Sunday, October 20, 2013

Life as an Expat in Oz:

What have changed you might ask?
Well, in Dubai, the majority of the population were expats living all together in a massive bubble, an explosion of colours, religions and languages. No one stood out. Everyone was different.

As in Australia, of course there is an expat community and a very large one but you can spot them a mile away and you don't see them often.
You cannot mingle and merge without standing out, whether it is the olive skin, the strong non-Australian accent or just merely the way you dress.

Does it bother me? Actually no, not always. It amuses me to see people's reaction when I tell them I am from Lebanon. It makes me laugh when my gym buddies propose to me to answer with a fake accent "sorry no speak the English" whenever I find myself in trouble. Not that I follow their advice!
On the other hand, my jaw drops when a stranger points out to me how well my English is! Oh, jolly jolly! My excuse is my husband is British, not that I am educated and have a B.A. in English Literature and Linguistics or anything like that...
It just takes time getting used to the change. And just keep in mind change is good.