Overseas Exile: 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013

We're back from New York ... sort of ... (pics)

Doubtless you've noticed the lack of updates recently. This was a combination of a significant work load, lots of work last month to get out the survey results (and I still haven't posted the last part) and a business trip to New York, the latter of which was a huge amount of fun but left me a bit wiped out. I was only there for a day and couldn't get many photos and had to apologize to friends for not being able to meet up with them (you know who you are).

The New York Stock Exchange

Overseas Exile Expat Survey Results — Politics

Today is part 4 of the Overseas Exile survey results. It's all about that subject we love to hate: politics. The answers may surprise you. As usual, click on the images for larger versions.

If this is your first time reading the survey, see also:

Starting off with the last US presidential vote, 63% of expats said they voted. This contrasts with 57% of the general US population voting.

234 participants by voting in last presidential election

However, only 27% voted in their last state election. This is unsurprising as many expats care about the direction of the US but they may find a less strong affiliation at the state level.

233 participants by voting in last state election

To my surprise, only13% of US expats felt politically close to the US, with a whopping 44% saying they didn't feel close at all. I've found US expats sometimes defending US policy and trying to be informal ambassadors of the US, so I expected that the "very close" percentage would be higher.

234 participants by how they feel about how close they feel to the US

Only 9% of participants felt "very close" to the current country they were living in, while 38% didn't feel close at all. Those who felt very close to their current country were generally outside of the US longer and did not plan to return to the US.

233 participants by how close they feel to their current country

42% of respondents felt they "definitely" had more economic opportunities outside the US, with another 22% feeling they had somewhat better opportunities. Only 20% felt they did not have better opportunities outside the US.

234 participants by whether they have more economic opportunities outside the US

And I saved the most interesting for last. Only 7 out of 227 (3%) respondents identified as Republican. 123 respondents (54%) identified as Democrat. Libertarians were well-represented, but I didn't break them down by traditional Libertarian and Paleolibertarian, though judging from responses, I suspect that few would have chosen the latter.

227 participants by US political party

Of those in the "other" category, their original responses were as follows:

7 — None
5 — Independent
1 — Anarchocapitalist
1 — General leftism
1 — Independent (very left-leaning)
1 — None. All are corrupt.
1 — Reform party
1 — Somewhere between D and R
1 — They all suck
1 — They are all thieving war mongers. No plane hit WTC7.
1 — To vote is to support a failed system.
1 — Unsure
1 — Working Family
1 — depends
1 — liberal libertarian

And if you're curious, the two communists live in China and Slovenia.

If you're wondering why Republican representation appears to be so low abroad, here are a few thoughts. First, my survey is likely biased due to the readership. How that plays out, I can't say, but Republicans may be over- or under-represented here. However, I've also written about the difficulty of finding Republicans abroad. This point is hammered home by this old post from the Republicans Abroad Facebook page:

Even though the Republicans Abroad Facebook page hasn't had an update for six months (as of this writing), one person told me that Republicans Abroad actually has meetups in Paris, but that's the only significant activity I've heard of. My experience with Republicans abroad is that they generally moved abroad as part of a work transfer (banking, oil, etc.) or for love. After living outside the US for seven years, I can only recall three Republicans I've met abroad.

Of the Republicans who answered this survey, six were male and one was female. They generally lived in Europe with the exception of Thailand and Japan. One was agnostic, the rest were Christian (compared to only a quarter of the expats identifying as Christian). And their reasons for becoming an expat:

Transferred abroad for your job
Adventure
Escape US politics
Adventure
Adventure
To seek work
Love

They were also generally upper-income and fully employed (I'll cover finances in a later post).

It's also possible that Republicans simply have little interest in online surveys or, perhaps, many Republicans are transferred abroad by their jobs and don't consider themselves to be expats. Who knows? It's a topic that I'm still trying to understand, but I'll add this one caveat: I've met a number of conservative Americans living outside the US, but there's a general level of disgust amongst them for the Republican party. It's entirely possible that they simply reject the moniker, though the general tone of comments made and my personal experience suggests that Republicans are simply less likely to move abroad and those who do sometimes start to lean more to the left.

Finally, we have the answers to how US expats feel about US politics and how the feel about their local politics. These are "free form" answers for which they can type in anything they want. The answers are generally depressing.

