You’re living overseas and enjoying life in a new country but then something happens in that country that changes everything. Not talking about war, but maybe a public debate, a new politician on the scene, a recession, or an election. Something that flipped how you see your new home. For better or worse.
For me, living in Malaysia all was going smoothly. An amazing country. But when COVID hit, non-Malaysians really became a target. You had vaccines prioritised for Malaysians and the government using the pandemic as an excuse to round up illegal migrants to deport them. Instilling more fear at a time of fear.
I see it as two-way. I pay taxes here, spend my money here. The least I expect for this, is not to be downgraded or targeted when things get a little tough, or if some politician likes to ramp up the nationalist narrative to get elected - which results in me being heckled in the street when minding my own business. I respect all citizens of the countries I’ve worked in, and their culture and norms. But that doesn’t mean I accept being abused because of some anomaly.
Exactly. Countries spend a lot of money getting someone from birth to tax-paying employment. If you come in as a well-educated foreigner, you’re kind of a lucky catch. They don’t have to pay for your education, the first 20 years of your healthcare, they just get a whole readymade adult willing to work and pay taxes, plus they can withdraw your visa status if you do some sort of crime or become unemployed - they can’t do that with their own citizens. It’s basically the opposite of brain drain. Economically, educated expats are a great deal for a country.