Expats vs Immigrants

Sometimes when someone goes from one country to another country, that makes them an immigrant, and sometimes it makes them an expat. But what is the difference between immigrants and expats? Let's have a little think.

It's a well known fact that immigrants come over here (wherever here might be) by land, in their cheap and possibly dirty clothes, with their children, food and cigarettes in tow, and with no intention of doing anything other than scrounge money in the form of wages from the honest citizens of wherever they've arrived. Expats, on the other hand, arrive from the clouds in pristine or artfully distressed robes, and help out the local economy from the moment they land by generously using local goods and services, and just generally contributing positively to the general vibe of the area in which they now live, you know? Just really LIVING in a place, yeah?

Sure, immigrants may give the impression that they are trying to integrate, by learning the local language and working in lower-paid jobs than the natives or their expat counterparts. Expats may sometimes seem to take no interest in the locals or in their surroundings, preferring to communicate with other expats than with the locals in their adoptive home. But this ignores the fact that immigrants have to learn the language, because they tend to perform lower-status jobs, which necessarily involve more contact with the indigenous population of the area where they work. So that's settled.

Immigrants may cynically ingratiate themselves with communities by taking part in local events of which expats are totally unaware, but this merely exemplifies further the progressive nature of expats, not to be bound by old conservative traditions. Immigrants may live in suburban areas alongside locals, and expats may live together in expensive urban areas, but this only goes to show which group more highly values their own culture. These urban areas often become and remain cultural hubs, with the corresponding benefits for homeowners in the area, which further attracts expats - although unfortunately, this does also attract immigrants.

In short, it comes down to choice. If you chose to come here (wherever here is), and your wage here is not hugely different from, or even less than, what you could earn at home, then you are an expat, a citizen of the world, and you are welcome. If you came here because you had to, and your wage here is much higher than at home, then you know what buddy? Country's full. Immigrants not welcome. Come back when you're rich.