I Think It Takes Balls To Leave The Homecountry

[ukme]

Within reason almost anyone could buy a plane ticket, jump on a plane and settle in a different Country. Some no doubt don't see such a major life decision as such a big deal, especially the well travelled/frequent traveller. I'm sure a lot of Expats have made happy and successful lives oversea's, some may have "failed" and be on the rocks in the adopted homeland, other's may have returned home.

Whatever the reason/outcome of the move I think it takes a lot of courage to leave the norm's and "comforts" of home and try a new way of life in another Country.

I'm not an Expat (yet), I live in the UK, but I often look around me and wonder how many of my fellow Countryman would have the courage to make such a move.

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

[Texpat]

It's a lot easier to come here than it is to go back.

Don't make the leap here unless you're really, really sure about it.

[DragonQuest]

i have balls, do you?

[GuestHouse]

I'm not an Expat (yet), I live in the UK, but I often look around me and wonder how many of my fellow Countryman would have the courage to make such a move.

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

It's refreshing to read someone who understands both sides of this issue.

[onnut]

I left my country at 19 years of age and havent looked back. its been a rollacoaster ride and one that I have no regrets with. and no way could I go back home now.

[Gaccha]

no doubt don't see such a major life decision as such a big deal, especially the well travelled/frequent traveller.

Yep. That would be me. Lived most of my adult life in Asia. Moving here felt as brave as visiting Poole.

One enormous irony is that I despaired at life in the UK precisely because of the unintended consequences of the very people who make it a habit to despair of the UK. Many of those people are clearly the other posters on this thread.

The 'something-must-be-done' brigade; the sergeant-majors and young professional ladies who read the Daily Mail. Their insistent (and ludicrous) belief that if only the government did [fill in with whatever news story concerns them] then life would be better. That is: they have a naive 'cause and effect' vision of the World. They overestimate the power of the State. If I was to reveal to them that the State does not have the answers, that it really does not know what to do, and that its failure to make things better is not a consequence of incompetence or malevolence, but rather, nobody knows, this would break their perceptual framework develpoed from years of reading the warped Daily Mail.

The government in the UK reacts with breathtaking speed to this constituency as it regards them as critical to electability. Consequently, we have seen the profoundly evil development of the Police State, under the 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about' ignorance of this constituency. The latest version of this state crassness arrived last week with the unveiling of yet another registration agency. This time the quangos job will be to inform women who have boyfriend's with bad histories. Not simply criminal records of domestic violence but even simple complaints, including bullying, threats and indeed anything else that encompasses typical domestic life outside of a tinted 1950's vision of domestic life. Hilariously, this will mean if her boyfriend is a convicted murderer she will not know, but if he insulted a past girlfriend and she reported him to the social workers, then his new girlfriend will know. And in this day and age of 'better safe than sorry' she will dump him. His life will be ruined by hearsay and vengefulness.

The picture I paint is of a State that does not trust its citizens. It does not trust them to do what they wish behind closed doors. Mistakes cannot be made. Real lives must not be lived. A State invading every area of our lives.

If you want to understand this further then please read Foucalt's 'The Birth of Biopolitics'.

I am then very happy to live in a quasi-democracy where police and military can kill with impunity (see The War on Drugs and the lack of any prosecutions over the 2,400 deaths). I like it because the State is not insidious enough to get involved in my life. It leaves me alone as long as I do not threaten it.

[patklang]

I have huge balls

[ukrules]

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

There's been a few programs on TV lately here in England glorifying the new Border Agency. It's the first time anyone has been allowed to film these normally secretive operations. Cynical as this may sound I am convinced they are only showing this to placate the 'British jobs for British people' contingent. What you have is a load of people being thrown out of the country, these people may not have qualifications and be highly skilled but they do have motivation and a passion to succeed, something which is clearly lacking in a good proportion of the population.

Ironically if these illegal immigrants came over here and took to a life of crime instead of working for a living they would almost never be caught as they tend to get caught working in publicly accessible places like restaurants, building sites, etc. The 'authorities' go for the and easy targets.

[473geo]

It takes money (income or savings) Balls are a secondary requirement.......

[MJo]

I'm not an Expat (yet), I live in the UK, but I often look around me and wonder how many of my fellow Countryman would have the courage to make such a move.