How US expats feel about US politics:

Embarrassed
Disappointed, deceived, betrayed
U.S. politics is currently a joke.
Dysfunctional, fragmented, hostile
I hate politicians worldwide and they all pretty much make me sick.
It's idiotic and I'm glad to be away from it.
it's a mess. Until corporate money is out of politics I will try to avoid going home.
Absolutely repulsive, both main parties are butting heads all the time. Never really accomplishing anything, just shutting each other down.
Congress is a mess
I do my best to ignore it, but even non-US news sources can't seem to stop talking about it.
I'm rather ashamed of how polarized, arrogant, smallminded and self-centered the USA has become, politically speaking. I don't feel the US government represents me, or for that matter that it represents the majority of American people.
Don't pay much attention to it.
:(
It's not improving. It's soundbites and catering to the lowest common denominator, with no real difference between the two major parties. The amount of money involved in US elections would be considered corruption anywhere else. It seems like American debates are very self-contained, without reference to the rest of the world.
mother fuckers
The Tea Party is an embarrassing disgrace to America.
It's a joke
Not very good. It seems hopeless that the Dems and Reps will ever learn to work together for the common good.
Depressed. It seems so bitterly divided and ideological. Even my friends and family seem like they've drifted further from the center toward various fringes. Everyone blames each other for the current state of things, but don't seem to see the vitriol is the core of the problem. Cool heads and compromise are what's needed.
They're part of the reason I left
Apathetic
Badly
A total mess of people saying "I've got mine. Too bad for you."
Excuse my language, but perhaps it'd be best to cut off all the cocksuckers' heads.
I don't. To me, it's a bunch of politicians telling lies to people who want to hear lies. As someone who prefers to deal with reality, I don't waste my time reading the news about the US.
crap
It's a shitshow and only going to get worse. I wouldn't be surprised if they started rounding up leftists and putting them in camps like they did to the Japanese. But America was always right-wing and genocidal, so it would be nothing new.
I think that US politics is a joke, and that Obama is sociopath who belongs in prison. Before I knew this about him, I voted for him the first time he ran for office.
Completely nonsensical
2 parties, 1 set of beliefs.
cess pool full of tea.
I keep finding myself apologizing for the craziness in the US.
Disgusted.
More akin to professional wrestling than so-called "leaders of the free world".
Frustrating
Meh. Not the least bit interested. I see the highlights on telly I guess.
Major train wreck. Please note that I did not vote in the last presidential election due to being disenfranchised by the state of mississippi- they refuse to send me ballots unless my lawyer requests them.
It is just a mess...
Awful. It's awful.
I feel the US is totally ignoring the 7 million of us who live abroad, and I'm so thankful for HR 597, a bill to establish a commission in Americans abroad. However, we Yanks abroad are terrible about coming together and being one voice for our needs.
It is a messed up system. It's embarrassing.
Being abroad, it's like watching two children throw a temper tantrum. It disgusts me how the US portrays themselves to other countries. It really is a nation divided, and that will absolutely be their downfall. Rather than democrats and republicans working together to fix things and save the country as a whole, they're fighting over who has the biggest cajones. Ridiculous.
A train wreck.
It's fucking crazy.
They are a disaster, but any one who tries to fool themselves it is better in Europe has not been reading the news. There are just as many whackjobs and idiots in power.
It is a disaster ruled by the greater polarization of both parties, an inability and/or unwillingness to compromise, and the persecution of the poor and middle class by the rich through political donation.
ugh.
dysfunctional and scary
Crazy. Arguing about non-issues and making everything a big deal without getting anything done. Shouldn't even be called 'politics', it's embarrassing.
We're fucked.
A complete disaster.
If you've ever watched the South Park episode Giant Douche Vs. Turd Sandwich it explains how I feel. Also, I'm definitely feeling like renouncing my citizenship to the recent NSA scandals.
I'm honestly totally disgusted by them. I do my best to keep up with the news but it's difficult to listen to what's happening.
Let's just say I'm glad I'm here and not there.
Gridlock
Obama is a lying bitch.
Myopic and delusional.
An improvement from the former regeim but not where I would want it to be. Would like to see more progressive liberal reforms.
What a mess
Embarrassing
It's a sh*tshow (excuse my French) In no other system in the world are there two parties so directly adjacent on the spectrum of political philosophy who are so adamant about not working with eachother. In Italian politics, you see Neo-Fascists working with Communist-leaning parties. In the US the Right Wing can't get along with the Slightly Less Right Wing. It's sickening.
Indifferent
frustrated
They are insane, bought and paid for by corporate interests, and too far gone to change.
Crazytown
Insane.
Garbage.
Republicans are crazy
Criminals bought out by corporate interests.
Embarrassed.
They suck, but politics suck in general.
The government is a disaster and all of our elected officials should be ashamed of themselves. I will strangle anyone who votes for an incumbent in next year's elections.
Run away
Shit's fucked up, but if everyone who thinks that jumps ship, then nothing will ever change--that's democracy. This is why I am unwilling to give up my US citizenship and voting rights.
I feel that they are selfish and arrogant. That the people in power currently believe that their actions have no consequences and that they are free to act without impunity.
Not great, not as bad as people on reddit, and particularly on r/Iwantout like to act.
I'm Embarrassed to be an American especially overseas. Because of the wars, NSA, lies, etc. I'm glad to see the libertarian movement is slowly gaining speed.
Ugh.
