I wouldn't normally push my blog, but I just so happened to write a post that addresses this very question and so seems relevant -
"Taking the 'Ex' Out of Ex-Pat"
Here's my comment to your blog post....
Expat life is not for everyone. i’ve been an expat for 25 years, 6 countries and still counting....Safe to say, I've seen many come and go. there are two categories of expats in general (not to stereotype, but you cant help but do that ) — those who are “doing their time” courtesy of megacorp moving them around the world counting down the days to go home, and those that WANT to be where they are, or at least are accepting of the differences and are open minded, making the most of the experience.
Living the expat life goes way beyond saving a few bucks on housing or utilities or food. In some cases, it’s even MORE expensive living abroad (those damn plane tickets back to “home” get expensive).
It’s not for lazy people. You have to be up for a challenge, willing to dive in and learn new things, and get your proverbial @55 kicked from time to time… The lifestyle for us has been extremely interesting and mentally stimulating.
The friends we have made share bonds with us as strong as family.
Personally we would be bored dead “sitting on the front porch rocking chair”. Even an “exciting” life in the USA seems totally boring by comparison to what we do, see, and live every day. The stimulation is fantastic. Even the most mundane days abroad are intellectually interesting…. challenging….etc.
Yes, we have “I hate XXXXX (fill in your favorite expat location_)” days from time to time — all perfectly normal and healthy —sometimes the culture shocks get to you ...just want a "normal back home day"...but alas, the grass is always greener...
truth is, I have the “I hate being back in America” days too…where there is equal incompetence....and what we expect to work flawlessly just doesnt.... eg. yesterday the dumb blond at the grocery store drives her car the wrong way down the parking lot, the droid at the post office cant work faster than a snail’s pace, the 28 year old "kid" at walmart cant make change on his own without using the computer terminal, a host of college educated people protesting god knows what and blocking traffic for miles, and 3 of our cherished military vets are standing on a street corner begging for your change because the VA kicked em to the curb. . .
It happens…
So, expat life is just simply not for everyone.
In closing - I honestly think those who are not cut out for this kind of life should not try it...because those who can’t handle the lifestyle are typically the ones who bring the rest of us down with their endless whining and complaining. Better that they stay on the porch....