When expats mess up, it reflects badly on all of us. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed expats behaving badly too often to count. It’s bad enough when I see people behaving badly back home, but when we are guests in a foreign country, it seems so much worse. I’ve noticed that acts which are deemed unacceptable back home are practiced openly over here. No one ever seems to discuss it, or think anything about it. Personally, I’m ashamed by some of the acts of stupidity and downright nastiness I’ve witnessed since moving to Asia.
One of the most important principles a person should remember and adhere to, especially when they move abroad, is to be aware of how they present themselves in public. If it isn’t acceptable at home, it certainly isn’t acceptable here.
Your public image when living abroad is just as important as it is back home, and in some respects even more so. All eyes are on you. People will always be watching to see how you react.
I am constantly aware that I am representing my country. People might not remember your name in the long run, but I guarantee they’ll remember where you came from.
This is so true, unfortunately!
I cannot count the times I’ve seen expats in the train loud, disrespectful, laughing and criticizing the local customs and far worse things that I cannot bring myself to write!
Oh, I wanted to duck and hide in embarrassment *for them*!
I think many of us will relate to your Expats Behaving Badly series (sadly)!.
While I think it is sometimes OK to be critical on local issues, one should carefully think before opening once mouth as it often is just prejudice and cultural ignorance.
And about behaving badly … have sadly seen too many of the stories of arrogance.
I’m looking forward to this series Carrie. You most definitely have a lot to say on the issue of bad behavior foreigners.
opps: “of the bad behavior of foreigners.”
It’s been a long day and my grammar is on delay;)
[...] Montreal Writer’s Storm Sewer wrote an interesting article in response to my first post on Ex-pats Behaving Badly. It’s a great read and well worth checking out. He makes some excellent points on this issue. [...]