The word expat is a contraction of the original word “expatriate”. Derived from the Latin word “expatriatus”,it refers to someone who lives in a country other than that of which they are a citizen. To put it simply, an expat is a person lives in a different location than that where they were born and brought up.Expats usually reside in the host countries temporarilyand intend to return home eventually.However,nowadays expats shift permanently to other countries if they feel like that place can offer them a higher living standard.
Becoming an expat
There are many reasons for someone to become an expat, like :
✓ Job requirements
✓ Love for a person or a place
✓ Seeking better opportunities
✓ Willing to learn about different cultures and places
There are different ways of becoming an expat, that suit different purposes of different individuals, which include :
✓ Becoming an exchange student
✓ Working in international firms
✓ Signing up for volunteering abroad
✓ Just getting on a flight and going with the flow
A few things that need to be kept in mind while expatriating are:
✓ How strong is the language barrier
✓ Whether or not you have any contacts in the country
✓ Cost of living
✓ Climate and the local culture
