PX! Book One Page 049

PX! Book One Page 049
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PX!

2008-04-13 11:02:05
In the service of the Queen...

An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. The word comes for the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country), and is sometimes misspelt as ex-patriot, due to its pronunciation.

The term is often used in the context of Westerners living in non-Western countries, athough there are many instances of Westerners living in other Western countries, such as Australians living in the United Kingdom and British people living in Spain.

Expatriate culture, such as that of the British in India or East Africa, can become quite distinct, and is often subject to parody and ridicule. Expatriates often find upon returning to their country of origin that it has developed in ways they find incomprehensible; this leads to a sense of alienation and anomie. Similarly, they are viewed by their fellow citizens as foreigners.

The difference between an expatriate and an immigrant is that immigrants commit themselves to becoming a part of their country of residence, whereas expatriates see themselves, and are perceived, as living in a foreign land.

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