Becoming an expatriate gives crossing the border a whole new meaning. Why would anyone want to move from the United States to another country, when thousands of people are trying to get in to our beloved country and live the “American Dream”, some citizens are giving it all up to make a new country their home.

Historically, American citizens have fled to Canada or Mexico in times of war to avoid the draft, or to France and Italy to live among the writers and artists. But it seems that the new reasons for becoming an expatriate are much different than in the past.

Despite why people become expatriates and in which countries they choose take abode—you may wonder, in lieu of the world’s current vision of our country, are they welcomed? Is that welcome warmer than the “unwelcome” mat we have rolled out to people over the past nine years?

Mary McKenzie^*, a 26 year-old native of West Virginia, first went to France as a college student. She was in Paris, “the city of light” and though she was supposed to be there to further her French language skills she instead found it frustrating. Despite studying the language for five years, she couldn’t understand a [French] word anyone said.

McKenzie explains she had a mixed reception initially. “As a student in Paris, I felt loved and admired by all…I supposed there are a lot of students in Paris anyway, but the French seemed very flattered that I was putting in the effort to learn their language and something of their culture, civilization, and history.” But on the other side of the spectrum, “I had three host mothers…the second one did not understand me at all. I had the impression that she had formed some pre-conceptions about what Americans are like (eating at McDonald's every day was one of them) and she seemed unbearably confused when I did not fulfill them. I think I was the first American this woman had ever gotten to know.”

Her own acclimation into French culture was, in her words, disorientating. “France is one of those Western countries that, on the surface, seems very similar to the US…in terms of lifestyle, standard of living etc. But it isn't. I experienced a great deal of culture shock, because of the many, many, many little things that were subtly different, such as doorknobs placed in the center of the door instead of to one side.” She continues, “I suppose the hardest thing to acclimate to was the European lifestyle—living in small spaces, feeling crowded, but also, the way of life is so completely different…things are done slowly, time is taken, the appreciation of something is considered as important as the thing itself. I realized that American culture and society is very fast-paced, driven, and that it values the results far more than the process.”

It was also the beginning of the second Gulf War during her initial stay and McKenzie experienced the wrath of the infamous French opinion after it was revealed there were no weapons of mass destruction buried in Iraq. “I met a lot of people who wanted to give me long lectures about how horrible a person Bush is/was/will always be; I didn't mind because I never liked him much myself.”

After coming back stateside for a stint, McKenzie decided to return to France. She currently resides in Chamonix Mont Blanc (FR).When asked if she is ever looked down upon for being American she replied, “Yes, I have experienced a lot of anti-American prejudice…mostly from the British (there are a lot of British people living here). The British really seem to hate us. During my travels across Europe I have had some people flat-out turn their backs on me, and refuse to acknowledge me any further, when they find out I'm American.”

The things which excite her about living in France are the language and history, as well as having all of Europe in such close proximity. Despite her becoming a bit more patriotic towards the U.S. McKenzie doesn’t foresee ever residing in the States again: “I don't miss it that much…I never liked it much to begin with. We seem to have some sort of instant/disposable culture that really doesn't appeal to me…it doesn't allow for a sense of permanence, continuity, history.”

Another expatriate residing in France is Mona F^*, who currently resides (with her husband) also in Chamonix, France. Over the past 5-7 years, she has also lived in Nairobi, Kenya, Cairo, Egypt and Arbil, Iraq and has traveled extensively in Asia and elsewhere. Her career in international development with the UN and NGOs (non-government organizations) is what led her to live overseas.

When asked what her biggest misconception of France was before moving there, she replied ‘that the French are rude’. But she says,” Most French are actually very polite and kind. But there are certain rules governing social behavior, which if you follow, will make life easier. For example, always say hello when entering a shop and thanks and goodbye and/or good day when you leave. If you do this, you’ll usually get very friendly treatment, even if you don’t speak French. But if you don’t, it’s perceived as rude and the shopkeeper might be a bit cold to you.” Mona says she is always received warmly.

