How is an expat different from a "migrant worker"?

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12-29-2007 @ 11:01AM

Eva said...

Great post, Aaron. I had never really thought of the implications of the term "migrant worker" - or whether anything they do differs fundamentally from the "expat" existence.

On the flip side, I have noticed some travel enthusiasts have kind of a reverse judgment of the "expat" set as well. No one questions a "migrant worker" or an immigrant from a developing country if they choose to spend much of their time with other people from home, eating food from home, and so on (hence the existence of Chinatowns around the world), but we "authentic" backpacking traveler types are quick to criticize expats for not doing enough to truly experience their new country, for living a superficial existence, etc, etc.

Just as "migrant workers" may sometimes be curious about seeing the world, "expats" may also just be following their paycheque, and may miss home, family, friends, language, customs...

Anyway. Thanks for pointing out this double standard - it's always interesting to catch ourselves in a significant, but unnoticed, use of language.

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