The two party system reigns supreme and isolates all others (by "others" I mean and an increasing number of young people). I'm hoping the downward spiral leads to revolution and/or true change. Maybe then I'll go back.
Same shit, different day
Disgusted. Each day I feel I made the right decision to leave and do not understand what is happening in the US. I feel bad for my family and friends which I left behind and worry how their lives will be impacted.
Disdainful
bad
I actively avoid US politics. I obviously can't help running into news stories about the US, and when I do it makes me never want to return.
Very dissatisfied and jaded. I don't think it's going to improve anytime soon, either.
self-destructive
It's a mess and it's embarrassing.
Train wreak.
Shit. Two-party system that just are one party (at the national level) that push private and corporate interests.
It's embarrassing.
It's soul-crushingly disappointing to see the juvenile tactics pulled by Tea Party Republicans in response to the Affordable Care Act.
it's a mess
It's a right fucking ballsup
embarrassed by them.
Disgusted. It's the only thing keeping me from moving back
I think US politics are going down the drain
Meh
There are problems, but I don't thinkt he country is going to implode or anything like that. I expect it to be more or less the same (for better or worse) when I return.
Bleh. No interest.
Ashamed.
Complete and utter shit. Our country is ran by greedy corporations with no thought to spare for the well being of the People.
Very cynical
Congress needs to be lined up and shot. In the legs, at least.
It's a mess, but so are all these other areas. I think we're making good progress towards a more open society and one that includes those from all races. With the age of the internet, openness is becoming a hot topic in the US. I actually find states like Washington and California to be far more progressive than most of the Euro countries I've visited. Don't even get me started on Asian countries and their conservatism.
suck
The US is a basket case that can't agree on anything, even if it meant its existence depend on it (and it does).
It's embarassing. The system is rigged to allow a choice between two parties who are equally bad for different reasons. People always point to China and India as examples of countries with serious political corruption, and they are, but the US has a significant problem of corruption at the very top. Lobbying is a bad idea, as is concentrating so much power at the federal level. Decentralized power makes it more expensive to fund corruption. also the current nonsense about Stazi era spy techniques and giving military tactics and equipment to Legal Enforcement Officers is disconcerting.
Idiocracy.
Idiocracy.
eeek.
So over it..
Overall, frustrated and exasperated. Almost every step forward (what I consider "forward", at least) seems either matched by a step backward or challenged again by (can't help but say it) Tea Party Republicans.
Both sides suck but I am liberal and I want my vote to count so I vote Democrat.
Not enough time or room to go into this issue.
Disaster and not enough people in that country care to take action
The U.S. Has become a repressive country.
A mess but at the point where changes might happen
It is what it is.
Like an outsider.... It's appalling.
Upset, worried, disappointed
Get rid of all the idiots in the Republican party
The government is not working due to stand offs rather than governing. Obama cannot govern as he would like because of extreme republicans,
Sick
Disgusted
What a mess.
It's a clusterfuck.
At the time of taking this survey, the Congress had just finished waging war against the Affordable Health Care Act, and anything else remotely related to President Obama. The resulting shutdown was disgraceful and irresponsible. Most of the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the Republican party, whose members will do anything to trip up the Obama administration. I watch from afar and cannot believe the divisiveness and polarization in the US, with most of it spread by a large segment of the population that remains intentionally ignorant of the world at large. I am still very proud to be American, and I would never dream of renouncing my citizenship, but sometimes I scarcely recognize my country. It is very, very saddening at times.
I am appalled by the polarization and lack of civility in US politics.
It's based on the population being mostly uneducated and full of hate.
Not to good!
Broken!
disaster
*fart noises*
Discouraged.
It is a particularly low time in American politics. Americans have become so divided and agressive with those who don't think as they do. It also seems that Congress is not productive, and works harder for American corporations than for the well-being of the average American citizen. It is also time to limit the campaigning period for elections and money spent for such campaigns. In addition, it is time for the FDA to get serious about food inspections and labeling, and for Congress to stop enabling Monsanto. I could go on, but you get the picture.
They're horrible.
clusterf---K
Pathetic.
I'm glad Obama's in the White House. I'm disgusted with the Republicans, and with Wall Street, and big corporations that basically run things and pay their workers pennies. (McDonalds, supermarket chains, etc.)
BS
Embarrassingly disgraceful
Ridiculously partisan and a bit too far to the right.
It sickens me
A discraceful mess.
a complete mess
Disappointed. It has become too polarized between the right and the left.
worried
US politics are dysfunctional and highly corrupt.
right direction
The health care situation in USA is dismal. I had three babies in Canada and the only cost was paying the parking meter overnight. In USA I hear a kid costs thousands of dollars.
Hard to see my home country so bitterly and completely divided.
The US' reputation is awful because of the policies instituted and followed by the past two presidential administrations.
sickening
I have not been following US politics all that closely in these years but I am always happier when there are democrats in the White House. I think that the US has it's problems, but there is hope for the future.
Very depressed about the wrangling and unwillingness to seek solutions in common to the country's serious problems.
Incredibly frustrated
Make guns illegal
It's a huge mess which needs to be cleaned up.
Haters in american Government and racist in American politics.
In a word: disgusted. There's not much more that can even be said.

