Holidays and House Guests
I was recently asked by a friend living in the UK: “Do expats still take holidays and if so where?” What a strange question and one I’d never considered!
So what’s the deal with expats and holidays? Do you return to your homeland to visit family and friends, explore your new country or are you still tempted to travel to foreign shores?
Some expats, having fulfilled their dream of moving abroad, may prefer to “holiday at home” – a perfect opportunity to explore their new country. For instance, Portugal has so many places to explore, from its outstanding beaches and cruises along the Douro River to city breaks in Lisbon and Porto. Not forgetting the numerous historic towns and villages such as Tavira, Obidos, Tomar and Evora, just waiting to be explored. That’s before you take into consideration the multitude of other styles of holiday on offer, like wine tours and activity holidays such as surfing, kite-surfing, horse riding and bird watching, to name but a few. Phew! I ask you, why be tempted to holiday elsewhere?”
However, if you’ve already “discovered” your new country, does the desire to holiday in a foreign land still beckon?…
Article continues here
This is an extract from my monthly column at Expat Focus – hope you will click across and leave a comment!
Piglet in Portugal 
PiP, this was an interesting post–explored several different angles. I am struggling to get it together it in my tiny part of the word, so the issues you are dealing with are “foreign” to me and probably always will be. I love hearing about your life and lifestyle and hope that so such ungrateful and boorish “friends” ever descend on your doorstep. Happy holidays, by the way.
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I’m an ex-pat, technically speaking, but of course I take holidays! Heavens, just because I relocated doesn’t mean I don’t want to go for a holiday!
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Hi Robyn, where is your homeland…was it Scotland?
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No, I was born in New Zealand, but my mother was born in Sydney Australia.
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Interesting question… Of course expats take holidays… when feasible but I enjoyed the article. 😉
TY for your patience as I have been adjusting to a changed schedule in my life … Glad to comment again. 🙂
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Hey TO,
Drop by when you can! I would also like to comment more on blogs but sometimes time just runs away with us…in fact, I don’t know where the time goes!
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We emigrated years ago from the UK to Australia and tend to holiday within Oz, because there is so much to see without going abroad. However, we did go the UK this year for a whole month to visit family and friends, and enjoyed it so much that we are planning to do it every two years. The year between we will holiday somewhere in Oz.
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Pop by Barb, in your travels – we are quite entertaining in our own way – but no freebasing please (as per Nancy’s comment!).
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Whereabouts in Oz are you? I am in Queensland on the Fraser Coast.
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Melbourne, Barb.
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Hi Barb, Oz is so vast I should imagine it would take a lifetime to explore!
I bet you found the UK a real contrast when you returned.
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When we lived in SA, we had 5 week holidays in the UK every couple of years because my husband’s retired parents were there. We would also take short breaks in SA from time to time.
It WAS a strange question. 🙂
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Hi Tilly,
I think my friend thinks we are ALWAYS on holiday 🙂
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With “friends” like that . . . who needs enemies. 😀
I had a horrible houseguest once (drunk, stoned, etc.) . . . but only for one night. In the morning, I told her to pack her bags and leave. When she wanted to debate the issue with me, I just pointed to the door. Get out!
Life is too short to put up with freeloaders (or freebasers).
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Hi Nancy, not sure she would have even lasted one night with Mr Piglet!
I looked at my friend in horror when whe was relating her experience to me of some of her house guests. told her she was TOO nice
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Christmas with family is nice….and a great tradition. But, as years have passed..being home for holidays is wonderful too…Enjoyed this Christmas article… 🙂
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Hi Penny I love Christmas with family. This year will be extra special as it’s our granddaughers first birthday!
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That was a great article. I often wondered how ex-pats handled holidays. We’re not ex-pats, but we do live a good distance from family and used to take turns with holidays visiting one or the other. But years have passed and times have changed and we rarely do the holidays away from home anymore.
The terrible friend visitors would be a nightmare and so utterly frustrating. I would be so beyond ticked off.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas holidays and article. I enjoyed it very much. 🙂
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Hey Pip I just discovered, At the top pf the download page there’s a language option. Cool. I hope it works for you.
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php
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thanks EC, there are 3 choices re downloads. Which one did you go for?
Holidays,
I try to be mindful when we are away but I’m sure we drive our SIL mad!
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I always choose cnet.com. I’m not familiar with the others.
I sure hope you can get Photoscape to work for you. I think you’d have fun and make super animations. 🙂
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Hi thanks EC – I will give it another try – where there is will and knowledge there is a way!
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