Millennials living in Airbnb abroad for 3-6 months and they are calling themselves EXPATS?

[Anonymous]

Well, maybe they “identify” as expats?

You don’t know. You are not the boss of them!

[Anonymous]

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

[Anonymous]

Kinda like anyone taking time off work now calls it a sabbatical….. or goes to one country and says they’re in Europe…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one thinks you have to live overseas “for a number of years” to be considered an expat. The definition is “living” overseas. Now, peoples’ definitions of “living” can vary, but if you take most states and countries definitions of residency, it’s typically 189 days or 1/2 a year.

So I can go and rent an Airbnb in Canada for 2 days and call myself an expat?

Yes you can. And I don't know why anyone would care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

They are renting out Airbnb abroad for 3 months at a time and calling themselves expats.

FRAUDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

Not OP but... aren't you criticizing them for doing the exact same thing you are currently doing? This is why "wow you have so much time on your hands" or "huh, you've thought about this a lot" always strikes me as a weird burn on DCUM. You're here. You're going to criticize others for starting conversations you yourself feel the need to participate in. Look in the mirror. I know you've got the time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one thinks you have to live overseas “for a number of years” to be considered an expat. The definition is “living” overseas. Now, peoples’ definitions of “living” can vary, but if you take most states and countries definitions of residency, it’s typically 189 days or 1/2 a year.

So I can go and rent an Airbnb in Canada for 2 days and call myself an expat?

Yes you can. And I don't know why anyone would care.

If only someone would tell you why they care... here in this thread.... on this very subject.

Good job not caring by responding here though. You are amazing at not giving things you think don't matter any of your time and energy.

Oh wait.

[Anonymous]

I’d argue the distinction is more about community than time. Did the person have regular and sustained interactions with a community of others (either locals or expats)? More likely to be an “expat.” Did they just work remotely, tour around, go to the store? Like someone above said, I think some of the “expat” thing is a mindset of community and helping each other out, even if one or both of you is just passing through and you know you might never see each other again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

They are renting out Airbnb abroad for 3 months at a time and calling themselves expats.

FRAUDS.

You're only an expat if you get a relocation package, have a sponsored visa, and spend at least one year in a single location.

Most countries will give you the boot after 90 days, so you really don't have the time to plant some roots and absorb a culture. 90 days in a serviced apartment is just a transient lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

Not OP but... aren't you criticizing them for doing the exact same thing you are currently doing? This is why "wow you have so much time on your hands" or "huh, you've thought about this a lot" always strikes me as a weird burn on DCUM. You're here. You're going to criticize others for starting conversations you yourself feel the need to participate in. Look in the mirror. I know you've got the time!

Hi OP. I never start threads to criticize others. That's the difference between you and me, and it's a pretty big one. I'm criticizing YOU, and only YOU, and I'm not generalizing to your age group, or others with similar behaviors. That's another big difference between you and me. You don't have the moral high ground here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

They are renting out Airbnb abroad for 3 months at a time and calling themselves expats.

FRAUDS.

You're only an expat if you get a relocation package, have a sponsored visa, and spend at least one year in a single location.

Most countries will give you the boot after 90 days, so you really don't have the time to plant some roots and absorb a culture. 90 days in a serviced apartment is just a transient lifestyle.

Generally anywhere you can get a visa WAIVER for 90 days doesn't make you an expatriate. I agree with that.
There are lots of retirees living abroad, who do not work, and they are expats too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the past you had to be a citizen/resident of a foreign country for a number of years in order to call your self an expat.

But today there are millennials posting videos of themselves online staying in Airbnb abroad for as little as 3 months and they are calling themselves expats.

They are not expats they are Americans on extended vacations abroad.

What a peculiar thing to be worked up about

[Anonymous]

Two things:
(1) they are not expats. My sister-in-law and and my college roommate, both of whom have children and husbands and both of whom have been working in Europe for 30+ years while retaining their American citizenships and dealing with all the intricacies of that status are true expats. There is an extensive network of American expat families in Europe who help each other out in extraordinary ways. A remote worker in an AirBNB for 6 mos. has nowhere near the experience and expertise to earn the albeit informal and unofficial title of expat.
(2) Read "The Expats" by Chris Pavone. It's a fictional spy story but it conveys some of the complexities of a true expat life.

The young single here-for-a-season-while-it's-still-fun workers are trying to borrow some glamour and prestige by using that word. Ick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've been an expat since I was 3, living in various countries for 4-5 years each time, and I am still an expat today.

You are deranged if you think creating a post to criticize an entire swathe of people for something so incredibly frivolous and minor is a good use of your time.

Why don't you go do something productive with your time, instead of trolling the internet?

They are renting out Airbnb abroad for 3 months at a time and calling themselves expats.

FRAUDS.

You're only an expat if you get a relocation package, have a sponsored visa, and spend at least one year in a single location.

Most countries will give you the boot after 90 days, so you really don't have the time to plant some roots and absorb a culture. 90 days in a serviced apartment is just a transient lifestyle.

Exactly.

Many are staying for less than 3 months and are calling themselves expats in order to appear "hip" to their followers online.

POSERS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one thinks you have to live overseas “for a number of years” to be considered an expat. The definition is “living” overseas. Now, peoples’ definitions of “living” can vary, but if you take most states and countries definitions of residency, it’s typically 189 days or 1/2 a year.

Former expat here and while that might be the technical definition, if I'd met an American in Berlin who was there for less then a year, especially if not actually employed there with plans to stay more permanently, I would have considered them visitors, not expats. It wasn't like a badge of honor or something -- there is nothing wrong with doing an extended visit in a foreign city. I have done that too. But I don't understand why someone would feel the need to call themselves an expat in that situation. It would make you sound silly.

One reason I valued expat communities when I was living abroad is that we helped each other a lot, with visas, getting healthcare, finding jobs if you needed to, renting and buying property, etc. If someone isn't staying long enough to have to navigate that, they aren't really going to be part of the expat community. Again, just visiting. Nothing wrong with it, but it's a different thing.

I agree 100%.

Many of these expat wannabees are delusional.

Wouldn’t be surprised if many are unintentionally violating their visitor visas by working remotely.

"Unintentionally" = knowing full well what they are doing but just kind of pretending they don't

But carry on, I'm not even mad at it (kind of respect it) -- just think it's silly to think these folks don't know exactly what they are doing

YES! Totally pretending they don't know because rules are complicated and hard and *shrug* it isn't hurting anyone.