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

It's refreshing to read someone who understands both sides of this issue.

Could not agree more GH.

To the OP, if any means possible. Try to find employment that allows you to take say one year contract overseas. So much easier and nicer to go when you arrive with a job. Possibly with proper expat package including accommodation and transport etc...

[kurnell]

no doubt don't see such a major life decision as such a big deal, especially the well travelled/frequent traveller.

Yep. That would be me. Lived most of my adult life in Asia. Moving here felt as brave as visiting Poole.

One enormous irony is that I despaired at life in the UK precisely because of the unintended consequences of the very people who make it a habit to despair of the UK. Many of those people are clearly the other posters on this thread.

The 'something-must-be-done' brigade; the sergeant-majors and young professional ladies who read the Daily Mail. Their insistent (and ludicrous) belief that if only the government did [fill in with whatever news story concerns them] then life would be better. That is: they have a naive 'cause and effect' vision of the World. They overestimate the power of the State. If I was to reveal to them that the State does not have the answers, that it really does not know what to do, and that its failure to make things better is not a consequence of incompetence or malevolence, but rather, nobody knows, this would break their perceptual framework develpoed from years of reading the warped Daily Mail.

The government in the UK reacts with breathtaking speed to this constituency as it regards them as critical to electability. Consequently, we have seen the profoundly evil development of the Police State, under the 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about' ignorance of this constituency. The latest version of this state crassness arrived last week with the unveiling of yet another registration agency. This time the quangos job will be to inform women who have boyfriend's with bad histories. Not simply criminal records of domestic violence but even simple complaints, including bullying, threats and indeed anything else that encompasses typical domestic life outside of a tinted 1950's vision of domestic life. Hilariously, this will mean if her boyfriend is a convicted murderer she will not know, but if he insulted a past girlfriend and she reported him to the social workers, then his new girlfriend will know. And in this day and age of 'better safe than sorry' she will dump him. His life will be ruined by hearsay and vengefulness.

The picture I paint is of a State that does not trust its citizens. It does not trust them to do what they wish behind closed doors. Mistakes cannot be made. Real lives must not be lived. A State invading every area of our lives.

If you want to understand this further then please read Foucalt's 'The Birth of Biopolitics'.

I am then very happy to live in a quasi-democracy where police and military can kill with impunity (see The War on Drugs and the lack of any prosecutions over the 2,400 deaths). I like it because the State is not insidious enough to get involved in my life. It leaves me alone as long as I do not threaten it.

Can you dumb this down a notch?

[Farma]

The OP’s got me thinking, I’ve spent just over 25 years living and working outside my home country.

The thought of taking that big step of moving to a country as an expat without employment actually scares me.

[Jingthing]

I have huge balls

Me too! They are too big really. I am currently saving money for a trip to the Yanhee clinic. They can fix that.

[PeaceBlondie]

Didn't Clinton's 'foreign minister' Madeline Albright have a public argument about cojones, which means 'testicles'? Maggie Thatcher had balls.

Found it: Also in 1996, after Cuban military pilots shot down two small civilian aircraft flown by the Cuban-American exile group Brothers to the Rescue over international waters, she announced, "This is not cojones. This is cowardice." The line reportedly endeared her to President Clinton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Albright

[473geo]

I used to castrate bulls: Standing......but I no longer have the irons I used to heat up to burn through the tubes to remove the testicles and seal....

[Texpat]

What's a seal doing down there? I think you're mistaking the bull's penis for an finned aquatic mammal. I agree with you though, any seals down there should be removed.

Edited May 10, 2009 by Texpat

[MJP]

no doubt don't see such a major life decision as such a big deal, especially the well travelled/frequent traveller.

Yep. That would be me. Lived most of my adult life in Asia. Moving here felt as brave as visiting Poole.

One enormous irony is that I despaired at life in the UK precisely because of the unintended consequences of the very people who make it a habit to despair of the UK. Many of those people are clearly the other posters on this thread.

The 'something-must-be-done' brigade; the sergeant-majors and young professional ladies who read the Daily Mail. Their insistent (and ludicrous) belief that if only the government did [fill in with whatever news story concerns them] then life would be better. That is: they have a naive 'cause and effect' vision of the World. They overestimate the power of the State. If I was to reveal to them that the State does not have the answers, that it really does not know what to do, and that its failure to make things better is not a consequence of incompetence or malevolence, but rather, nobody knows, this would break their perceptual framework develpoed from years of reading the warped Daily Mail.

