I recently had a conversation with an American expat living in Nicaragua that led to some personal revelations about the issue of what we (Brenda and I) identify as.
Just to put your minds at rest, we’re not talking about gender here.
The conversation was in reference to Westerners working and/or having a business in a country like Nicaragua or Paraguay. My amigo felt that it was tantamount to heresy to consider setting up a business or working in these countries. His reasoning was that to do so was to risk putting a local out of a job or competing against a local business.
Conveniently, this chap was an IT expert and derived his income online. It got me thinking, is it wrong for a Westerner to do business or work in a South American country?
Several Shades
I realized that a fundamental sticking point was that my verbal jousting partner and I were different breeds. I would describe him as either an ‘expat’ or a digital nomad’. But what do these terms really mean?
What Is an Expat or a Digital Nomad?
Without getting too technical, the general consensus is that an expat who is living in a country other than their country of citizenship. Usually, their choice to live in a foreign country is related to their employment or perhaps business activities.
Obviously, a digital nomad is a person who travels around and derives their income online.
OK, great, but the question is, what are we?
Are We Retirees?
No, we are not living it large with regular doses of pension money. However, particularly in Nicaragua, we met our fair share of expat retirees.
We Must Be Plan B’ers then?
No, we don’t fit into that box either. Paraguay is not our Plan B. It is our Plan A. If we find that we need a ‘plan B’ it will be several other places other than the place we once inhabited.
What about Foreign Investors?
Definitely not. Sure, we intend to invest in a property and have plans for some business ventures, however, the term ‘Foreign Investor’ in terms of residence is usually someone who has invested a prescribed quantity of funds in return for residence or citizenship.
Then We Must Be Refugees?
To qualify as a refugee a person must be fleeing oppression or violence.
Apparently leaving a country that is trying to force experimental gene therapies by way of threatening employment does not qualify so no, we are not refugees in the official sense.
And That Leaves ‘Migrant’ Status
Yes, that hat seems to fit.
So what is a ‘migrant.’ It is essentially a person who has left one country and moved to another country.
Simple. That is us.
Knowing What You Are Has Its Benefits
We live in strange times. Sure, there have been small, breakaway colonies from Australia and other Western countries; however, it seems we are part of a new, possibly unprecedented wave of Western migrants to South America.
On our travels we have met people who seem to be struggling with their new reality. You can get stuck in an in-between space. You have left the place you once lived but cannot come to the reality that this is your new home. Meanwhile, opportunities might be passing you by. Looking in the rear vision mirror is not the best strategy.
Returning to the Question
Is it OK, as Westerners who have moved to a ‘developing country’, open a business or take a job opportunity? Would that be an unethical or immoral thing to do?
My opinion is that it is entirely reasonable for us to do so. Not only that, if Westerners are sensitive to the realities of where they have settled they can have a tremendously positive impact on their community by starting a business or taking a job.
Take my friend that I mentioned earlier. He is an IT expert, working online. Imagine if he opened a business and employed locals. He could impart his expertise and help locals. He would pay tax in his new country which is another bonus for that country.
If he were to take a job the same applies. He would impart all that he had learnt in the USA and those around him would benefit.
His issue is that he has a scarcity mindset. If the world worked that way then no country would let migrants in.
The Benefits of Having a Local Business or Job
1. Think about networks that you have developed over the years. Often we make our best connections through our business or workplace. Having a business or job in the country where you are located gives you a connection that place that you will never be able to replicate.
2. There are several scenarios that could disrupt a persons capacity to earn an income online. Conversely, if you are working locally you are closer to the action and presumably better placed to keep the plates spinning. Also, many ‘developing countries’ rely more on cash. In hard times cash is king.
Ethical Migration
We do not intend to take anyone’s jobs or to develop businesses that directly threaten other businesses. However, we need to survive, feed our family, and pay our bills. We do not accept that it is realistic for migrants to be expected to somehow carve out a life without working and economically engaging in their new country. That does not make sense.
Is It Time to Rethink Our Perceptions?
Why is it that when Westerners move to another country they are generally called expats, but when nationals move from Africa or Asia to Western countries they are generally called migrants?
Could it be a kind of Western elitist mentality? Is it that Westerners do not like to identify as migrants? ‘Expat’ just has a more sophisticated ring to it perhaps?
Or maybe we cannot reconcile with the fact that many of our Western countries have deteriorated to a stage where the unthinkable has happened. We are now the migrants, looking for a new life and to feel free?
Sometimes the truth hurts.
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I think you may refer to yourself as a member of the growing Western Diaspora. People will be leaving the west, you guys just did it earlier.
I think you’re correct. We are hearing of many who are planning to make the move. A few years back we heard someone say ‘crash now and avoid the rush.’ Well, we haven’t ‘crashed’ but we did keep the sentiment of that message in mind. In our opinion the best time to make the move was yesterday, the second best time is today.