How long has it been since you lived out of your native country

[camper star]

Many of us here have left the country of birth and I thought it would be interesting to have a little story behind how long you've live outside of the country of birth.

 

For me, the USAF took me to my dreams of going to Asia back in the early 70's. It was there I was able to see and be stationed in these countries, Thailand at Utapao, (sp) Taiwan, Philippines ( Clark Air Base ), Okinawa, Kadena and Japan Yokota Air Base.

I'm going on 33 years now living in Japan and most recently planting my feet (hopes) in Thailand (so far it is working out of how I'm managing it ).

In closing, for me there is something mystical about living in Asia. I think it is just in the air, like America, one feels the sense of freedom in the air. 

[Ralf001]

28 yrs.

 

[camper star]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:23 AM, Ralf001 said:

28 yrs.

 

Expand  

555  got you beat 555

[Ralf001]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:24 AM, camper star said:

555  got you beat 555

Expand  

yeah I guess you do.

[Harrisfan]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:24 AM, camper star said:

555  got you beat 555

Expand  

555 years is tough to beat

[quake]

27 years.

 

[FolkGuitar]

15 years in Japan

25 years in Thailand.

I sure as hell won't be going back to the U.S. anytime soon. I haven't even visited in almost 15 years.

Who knows what's next?

[giddyup]

Left Oz 15 years ago, never been back, never will.

[KhunLA]

14 Sept 2000 .... Bye Bye USA

 

[brewsterbudgen]

Moved here in 2005 to teach English.  Still here and have burnt all my bridges back home, so will be staying.

[Gobbler]

10

[oxo1947]

53 years

 

 

[Chris Daley]

8 years in the land of frowns.

[Mason45]

I met my wife to be 25 years and we're still together and I have no intentions of going back to Melbourne Australia. The only thing i miss is going to the AFL every week.

[mfd101]

  On 4/17/2025 at 2:11 AM, giddyup said:

Left Oz 15 years ago, never been back, never will.

Expand  

Ditto. Just coming up to the 15 years mark. Have passed thru Melbin once on a trip to take my b/f to NZ to visit family.

 

No wish ever to return, for either visit or stay. But I still read the Oz every day and take an interest in the politics of comfortable mediocrity.

[Rimmer]

1978 left UK to work in Dubai

1982 Left Dubai to work in Singapore

2002 Left Singapore not to work in Thailand

2025 Still here having never been back to the UK in that time

 

So looks like I made 47 years away from Blighty......

[Purdey]

38 years.

[save the frogs]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:20 AM, camper star said:

or me there is something mystical about living in Asia.

Expand  

mystical seems like a strong word.

 

the more you stay = the more you hate your home country?

 

[Ben Zioner]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:20 AM, camper star said:

In closing, for me there is something mystical about living in Asia. I think it is just in the air, like America, one feels the sense of freedom in the air. 

Expand  

Yes, and the smell of little cats in the morning breeze..

[couchpotato]

56 yrs 

[Andrew Dwyer]

30 years 

Left U.K. in 1995, lived in Brazil for 21 years .

Visited Thailand in August 2015 for work, liked it and changed my retirement plans accordingly.

Visited Thailand a couple more times before, April 2016, retiring and moving permanently to Thailand.

 

Visited the U.K. frequently over the last 9 years to visit family, last time 1 year ago for my father’s funeral.

Will continue to visit UK to visit kids and grandkids probably once every 2 years.

[GammaGlobulin]

  On 4/17/2025 at 1:20 AM, camper star said:

In closing, for me there is something mystical about living in Asia.

Expand  

 

How did you ever learn Japanese?

One of the most difficult languages, due to grammar, etc.

 

[JAS21]

MrsJ and myself left the UK in 2005, never to return. We always intended living out the remainder of our lives here. But I know that she quite enjoyed the five years that she lived in the UK.
 

But it definitely seems to be a little hotter than years ago … and much hotter than when she was a child. Or maybe we are just older now and our hearts are not as good as they used to be in pumping that cooling fluid around.

[Ralf001]

  On 4/17/2025 at 4:48 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

How did you ever learn Japanese?

One of the most difficult languages, due to grammar, etc.

 

Expand  

 

Where in camper stars post did he mention fluent in japanese ?

 

Whilst we all know you are fluent in speaking bull<deleted>... might time to give it a rest.

[GammaGlobulin]

  On 4/17/2025 at 4:52 AM, Ralf001 said:

 

Where in camper stars post did he mention fluent in japanese ?

 

Whilst we all know you are fluent in speaking bull<deleted>... might time to give it a rest.

Expand  

 

He stated 33 years in Japan.

So, being fluent in Japanese is a no-brainer.

Except, from my experience, Japanese is more difficult than Chinese or Thai.

It's the grammar that is difficult.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

  On 4/17/2025 at 2:27 AM, KhunLA said:

14 Sept 2000 .... Bye Bye USA

 

Expand  

 

I thought, in the past, they did not "stamp you out".

 

[KhunLA]

  On 4/17/2025 at 4:57 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I thought, in the past, they did not "stamp you out".

 

Expand  

 

Triangle stamp is out ...

 

29 Sep 1999 ... in

28 Oct 1999 ... until / expires (30 day visa exempt)

 

9 Oct 1999 ... out

 

[GammaGlobulin]

  On 4/17/2025 at 5:15 AM, KhunLA said:

 

Triangle stamp is out ...

 

29 Sep 1999 ... in

28 Oct 1999 ... until / expires (30 day visa exempt)

 

9 Oct 1999 ... out

 

Expand  

 

Sorry.

To clarify, I meant that some countries will "stamp out" their citizens.

 

But, in the past, the USA never did this.

When you leave the USA, at least in the past, US citizens never were stamped OUT.

Whether or not they were stamped IN....I forget.

It's been a very, very long time.

 

First here in Thailand in 1971.

But then, returned to USA for uni.

Then back again to Asia.

Have not left Asia since....1979, except for a very brief interlude in Naples FLA.

That was a nice town....which is now....RUINED...judging from images and vids on the internet.

 

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Arrived at New York in February, 1957 on the SS United States. 68 years ago.

[nightfox]

21 years in Thailand for me. Came here on holiday at the age of 23, ripped up my return ticket and never left.