And how they feel about their local politics. I deliberately did not match these with the above answers to avoid providing too much identifying information. However, you'll note that many of the responses strike a more positive tone.

Ambivalent
I do not know enough to make an informed statement about this topic.
Dutch politics, and society as a whole, is *far* too racist. It feels like a socially acceptable version of Apartheid.
the adults are running the show and doing the best they can
Corrupt, incompetent thieves.
Looking pretty bad right now as new Prime Minister (Tony Abbott) is confirming the worst of my fears about him.
I am not pleased with the financially conservative bent of the current president, but she's at least a woman.
Not too much better, to be honest. A little too politically correct to manage the country the way it should be. Loving the relative lack of gun violence, though. Good law system there.
Not much better than US situation, however I don't have voting privileges and therefore don't worry too much about it.
I don't really know the Swedish political landscape that well, but I have a generally positive impression from what I do know of it.
This country has issues like everyone else, especially given the current unstable world climate. But I feel this country's government is held more accountable for its actions, and is likely more responsive because of that.
Conflicted.
Politics are influenced far too much by religion and there's also a rather insular view that comes from being economically powerful. I much prefer country #2 to country #3.
bullies
Headed in the same direction in the US.
Not very good; The Netherlands seems to be becoming more like the USA all the time. But it's still a coalition government and parties realize they have to work together to make things work.
Finland is a pretty homogeneous country so there isn't a lot of political drama. There seems to be a good deal of transparency, and the political discourse is mostly civil.
They're part of the reason I want to be in a different section of this country!
Apathetic
Mixed
No real leadership.
Chile and the U.S. are remarkably similar in that there is a two-party control on that nation, and no matter which side you vote for nothing ever really changes for the better for poor or middle class.
Fairly positive (at least, as positive as I feel about any government). The government mostly leaves people alone in their day-to-day lives, and I approve of that. There was a recent election of a new President, and there's some hope that we'll see some much-needed infrastructure projects starting. I'm also slightly positive on a personal level, since they want to improve the IT industry here, which may open up some opportunities for me.
somewhat less crap
Sadly gone way downhill since Mao's death, possibly beyond reform. China is steadily becoming imperialist, but while I don't support its turn down the capitalist road, I would side with China over my home country if it came down to it because the US is the number one force of destruction in the world today. I'm highly critical of Chinese politics, but not quite with the same angry dismissal I have of US politics.
Have no knowledge of it.
Not great, but more organized than the US
Lots of tribalism.
In total disarray.
Disgusted.
Corrupt and out of touch with working people.
Slightly less frustrating
Also meh. It's pretty ridiculous. I do rather enjoy watching the debates in the House of Lords. It amuses me to see a bunch of entitled people argue the fate of common people..
Switzerland is great.
I am not completely sure of all the current details of the Dutch government to be completely honest. I really am not a fan of politics.
They have more than two parties, so that's a start.
Ok, same as in the US
I need to learn more about it. But in general, things seem to work well and to be in the interest of the people.
All British and Scottish parties are retarded
I've only been here a short time, so I don't know too much. It seems....quiet? I suppose. Like things are mostly just running along here unaided. I may be wrong, but that's my current interpretation.
A train wreck.
Retarded.
Pretty shitty people hijacked Thatcher's funeral. I care what she did to Wales, but let her family grieve. Otherwise, Theresa May is a moron.
also ugh.
functional but closed to foreigners
Good question. Corrupt as all hell but everybody's so used to politicians being useless that nobody pays any attention to the government at all. It's mostly people mud-slinging and passing laws without mentioning them.
We're all fucked.
Fully functional.
Harper is just an idiot but not enough of one to mess too much up.
The Czech Republic is very corrupt, also, and I know there are a lot of problems here too.
It's a mess, but at least the average French liberal's political opinions align far better with my own opinions than what the average US democrat stands for. Also, in France it feels like some of those values are better realized here in the political system than all the posturing (and little results) that happen in the US.