The government in the UK reacts with breathtaking speed to this constituency as it regards them as critical to electability. Consequently, we have seen the profoundly evil development of the Police State, under the 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about' ignorance of this constituency. The latest version of this state crassness arrived last week with the unveiling of yet another registration agency. This time the quangos job will be to inform women who have boyfriend's with bad histories. Not simply criminal records of domestic violence but even simple complaints, including bullying, threats and indeed anything else that encompasses typical domestic life outside of a tinted 1950's vision of domestic life. Hilariously, this will mean if her boyfriend is a convicted murderer she will not know, but if he insulted a past girlfriend and she reported him to the social workers, then his new girlfriend will know. And in this day and age of 'better safe than sorry' she will dump him. His life will be ruined by hearsay and vengefulness.

The picture I paint is of a State that does not trust its citizens. It does not trust them to do what they wish behind closed doors. Mistakes cannot be made. Real lives must not be lived. A State invading every area of our lives.

If you want to understand this further then please read Foucalt's 'The Birth of Biopolitics'.

I am then very happy to live in a quasi-democracy where police and military can kill with impunity (see The War on Drugs and the lack of any prosecutions over the 2,400 deaths). I like it because the State is not insidious enough to get involved in my life. It leaves me alone as long as I do not threaten it.

Great post.

Same.

As.

That.

[473geo]

What's a seal doing down there? I think you're mistaking the bull's penis for an finned aquatic mammal. I agree with you though, any seals down there should be removed.

Ha ha.. ...cauterize would be the correct word......but I couldn't spell it......

[Huey]

I'm not an Expat (yet), I live in the UK, but I often look around me and wonder how many of my fellow Countryman would have the courage to make such a move.

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

It's refreshing to read someone who understands both sides of this issue.

Indeed, I have a new found respect for them as well. Not to mention a lil envy because they have it SOOOO much easier working/doing business in America than I have doing the same in Thailand. US laws are set up to help immigration. While Thai laws are set up to F' us.

But anyway, sometimes you leave not knowing that its gonna be for the long haul and you turn around one day and realize "hey, I'm a expat!" Thats how it happened to me.

[Digitalman]

I don't think it takes balls per say.. I think expats need not to be glorified simply because they chose to live life somewhere other than the "home country."

Honestly, if you are an overly pessimistic, misanthropic, disenchanted political animal, I think its easier to live here than it is to live in your home country. In ways it is easier to accept this quasi-democracy for what is because you bear no real responsibility regarding its function. I think its more difficult to have known the expat life and to go back than it is to stay. Those who have balls are the ones that went back and attempted to make positive changes in their society after being completely disenchanted with the political establishment. All in all, its easier for most to just run away and criticize from afar.

[DeathbyDurian]

5 years ago I had never left my home country before.

The company I was working for closed and I was looking for a change.

So, I sold everything I owned and packed my life into 2 suit cases and flew to Thailand after reading about it on the internet. I didn't know a single person in the country.

Now I have a great job, lots of quality friends and a wonderful wife.

Best decision I ever made.

Balls? No.... destiny? Yes.

[sassienie]

I have huge balls

Yes, that makes up for having a small brain.

It is a very big step moving to Thailand, a completely different lifestyle to that of the home country. We benefit much by living here but also sacrifice our statutory rights as citizens of a country replacing our mandatory rights with privileges. One swipe with the mighty pen by an official and we could be out on a limb. So it’s not all foot loose and fancy free.

But most important before making this step that could be the most drastic change anyone could make in their life, is to ensure that they are financially secure for the whole term they wish to stay in Thailand even if they intend to reside here for the rest of their days.

[flying]

True that it is a very big step/risk.

To move somewhere that you are now the minority.

Where you in fact have quite a bit less rights

A place that you do not ( at least at first) understand the language.

Definitely out of most folks comfort zone.

That said...........the way things are going in the west it might soon be the

ones who stay put at home are also very courageous.

