Expatriates' Wednesdays

Another nice walk today! Pic du Midi d'Ossau !

Decided ! On Wednesdays I'll post a thought, a reflection  around the topic of the expatriates.

This will be the

"Expatriates' Wednesdays"

I am counting on you to add reflections, to bounce and respond to my words;

either on my professional FB page directly, or more anonymously, you can leave a message on the blog or send me an e-mail to piacoach@gmail.com

Why on Earth am i interested by expatriates' situations ? 

My parents have been moving around every 18 months for the shortest periods up to every three years for the longest. This for about twenty years. Two of my older sisters have followed these international moves from an early age while the last two children, we 'only' moved for a few years.

I grew up in a house decorated with artifacts, coming from Africa, pacific islands and different European countries, far more than amongst European decoration; I heard stories and legends coming from far far away, listening my sisters stories as well;

I think that my fascination for what is far away and different comes from all that

Personally, I moved 13 times til now, Europe and South America. It is neither much nor little, all depending on circumstances. A gross figure has only little meaning.

I'll start this first article by reflecting on the definition of expatriation

Here is what the dictionary says:

"Someone who left his country voluntarily or by obligation"

And here are the synonyms;

"Banished, expelled, uprooted, exiled, deported, banished, refugee"

What do you think?

Personally, I can almost feel the pain that the authors seem to have wanted to associate with the notion of expatriation

Hence the question !

Is expatriation always painful?

I would say NO, of course! And you?

But are there painful elements linked with expatriation?

I would reply, YES, of course! And you?

And most importantly, are they being recognized?

And again I would answer, NO, unfortunately;

Hence my interest for the subject, of course!

And you, and you and you?