Seems like a good system, but it's rather complicated.
Troubled between the royalists and the communists
Don't care.
Would like to get rid of the current regeim in the next election and replace it with a social democrat government (shift to the left).
Less of a mess
Even more embarrassing. Also potentially catastrophic for Kosovo.
I am pretty uninformed.
Indifferent
dissappointed
They are still politics, but there still seems to be accountability to the people, and flexibility for change.
Likely as crazy town but with a distinct kimchi flavor
Some bad points but overall a much better state.
I don't know enough to comment - one perk of living abroad (easier to stay out of political puppet games).
Much to learn, sad rightward shift.
The same, but to a lesser extent. They are held more accountable.
Better than the U.S.
They suck.
It seems to be going ok, they're about as obnoxious as any national government I guess.
Storm in a teacup
I don't like Merkel. I don't like how people like Merkel just because they think she's this nice motherly lady who's some expert leader. She's against extending rights to the LGBTQ community, she was complicit in the NSA's affairs until it affected her personally, she has called multiculturalism in Germany a failure... but she has this cult of personality; people call her "Mutti" (mama). It's really disappointing and I wish people would think a little more critically.
Of course they are selfish, but they are not without knowing that their actions will have consequences for them and for the country that they govern.
Shitty. Here for work, won't stay more than a year or a little bit more.
I don't follow them closely. It's almost hopeles here. Lots of corruption. I'm sure their on the wrong path.
Complicated but makes more sense.
Italy is a non-issue as far as politics to me. I followed it when Beppe Grillo was active, but he was also the same as all the others.
Corruption then, corruption now, corruption continues.
The situation is also having difficulties, but as I do not have the right to vote, I do not focus too much on the politics.
Neutral
most things were better ten years ago, was worse two years ago and will probably be much better ten years from now
It is still very complicated to me, I have only learned what they taught me in class. From what I understand, there are still many problems here and change is one of the things they have the hardest time with. I am sure when I find out more about it and get to know the language better, I will be disappointed, but I don't think I could ever be as disappointed as I am with America.
I admittedly don't know enough as I should, but I don't really find any politicians or governments likable. I'd say that the German government is at least less corrupt than the US.
corrupt
It's pretty bad, but not as bad as the US. I just don't like our current PM, but overall the system seems to work.
Also a train wreak.
Don't know to much, but lots of bickering over petty things.
Also, embarrassing.
I don't feel I know enough about my current country's politics to give an informed response. From what I've heard of Shinzo Abe and the LDP, their return to power is unfortunate. While I'm definitely disillusioned about politics back home, I *do not* feel I'm running away from corruption by coming here. The grass is *never* greener, but it is different. I think I like this variety of different.
also a mess
Meh.
horrified.
5% better than the US. Canadians are way more ignorant of their own politics than the states (if that's believable)
China has a lot of room for improvement, no doubt. But as immigrants to the US believed in the US during the industrial revolution; I believe in China!
Meh
For the most part, I feel positively, but I also don't have an intimate understanding of the politics and understand that there are problems here as well.
Bleh bleh bleh. Keep me out of it.
Completely bewildered.
It's not that best but it's sure as hell the lesser of two evils.
I'm worried about it.
On the verge of the unknown. It's a micro-state that relies heavily upon being a tax haven. They've now promised to release the names of those hiding money in their country, so people are expecting the banks to leave town. After that they'll have some industry, but losing half of your main source of jobs will def. hurt the local economy. Most Luxembourgish citizens work for the government and funds will soon dry up.
Everywhere has their problems.
The ruling party is too entrenched.
Singapore's politics are very orderly. The country is so small the government is able to be very responsive. Corruptions seems quite low, probably in one part because the ruling family has significant financial resources already, and in another part because the island is so small and lacks any natural resources, there's little for large corporations to target. Elections seem to lack significant choice, but I'm actually inclined to agree with the ruling party's assertion that that is due to a lack of enough talent to produce multiple viable parties, and as such anyone with competent political skills tends to just join the ruling party rather than try to rock the boat by founding a new party.