Having traveled and lived in so many diverse places did she find much resistance upon people finding out she is American? “Almost everywhere I’ve lived and traveled, including the Middle East, my nationality usually either made little difference, or was often greeted with positive interest. Most separate a country’s government and its people. During the Bush years, some (very few) Europeans (but never Africans, Arabs or Asians) would rant about our government, but that often led to interesting conversations where I would try to get across that the US was not monolithic. Also, I was never a Bush supporter! Being in Kenya as an American during Obama’s election was great.”

Mona says what most excites her about living in France is the emphasis on quality of life. “People here believe more strongly in work-life balance. I also like the emphasis on quality food and how mealtimes are sacred. Though fast food is popular, and getting to be more so!” But she says she does miss certain aspects of American life such as everyday conveniences, the U.S. sense of optimism and innovation. She misses least—the consumer lifestyle, superficiality and lack of interest or knowledge in the outside world, among some Americans.

From France to jolly ole’ England we meet Dori P.,^* age 42, and a native of Georgia (U.S.). She fell in love with her British husband and he stole her away, across the pond to his home in Brighton, where she has been for a little over three years.

Dori thought her acclimation period would be a little easier than it was, “I’ve always been a bit of a loner by nature, but I realized that I should just relax and find my own place when I was meant to and if that meant having only one friend in the beginning instead of ten, then so be it.” She continued, “Honestly, I stuck out a bit in our little village as the new person, and it kind of messed with my head for a while, but I’ve found my footing better now.”

She says some of the hardest things to get used to in her new country were cultural references and jokes on television, and it was hard being part of a group and feeling out of place. She also does not drive in England. “I’m not bothered about it because I felt like I was driving all the time back in the States, but sometimes I really miss the independence of being behind the wheel and going when I want to go somewhere.” Dori also misses one of her comforts: Southern cooking. “Being a southern girl, I missed a lot of foods from back home, but I’ve become very good now at making some favorite dishes from home if I can get similar ingredients.”

But, Dori says, she and her husband do not plan to live in England for the long haul and will, in the next few years, return to the U.S. But for now she is enjoying her new county and all the fabulous experiences she has had. “I love the fact that I get to experience new places and new things on a regular basis. It is beautiful here. Going to Wimbledon was a treat and I really realized that I was living in another place as we walked through the gates there. All of a sudden I had this realization that after we finished watching the tennis, we would go home and home was still in England. Each time that I visit a new place here, I feel that I’m discovering it all over again.”

Kristin Boekhoff moved to Dhaka, Bangladesh two and a half years ago. “I originally came to Bangladesh on a Fulbright Fellowship. When my Fellowship ended I decided to stay and develop a socially and environmentally responsible resort and spa here called Panigram Resort.”

Boekhoff resides in Dhaka alone and says she was not very familiar with the culture upon her arrival. She knew it was a Muslim country and culturally similar to India. “Initially I was a bit worried about being a woman in a Muslim country as I had limited exposure to the Islamic culture before this. These apprehensions were immediately appeased, however, as I experienced the amazing hospitality of the Bangladeshi people; they are perhaps the most hospitable people that I have encountered in all of my travels. Also, in this country foreigners are given almost an elevated place in society. People go out of their way to make sure that you are comfortable and taken care of.”

She says even her neighbors are wonderful to her, “One night I was sick and they drove me to the hospital. The next day many people from my building stopped by the hospital or called to make sure that I was OK.”

Boekhoff says to her surprise her acclimation into her new culture was not so difficult: “The first three months I was here I wore a sari every day, ate exclusively Bangladeshi food, and took a rickshaw to work. Over time I have now reverted a bit more to an “American” lifestyle, wearing my own clothes at home and eating more diverse foods.”

But she explains that the lack of infrastructure has been the hardest adjustment she has to make. “There are so many cars in Dhaka and the roads are not designed to accommodate them. They also don’t have the concept of highways yet here, so it takes quite a long time to get to other parts of the country. Driving here is an adventurous undertaking! I drive a motorcycle so that I can drive around a large part of the traffic.”

