Or an 'International School' in the country of choice. We have considered upping sticks to the 'chateau' permanently when SWMBO retires in a couple of years. The problems being the new attitude to health care in France for expats who haven't worked there, and education for the lad. He would be in year 9 (UK designation for 3rd year at secondary school). SWMBO says it would be too much of a wrench for him to start learning everything in French at that stage. Being a teacher she is also a bit sniffy about the very small International School I found in Bordeaux that teach in English. She also says she would miss her folkie scene. Though I point out that in a perverse reversal of present habits we could come back to the UK for a few weeks in the summer for the height of the festival season. -- +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +----------------------------------------------------------------+
In England, I occasionally run into what I tend to think of as 'ex-Pats', usually in pubs, who want to be my friend and talk about whether I get 'home' much and how long I've been over for. I endeavour to avoid these encounters.
Story told to me by one of our contractors[1] so I guess around 1988. He's working in Hull for a bit and driving down the street to his hotel see's the hookers doing their thing, standing under the lights. As he gets closer he realises that the reason they've got one foot turned up is there's a price on the shoe. [1] Sounds true but who knows.
But it can, and does, get very boring. I mean, after seven years, we _know_ that the shops won't be open on Sundays, and that I can't get a decent pint for love nor money. Why go on about it? I would. I've always felt that Ben still retains a lot of ties to the UK, and he's never really moved away, just that he's been working abroad. I don't think any of our 'ex-pat' friends here would ever use the word 'home' to refer to the UK. -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com) \`\ | /`/ `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10 `\|/` `
Then again, I was in Wimbledon last weekend - the beer was excellent[1], if expensive, but the people and pubs were god-awful, so on balance I'd still rather be here. [1] All draught ale tastes good to me now. -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com) \`\ | /`/ `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10 `\|/` `
Or how they can't believe how expensive the healthcare/insurance is or any of the other items on the list of expat grumbles. They also make an assumption that by being British, I'm in the same boat with the same feelings and the same yearning for the motherland. Of course, grumbling is a typically British trait, so perhaps they can't help it. 'Home' to me is whichever abode I live in at the time. When I leave the US, I'll be 'going back to somewhere in Europe, probably NL'.
When I lived abroad, myself and most of the Brits I knew referred to it as 'The Island'. As in "I'm popping back to the Island for a few days".
Sounds like just another way of saying 'home' to me. Have they mostly, like you, returned there in their dotage? -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com) \`\ | /`/ `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10 `\|/` `
Ditto. I bumped into a Scot the other week and he asked me if I got home much. I replied I went home every evening.
A mate from uni went to an International School in Mumbai. It was mainly used by the kids of Canadians working for a Canadian Corporation. Said mate was born & bred in Mumbai and his father was one of the senior indigenous functionaries in the company. There were only a couple of other local kids in his year and all lessons were taught in the Canadian version of English. It used to amuse me when he introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Raj, I'm from Mumbai" in a broad Canuck accent.
More a reference to the insular nature of a lot of folk who live there. I have contrary to your inferences: Owned homes in northern (Delmanhorst) and southern (Freiburg) Germany, Spain (Xixona) and England (Stelling Minnis) as an onward going thing. The Germany houses were useful while I owned a half share in a German software house. I kept the Spanish one for summer holidays with the kids and breaks away. While I ran my last Company it was most advantageous to operate in England to service clients in Europe. The German system was not bad but the French system was too bureaucratic for me. Currently I'm looking at another property in Spain and while they still allow retirement visa if you take enough money with you one in New Zealand. While we are holidaying from England on average 8 times a year to different places in the world to check out the next move I'm happy to store my things in an average 5 bedroom house in Norfolk, rather than my rather small (8 acre) estate in Kent. Down-size-ing freed up a large amount of cash to invest. I feel in ignorance you were somewhat off the mark.
A tale I've heard from others; many years ago, there was a pub in central Carlisle called the Apple Tree (still a pub, now called Pippins - geddit?). Ladies of Negotiable Affection were identifiable by their white shoes, and indeed the price of an industry standard shag was marked clearly on the sole of their shoes, one of which was almost always on display. However bad you think other places are, Carlisle is worse.
So, seems it maybe a known method for marking the price. I shall look more closely next time I see a doris with on sole on display. Only ever been once and I don't recall anything either way but I'll take your word on that.
