possible that some people are fascinated by other cultures and simply want to experience them? Even as a nomad, I'm often tagged as running from something -- and it's true, I want nothing to do with the US -- but I'm driven by how much I enjoy exploring other cities and countries; immersing myself (as much as is possible in three months) in other cultures, and just experiencing life in other places.
Regardless, thanks for this interesting read about HK, where we are headed in two months for the first time.
Appreciate the comment Michael! I’ll say that HK is very transient but isn’t known to be a super nomadic city… would to hear what you think of it when you get here
Oh I guess we might write a thing or two….
As the son of a Caucasian man with a Filipino wife who spent the 90s growing up in Someplace Else in the basement of the Sheraton TST… I can relate.
Caucasian/Filipino wasian is an unbelievably Hong Kong thing...
As a 19 year old visiting Hong Kong before the financial crisis, nothing looked better to me than being an expat. This took me back, appreciated this.
There really was nothing like it hahaha the world really was their oyster
Interesting work, interesting people, long hours (-), good pay, Wednesday night at Happy Valley, bbq Saturdays at Stanley or Shek O before clubs in Mong Kok or TST or Midlevels, hangover dim sum followed by footie at whatever pub of the moment…all happening in a garden. Would’ve been a fun, hard, fast life.
A life well lived… too bad it doesn’t exist anymore!
Reminds me of a quote from Bourdain’s last episode, something like “you want New York to disappoint you? Expect it to stay the same.”
"The Age of Nations is past. The task before us now, if we would not perish, is to build the Earth."
-- Teilhard de Chardin
😮💨😮💨
Great post Patrick. I’m going to dig up an old post on expats vs immigrants from around 10 years ago. :). I look forward to reading more of your writing. I now live in Hawaii- and have made the observation that many global “expats” find Hawaii a good place to retire to.
would love to know your thoughts on expats (immigrants theyre called) from the global south in western countries, and not the other way around
whats the future looking like, is it much the same sentiment?
I used to go by every day on my way home from work. Never once did I stop for a pint, it always seemed too tacky
I don’t blame you 🤣
I've been an "expat" in Singapore and lived in the part of the city locals mostly lived in. Made some local friends but more global friends, from China, Australia, Europe.
I wouldn't give up that experience for anything but I'm glad I didn't live in the stereotype expat zones. Just went to them when the mood struck.
I always was fascinated by foreign culture and have learned a lot but ultimately decided at the end we never have that many close friends and we just need to find our people wherever they are from and keep them as close as we can.
Now that america’s death is imminent were immigrants like everyone else escaping unfit, violent government regimes
Absolute nonsense