OCT wrote:Nick wrote:OCT wrote:But the idea that you form your own little communities - other expats who you get together with for drinks/chats - tends to upset some people. Even more annoying is that they look for English food in the south of Spain or wherever. I just think it's to be expected. Nobody gets hurt.
Chattering class types love to slag off Brits abroad for doing that, but would never dream of applying the same standard to immigrants to the UK.
That's it.
Toby talks about 'integrating', but that's quite another thing. I'd argue it's close to impossible - and also that it's not necessarily even desirable.
I've lived in several places in Europe and I've never even felt close to becoming integrated. How do you do that?
Marry a local lass!
I've had this sorta discussion with people before where they emphasise the importance of folks like us going abroad to live and trying to learn the language but they don't care whether people come to this country and learn English at all. Hang on a minute, you know?! I think integration is desirable but more so when the clash between cultures is more pronounced and other factors come into it (religion, attitudes towards woman etc).