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Eurobazz wrote on Thu Aug 4, 2022 10:32am:
Firstly, I would like to point out that the word is 'expats' and not as shown 'ex pat's' (sic).
An expat is usually someone who has been sent on assignment from their home country to work abroad. This assignment involves the person being provided with furnished accommodation, utilities and other expenses paid for and a preferential tax rate. Unfortunately, over the years, the Br...
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...its in Spain and other countries outside the UK have hijacked this term to apply to them. This cannot be further from the intended use of the word.
All Brits in Spain are either foreigners or immigrants. I have never heard the Germans or Dutch in Spain refer to themselves as expats. They will use the name given to the their country of origin. If pushed, they will say immigrant. Furthermore, if you look at the situation from the other side, you wouldn't hear a Polish plumber in Reading refer to himself as an expat!
Unfortunately, the Brits and the English especially, have a feeling of superiority outside the UK and tend to look down on those who are not British, and more alarmingly, natives of their host country. This is a very elitist and appalling attitude and one which should be brought to an end.
It's even more relevant now that Brits in Spain are referred to as immigrants and not expats since their status as non-EU citizens has relegated them to third country nationals, a tier below residents in Spain from the EU and EEA countries.
I think this is the most relevant response to the original post and absolutely spot on.
