The Expat and the Home Country

  


 Expats and the Home Country 

Expats have varying degrees of interest and involvement with their home country after moving abroad . Most will have family , friends and other interests such as TV , Sports , etc. Some will care less and some more , depending on their personal situation . And some will engage social media in regards to what their home country will do , won't do , should do .. ad nauseum...   :-)   

The Nationalistic View 

It would be fair to say , i think , that most of us take some pride and angst in regards to our home country no matter which one it is . Logical , given that's where we come from and have most of our life experience . Sure , there's good natured ribbing among expats in local venues regarding each others home base but based on my experience not taken too seriously .

My Aussie and Brit friends can and do rag about the game of Football , American style versus Football in the rest of the world style . And don't even get me started about Cricket & Baseball . Or , whether America should be or is  the protector of the free world vs the big , bad meanie that butts into everyone else's business because it's in it's best interest to do so .

Actually , i suspect that many if not most expats have enough life experience to realize there is good , bad and ugly coming out of all countries . As an American by birth i have no problem in stating that America does things i am ashamed of at times . Yet , at other times , she makes me proud , as in the recent Philippine relief effort . In the end , what is a country , but it's people . 

The Intrepid Keyboard Warrior  

Everyone knows these types . They are everywhere but most especially on social media sites . Social Media offers a platform ( free , in most cases ) to reach out and " touch someone " so to speak . These are the folks that have opinions about pretty much everything and want everyone else to know so .  :-)

Since Facebook is the media choice for most in this culture i am more familiar with the Keyboard Warrior from this venue than any other . Though i take a passing interest in what America is doing for the most part unless it effects me directly i am not so inclined . 

Of recent interest to the American expat is the subject of ObamaCare and it's impact upon expats  , hence the reference below . If you are not American the information will probably not be of interest to you . Which means , of course that you can continue to post and show photos of what you had for breakfast , lunch and dinner or whatever else strikes your fancy . But , that's the beauty of social media , is it not ?     
 
  ObamaCare or the Affordable Care Act  

The stated  purpose of ObamaCare is to give more Americans access to affordable , quality health care while reducing health care costs in America . The act contains over 1,000 pages should one care to read it all .   :-) I choose not to read it all or even a significant portion for one very simple reason .

 I remain an American citizen but i do not remain in America .  I reside in the Philippines and absent a visit to America lasting a month or more it would have no effect upon me , one way or another . That Means , NO , I will Not Be Fined For Lack Of Insurance .

In fact there are several exclusions available for Americans that do not wish to participate . For a quick look at whether you might be able to avoid the morass follow the link provided .   Affordable Care Act   http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?t=267553  

To Publish or not to Publish 

It has been a good while since i opined upon this platform in part because at times you feel you are just talking to yourself and at other times because you have other interests .  Every once in a while someone will contact you via this blog or in person regarding something of interest to them . If you have something of interest to you and wish to share , by all means ... please do ..

Happy Holidays