Not for me to judge. I'm a guest.
Not for me to judge. I'm a guest.
even worse
Silly.
I'm only just learning about the most current issues, but many seem to be very similar to the U.S. There's even a new bill here that would pretty dramatically affect collective bargaining and I found that quite interesting after signing petitions and voting in Ohio to prevent its legislative efforts to weaken unions. And the tension between environmental protection efforts and development is quite familiar as well.
Both sides are terrible, imagine one side called The Tea Partiers and the other side called The Useless, ruining the country. Both sides are 20x more corrupt than in the US, which says much.
It appears to be slowly starting to follow in the footsteps of the US/Capitalist model.
Disaster but at least we can get 10% of the population marching on the street when the government starts to get really obnoxious
Dysfunction.
It is time for a shifting back of the current party's run.
haha Czech politics are funny and and their drunk president is always good for a few laughs.
Equally appalling.
The government is living up to the low expectations I had, even beyond.
Don't get me started
The economic crisis is causing some return to racism, extreme conservatism, etc. the governement cannot function well due to world wide economic crisis caused by a few wealthy who have taken over the power all over the world due to deregulation rules. People feel helpless.
Depressed
France is even worse.
It's also a clusterfuck.
I voted for Hollande because I could not abide Sarkozy and his corruption, but I am disappointed by Hollande's lack of backbone.
The political system encourages people to not want to be rich.
Unhappy
disaster
*louder fart noises*
Removed.
While I consider myself to the left in the US, I feel like a mix of right and left in France. Despite my leftist sympathies, for most French socialists, I am not left enough. While I support many of the social and cultural programs in France and am very grateful for its healthcare program, I sometimes feel that leftists in France think that money grows on trees and that the philosophy should always be give, give, give to every cause, while the American practical side of me questions where that money is supposed to come from and how there will be enough to support those programs in the future. I also feel very American when it comes to the French habitual love of strikes. I think such strikes very often shoot their nation in the foot, wasting tons of money and inconveniencing everyone. In my own way, I feel very attached to both France and the US, and am not happy when the well-being of either nation is in jeopardy. I have not lived in Tunisia as long, but I appreciate the country and its people, and wish nothing but the very best for it, too.
Much better than the U.S.
don't like the government, but it's the best one we have
More hopeful.
I'm aligned most with the left (SP), but since I can't vote I'm basically powerless. (I'm only allowed to be in a "registered partnership," which has different rules than if I were married and in a heterosexual relationship.) When I met my partner it would not have been legal for her to stay in the US (I'm a woman), thus the move to Switzerland. that's recently changed, but seemingly only on a case-by-case basis.
no idea
Socialist mindset and of course doesn't work, even in tiny Finland.
I feel it is going downhill fast.
I don't really keep track of it
Status quo.
Horrible.
a complete mess
The Dutch medical and social welfare are moving to the levels of the US.
disgusted
There is plenty of room for improvement, but I believe the system is much more conducive to self correction than the US system. There is however, a bit too much collective government in Canada.
wrong direction
I would never borrow money from China to pay for my house mortgage. I do not understand why USA would borrow trillions of dollars to finance wars.
Feel more positive about its multiparty system and its requirements that government representatives MUST compromise to get anything done.
Simply awful. I do not see things getting better in the US in my lifetime.
sickening
I feel that Italy's politics ruin the country. There seems to be no hope for change here and people seem much more resigned to accept the corruption and political ridiculousness. I don't think there is much hope for the future of Italy politically or economically because things get bogged down in corruption and bureaucracy.
Derisive. The French have their heads in the sand.
Unimpressed, but less affected
They made guns illegal. NHS. Welfare state. These are good things America won't have.
It's a huge mess which needs to be cleaned up.
Curing in some ways but money talks.
Generally, we're happy with Sweden, enjoy the quirks some things can come with, but also really respect the system. Yes, the taxes are astronomical, but there's little question that it gets put to good use.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Overseas Exile Expat Survey Results — Emotions