Many things Bangladeshi excite Boekhoff, such as the people, the freedoms and she says, “the incredible number of opportunities there are here to create new businesses and realize ideas. The countryside of Bangladesh (outside of Dhaka) is also amazingly beautiful!”

Boekhoff misses certain aspects of our country’s culture such as good service, shopping options and the variety of foods available as well as orderly traffic but does not see her-self returning anytime soon, other than to visit. She enjoys the quality of her life compared to living in New York City in a small apartment. In Dhaka she lives in a “palatial three bedroom, three bathroom apartment in the nicest area of town. I don’t miss doing my own laundry and cleaning my own house (everyone here has a maid)”

Have you ever dreamed of going south of the border to Mexico? More and more Americans are retiring to areas in Mexico where the cost of living is cheap but they can still easily travel across the border. After living for many years in New Orleans and partly due to growing weary of the political climate in the US and partly due to Buck’s chosen industry and regulations he was unhappy about; Elayne and Buck Angel packed it in and moved to Merida, Mexico.

Elayne Angel, is a writer and the author of, The Piercing Bible—The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing and also writes a monthly Q&A column for a body art trade publication. “Much of what we do on a daily basis can be handled from home on our computers, but we do travel back for work and to visit family regularly,” she explains.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Mexico in general. Elayne expressed what their concerns were: “That it was dangerous here and that we would be missing a lot of the comforts of “home” in the US. We were able to see that there is virtually no violent crime in our area (unlike the border towns, Mérida is not a hotbed of drug-related violence.) We found that we felt very comfortable and extremely safe here, and didn’t miss much at all. We have local stores that include Costco, Walmart, Sears, Office Depot, Home Depot, and so on. Many common creature comforts are available here.”

The couple also had concerns about how people would perceive them. “We’re both heavily tattooed and I have a lot of visible piercing so we don’t look like your average ex-pats. We were delighted to find that our Yucatecan neighbors were very welcoming and seemed less judgmental than most Americans! Naturally they’re curious and interested because we look different. As soon as we smile, we show ourselves to be in the category of “friend” not “foe” and they are very accepting.”

Elayne expressed how surprised they were, at how comfortable they felt in their new surroundings, stating that they felt quite comfortable and at home right away, even though many things are different in Merida. She also talks about a Mexican tradition which may seem strange to any American: “I’d read online (during my intensive research about relocating to Mexico) about the possibility of a caretaker or maid that was employed by the previous owner, and it is appropriate to continue their employment when you purchase the property. Well, our house “came with” a family, and my husband and I weren’t accustomed to having such help. It didn’t take long at all to become used to it though. We’re utterly spoiled by them: they take care of everything for us, and our pool, grounds, and home. Our food is cooked, our laundry is washed, and our pets well attended to by a very loyal family that has become an extension of our own. It is a wonderful win/win situation that we are all very happy about. (Apparently they weren’t treated quite so kindly by their previous employers.)”

Elayne says, “Even though I didn't speak Spanish before relocating, I learned quickly through immersion. Still, the language barrier has proved to be frustrating at times.”

They also miss the variety of ethnic foods available in the U.S. compared to Merida. She explains some of the other things that took some acclimation. “Some of the infrastructure is different, but not that difficult to adjust to. The gas is delivered in a truck that fills a tank on our roof, and we don’t drink the tap water or even use it to brush our teeth. The climate here is extremely hot and humid and took some getting used to (for my husband, anyway). We got sick several times the first year as we got adjusted to the new environment. But there never was a moment when we regretted our decision to move here.”

But all in all, they are really happy. They have a fantastic standard of living. “We own a beautiful estate and have a domestic staff. We couldn’t afford a luxurious lifestyle like this in the United States. In fact, in Southern California, we couldn’t have purchased a one-car garage for what our property here cost us! We like that the people are warm and friendly. We’re amazed at the good quality and extremely reasonable cost of medical care here, too. We also enjoy acting like tourists (when we have the time). The area has so much to see including incredible ancient Mayan ruins, cenotes, beaches, haciendas, colonial cities, and more. Oh, and we LOVE the VIP cinema; it has fully reclining leather seats, and they serve you everything from sushi to martinis at your seat. Very pleasant!

