The Expat.com survey on repatriation of expats.

The country list looks like it was translated from French but you forgot to reorder the list to suit.

I gave my reason for moving as madness but, whilst that's true, I feel it was the right move anyway, if for all the wrong reasons at the time. After all, I moved to a new country without the first first clue, no plan, and not that much money.

Still, it's working out quite well now and I just couldn't stand the thought of returning to the UK to work as a shelf stacker and worry about getting mugged by a junkie once a week whilst walking to work on a cold winter's night.

As Admiral Lord Nelson famously said, "Bugger that for a game of soldiers".

Hey Fred,

Nice to hear from you! Indeed, the list was translated from French but unfortunately, our partner (who administrates the survey) could not change the order. However, you can find the country by typing the first letter of its name.

Painting a very bleak picture of the UK, here, Fred! Glad it turned out good for you and I hope you're doing well!

Cheers,
AL

I'm not anti UK in any way, more can't stand the thought of returning to a drug fuelled crime spree where my prospects would be dole and cold.

I actually did start the survey but I didn't continue after it asked my name and date of birth. I find that a bit personal. It would be nice to give a range of ages in 5 or 10 year increments and let us tick a box.

Also when uploading photos to the pictures section a message flashes "sending request to www.facebook.com..." which I don't have a problem with as far as uploading photos but I think these days we need to be careful what information we are giving out.

As for repatriation, anything is possible. Most of my life has been moving from country to country and there are still places that I consider moving to in the future. But repatriating back to the UK one day will always be a possibility.

Date of birth

I lie on every forum or anything else that isn't a bank or whatever official thing. I never lie by far, maybe a day or two or the month, maybe even add or take away a year if I'm feeling adventurous.
I keep an email address for rubbish/stuff I'm sus about, and make up a name if I'm asked for one.
Sometimes I pop in a crazy lie, making myself over a hundred years old, but only if I feel a bit like I am when I fill in the answer.

"Repatriating?"  As in moving back?   

That's inconceivable for me. 

I'd rather jump off the Campuhan River Bridge.

Ubudian wrote:

"Repatriating?"  As in moving back?   

That's inconceivable for me. 

I'd rather jump off the Campuhan River Bridge.

There's fat chance of me returning to the UK, and we don't have T***p

Trust me my friend, neither the UK, or the US would have either of us back.  And even if they did...we'd be miserable beyond description!   

I'm unsure they'd let me back, but you're right about the untold misery I'd suffer if I went back.

Like I said earlier...I'd rather jump off the Campuan River Bridge than consider that.

But hey...get this!

Three sons with dual citizenship...and guess what?  The US charges $2,300 US dollars for each revocation of US citizenship to become Indonesian.  I kid you not!   

Ubudian wrote:

Like I said earlier...I'd rather jump off the Campuan River Bridge than consider that.

But hey...get this!

Three sons with dual citizenship...and guess what?  The US charges $2,300 US dollars for each revocation of US citizenship to become Indonesian.  I kid you not!   

Ignore it but never go anywhere they can get you

Returning to the homeland is amongst the things I consider in the future. 25 years in SEA... I start to have enough of the "Asian charm" .

I lived, and would return, in a nice region with nice food, wine, the Ocean and people of my culture.  Bassin d'Arcachon.

My only problem is the weather from Nov till April.

Hence one of our overseas department could also be a nice choice. But the people...hmmmmmm.... Would sure be a change from Bali !

Sorry I missed the survey but loved Fred's response. I got a good laugh out of it. My story is similar and although I cannot promote myself I will say I published a book about my Expat experience that received two feature reviews in the Indonesian Expat magazine and the Bali Advertiser. I guess if you're curious just Google my name. My opinions and knowledge regarding aspects of Indonesia are also published in several Indonesian magazines (Google). Regarding repatriation, I do toss and turn in a dream of the grass is always greener. If I returned to the States permanently the biggest upside is the language "english" and access to 1st world healthcare. However, it would still be a struggle to get by financially just on a different level than living in Indonesia.

I tried to publish my life story but publishers wouldn't touch it for fear of Indonesia's strict pornography laws.
I was in a few local papers a couple of weeks ago and, strangely enough, not for anything illegal.