Edited May 10, 2009 by flying

[longstebe]

It takes money (income or savings) Balls are a secondary requirement.......

Totally agree with this comment.

[Nignoy]

Silly me I just thought being an expat, is making your own choices and backing them up !!,is it worth putting up with staying in your home country and watch your future and livelyhood go down the toilet,burying a mate amilitary hero , kicked to death for his pension moving to an other country and accepting it Warts and all, making the best of it and still being able to have a whinge of course you miss the family and good bits and memories of your place of birth,but for fxxxs sake then you look at downtown mukdaharn, the southern Andaman villages or Queenslands east coast islands, Who needs Wigan or Warrington

[sanmiguel]

I wouldnt say its at all brave to move to LOS more an easy escape for many, but hats off to those who have succeeded at earning a decent living or are content when theyve come here off their own back.

[sanmiguel]

The 'something-must-be-done' brigade; the sergeant-majors and young professional ladies who read the Daily Mail.

The thing is in England nothing gets done these days, just people coming on webforums complaining, and whats wrong with wanting things to be better?

I think people who disregard others as fools if theyre one of the many millions who read the Daily Mail /The Sun as jumped up <deleted>, would these people be as superior as yourself if they read the FT? or didnt read the news at all? Or read whatever socialist sh7te you form your opinions from.

You must have been to a Uni mill to churn out such rubbish 2:1 in Business Studies im guessing.

No one thinks the govt have all the answers, just 50% of our money to come up with better solutions.

PS I read every newspaper theyre all free online before you try to come across as superior by calling me a Mail reader, but are Guardian readers ok in your eyes?

[wamberal]

Whatever the reason/outcome of the move I think it takes a lot of courage to leave the norm's and "comforts" of home and try a new way of life in another Country.

I'm not an Expat (yet), I live in the UK, but I often look around me and wonder how many of my fellow Countryman would have the courage to make such a move.

I also have respect for the immigrants in the UK who have left their Homeland and try a new way of life here

It also takes a lot of courage to battle on in one's home country, sometimes, accepting the responsibilities of family life and doing one's civic duty in the country of one's birth.

I worked for many years as an expatriate - and I admire those of my friends who stayed in their home country, raised kids and grand-kids, had worthwhile careers as teachers, or in the military, or caring professions; while I was earning more money, living in company-provided accomodation, and moving on when I had had enough.

It does not take "balls" to run away from your responsibilities - which some, not all of course, expatriates have done.

FILTH - "Failed in London, try Hong Kong". Many expatriates are second-raters, who simply could not make the grade in their home country.

[BigSnake]

No not really a big deal, I think just the love and support of his/her Thai family is enough for most farang to take the leap here.

[sanook2me]

The 'something-must-be-done' brigade; the sergeant-majors and young professional ladies who read the Daily Mail.

The thing is in England nothing gets done these days, just people coming on webforums complaining, and whats wrong with wanting things to be better?

I think people who disregard others as fools if theyre one of the many millions who read the Daily Mail /The Sun as jumped up <deleted>, would these people be as superior as yourself if they read the FT? or didnt read the news at all? Or read whatever socialist sh7te you form your opinions from.

You must have been to a Uni mill to churn out such rubbish 2:1 in Business Studies im guessing.

No one thinks the govt have all the answers, just 50% of our money to come up with better solutions.

PS I read every newspaper theyre all free online before you try to come across as superior by calling me a Mail reader, but are Guardian readers ok in your eyes?

It was a funny posting because its mostly Guardian(liberal/yellow bellies/PC brigade/civil servant) readers who have snatched the "Great" out of Great Britain/England and turned the country into such a cess pit.

Majority of Daily Mail readers are right wing and more and would not have all the Polish/dole wasters/single mothers benefit scroungers/police killers escaping the Island dressed in a burkha as the police are to scared to stop him for fear of upsetting the PC brigade....etc

The Great my friend would be put back onto Britain if the country was run by Daily Mail readers!

Especially if it was done by online voting

No more immigrants and send them home Yes or No???

Mr Smith chewing over his toast and tea while reading the mornings Daily Mail what would he vote?

Mr Gabriel-Smith chewing over organic eggs and soya sausages while reading the Guardian what would he vote?

Personally I know who I would rather have running the country but unfortunately its the other paper readers who run it!