What they don’t miss: “...the traffic, and we don’t miss haughty attitudes and pretentiousness that are common in the US... we don’t miss the culture of planned obsolescence and excessive consumption. Our lifestyle here is simpler and greener—everything that can be reused is passed along to someone. Very little is thrown away. We grow all kinds of wonderful fruits on our property. It is amazing (coming from the urban atmosphere of the French Quarter) to eat fresh food from our own yard!” Though, not unlike the other people interviewed they do miss some of the conveniences such as access to shopping, particularly for clothing.

Elayne added, “We have income from outside of Mexico, so we were able to get FM-3 visas that permit us live here, travel freely back and forth, and bring down a load of household goods.”

All of these expatriates do heed a word of caution to anyone who desires to follow in their footsteps: Do your homework, visit the country and keep an open mind. “[Mexico] It isn’t the same as the U.S. and you have to be able to accept that. It isn’t for everyone,” stated the Angel’s.

Kristin Boekhoff offers, “You have to have a pioneering spirit to live in a country like Bangladesh. You need to be able to live without things (like your favorite brand of cereal) and need to be comfortable being completely immersed in another culture that is very different from your own. Here you also need to have patience, because everything happens in its own time and things do not run as efficiently as in the U.S.” She continues, “Visit the country, meet other expats there and ask questions about what the lifestyle is like. They can also help you with things like finding an apartment, setting up your household, etc.”

And if you are wondering: Are the rumors of a global economic crisis true in the farthest reaches of the globe, and if so, do they blame us? Each of the expatriates were able to provide some insight to how things are, at least in France, England, Bangladesh and Mexico. And yes, I am sorry to say, but yes, some of the fingers are pointed directly at the U.S.

“The economic crisis does not really seem to have hit Bangladesh in a major way yet. There was a huge hike in food prices a year and a half ago though. Also, I think that now some of the garment factories (one of the largest industries in Bangladesh) are starting to be hit by some of the American and European companies who are cutting back orders and demanding lower costs,” concludes Boekhoff. “The poor are definitely the most affected. When you only make $1 a day, if the food prices double you are in big trouble. The garment workers also will be affected by the decrease in demand of product by the foreign buyers.”

In France, both Mary McKenzie and Mona F. responded similarly that the French economy has been hard hit. Unemployment is rampant across the country. But apparently the French are also less dependent on credit and more rigorous with their mortgage process. “When we bought our home in 2007, the mortgage process was very rigorous, and we needed a significant amount to put down. And most French pay for purchases with debit cards—credit cards are actually not as easy to obtain as they are in the U.S.,” explained Mona.

McKenzie stated, “I live in a tourist town so obviously, the local economy has been drastically affected…people can't afford to come on holiday anymore...It seems like everyone's leaving town—locals who have lived here for years, working in the tourist industry, are suddenly finding themselves without work.”

In England, where they are most vocal about the state of things and who they blame (that being the global financial industry as well as Former PM Tony Blair and our former President, G.W. Bush). Dori P. confirmed, “There have been many job layoffs. Each time that we go into town, we see yet another store which has had to close due to the downturn. The Honda plant here in Wiltshire had to close down for four months in order to survive and has only recently re-opened.”

“I’ve heard some pretty harsh words against the Bush administration and their policies,” Elayne expressed. And, Elayne and Buck Angel, cannot help noticing that more and more people, from the U.S., and across the globe, are retiring to a more affordable life in Mexico, which they attribute to the economic downturn.

So if you are itching to make the switch and make a run for any U.S. border be certain to think hard about where your fantasy destination is and do your homework, consider your financial situation and be prepared for a life without all this country has to offer on a daily basis, despite our government, despite the economy and despite your wanderlust because these stories may make it seem rosy, but the grass is not always greener.

*Some names have been changed at the request of the participant.

Photos courtesy of: E. Angel (Mexico pics), K. Boehkoff for Panigram Resort, Flickr