Today's summary of expat results revolves around expat's emotional responses to being an expat. In other news, I'm learning more about Excel's pivot tables and am doing a better job labeling them. As usual, click on imagine for a larger picture.

See also:

Fully three quarters of expats are very or somewhat happy to be an expat. Only 15% of expats are somewhat or very unhappy.

234 participants by how happy they feel being an expat

Regarding homesickness, only 4% reported feeling homesick "very often", while 58% reported "never" or "seldom". That's a bit of a surprise to me because while I fall in the "seldom" category, I have often heard from expats who claim to be homesick. I suspect what's going on is that those who are homesick are more likely to talk about it, thus biasing my experience (which is why doing survey's helps keep a check on "gut instinct").

Also, most who said they were "very often" homesick had been outside the US less than two years. However, one person with 15 years outside the US and another with 11 years outside the US responded that they felt homesick very often. Thus, while length of time outside the US clearly reduces homesickness, it's not a guaranteed antidote.

234 participants by how often they feel homesick.

Loneliness was also interesting. Only 8% of people felt "very lonely". Again, this is a common complain of expats, but it's again possible that only those who feel this issue are vocal about it.

233 participants by loneliness

For "what do you miss most about the US", this was hard because you could select multiple items. After separating them out, we had 481 responses. Family and friends were what people really missed. Only 1% chose "nothing".

481 responses to "what do you miss about the US?"

Regarding "would you recommend being an expat to other Americans?", the overwhelming response was "yes", though many answered "it depends". Only 3 out of 234 respondents said "no". Of course, saying "no" would suggest that you, yourself, made a mistake. It's a given that people don't like to admit making mistakes, so this could be biased, even if it's unintentional.

234 participants by "would you recommend being an expat?"

The "how do you feel about your life as an expat" question was a freeform text field and generally answers were positive, though not always. Here's a sampling of answers:

I'm happy here. I don't really think of myself so much as an expat.; I don't seek out other expats. I am integrated into the community and have a good group of friends and have a good life here.

I don't care for the country where I am currently living, but I can always move again when I finish this job. I like having vacation time and working only 40 hours a week; this ensures a high quality of life. I also like knowing my medical needs will be met.

I still consider myself a US citizen and take the time to study issues before voting in elections. I am frequently frustrated by the annoyance of trying to maintain my driver's license (which I need when I visit the US, although not in Europe), which requires me to use my last state of residence and fight about it every time. I'm especially frustrated by the tax situation. I have linguistic and family ties to the US which make me not want to give up my citizenship, but I may have to in order to prepare for my future.

I love it. I have a work life balance that would be very hard to achieve in the US.

America looks different from outside. Americans should leave so they can see themselves.

I love Finland, but because of the language it's hard to integrate and find a job.

My circumstances are no where near normal. Every wrong turn that could possibly made has been at this point, which is why things are going poorly. Life here [Spain] isn't terrible, but the bureaucracy is atrocious.

I love the adventure but I am excited to return home.

I left a relatively high-paying IT job in the US, which allowed me to live a pretty nice lifestyle. I haven't been able to get my income back up to the point yet where I can live a similar lifestyle, so that's kind of frustrating. I also need to improve my language skills. I can generally function in society, but am not at the point where I can really talk about deep intellectual issues, or make the kind of friends I had back in the US. I've also gotten tired of most of the other expats I've met. I don't know if it's just the countries I've lived in (Uruguay and Paraguay), but I can't say I've been impressed with most of the other expats I've met. I meet the paranoid delusionals, who move overseas to get away from the "chemtrails and earthquake machines that the global elite are using as part of their massive de-population plan". Or, they're here on a three-year assignment and aren't really looking at the country the same way I do (as a permanent future home). It's definitely not the Josephine Bakers and Ernest Hemingways that I had hoped I'd meet. But overall, I'm a much more relaxed and happier person.

I enjoy it but am grateful for things I once took for granted.

I still love it to pieces, but I recently split with my boyfriend (British). Since all of my family is in the US, and now this, I just feel more lonely than I have in a while. I still have my friends and such here, but it is still hard. But no part of my wants to flee back to the States at all. I want to keep travelling

A great adventure in a land that has adopted me. I feel so fortunate for the experience

I am happier than I've ever been, despite the hardships and stress of establishing yourself in a new country.

I fucking hate Scotland especially Aberdeen

Mostly good, homesickness goes in waves.

It's a bit skewed because here in the UK it's not difficult. As an expatriate where I didn't speak the local language - Hungary and Estonia - it fluctuated. Some days were great, other days I felt crippling loneliness. I'm currently very happy. I am in a long-term relationship with the man I want to spend my life with. After our years in Estonia, it is a respite to be back in the UK.

Wish I could afford to go home more often, but I know home will always be there and my time abroad is limited (due to work conditions) so I have to enjoy it now.

It's just life.

Honestly Canada isn't that much different but due to the healthcare I feel Ihave a better quality of life. I've run into multiple hospital visits that I know would have put me into debt for my whole life that thanks to the healthcare I'm actually doing fine.

I am very happy with it. I'm able to have an interesting job here. In the U.S., I was bored and couldn't find work that challenged me. I have a fantastic community here. I do miss home, but I would most definitely rather be here.

I definitely miss home, and cannot wait to return.

Mostly good but I do miss my family and feel guilty about not being home more often. Feel that I may someday regret being unable to make it home for christmas or a family runion. When I head back to my adopted country I never know when or if I will see my older relatives again. Sad but its life.

I love it here, but I am not sure I would spend my whole life here. I think I will be happy to go home eventually.

Generally happier but I would personally have a higher standard of living in the US.

I do it now for the money mostly. When I left the US in 2011 it was to escape the US and get a better job. But it's great not being in the US because of its politics.
I'm in Papua new Guinea now and it's a rough place. But my job is great, Pay is great and I get to leave PNG often. It's a perfect job except for living in Papua New Guinea.

Happy with my decision to leave, but still difficult to be so far from family, especially as they age. I enjoy my life much more in my new country, but face challenges with the language. Furthermore, my career is going well but I would have more opportunities in my home country.

I am happier than I have ever been. America wasn't a bad place to live, but Japan's cultural and moral values fit me better as a person. I also love being able to explore a new culture and learning the language has been a rewarding challenge that I am happy to work hard at every day.

I'm having the time of my life, but it can also be very lonely.

It is what I want, I feel fulfilled. It can be tough but it is worth it.

other countries are much less friendly towards immigrants, if not downright hostile and explicitly racist.
but there is a higher standard of living in Europe, so even on a lower salary, life is in some ways better.

I have a girlfriend who lives overseas, which makes life considerably more difficult. I am working as an ESL teacher straight of out University because I sought the travel and world experience, as well as personal development. My social circle is limited to about 5 other native speakers. I sometimes feel very lonely and depressed. I enjoy teaching my classes and, when I have put a lot of effort into my work, experience the thrill of fulfillment. I like the food and the city where I live. I am a theatre graduate who had planned to move into another field (not knowing which) after graduating, but being abroad in a city with almost no theatre at all, I've begun to realize that the theatre is where I really want to be.

Sometimes, I feel like I am still living in America - just another city in America where nobody speaks English. I can call, text, and Skype all of my friends with ease. At this point, I realize that getting the experience that I'd hoped for is my own choice.

My job affords me a lifestyle that would be unavailable to me if I were living in the US due to costs of owning and operating a car, paying rent, paying for overpriced health insurance and whatnot.

Once you give up the novelty of living in a different country one has to start building a life. It's somewhat difficult when you're an expat, because you find yourself only being befriended or befriending other expats. Even with a strong grasp on the local language, you will still never be local and never treated as such.
I've lived in Europe for quite some time now and consider Germany to be my 2nd home. However, it blows my mind how out of touch people are with nature. I grew up gardening, hunting and camping. Even activities as an adult have me outside quite a bit, but I find that my time in Europe is spent mainly in cities..eating food and drinking. I've yet to meet anyone my age that has done any of those things listed. I definitely have a higher quality of life in the U.S. than I ever did as an expat in Luxembourg or Germany.

It's mostly good. I have a great support netowrk as I work at a large company that employs people from all over the world. Also I was married to my wife for many years in the US before I left, so her family and I were already quite close. It's not the traditional lonely foreigner situation at all. I miss the freshness of the food in America as Singapore is a tiny island where everything must be imported. Mostly I just miss my friends and family when I think of the US. Everyone speaks english as a first language in Singapore so it's not very isolating. I'm considering moving to China for a more authentically foreign experience.

I want it to continue for as long as possible.

I love meeting new people and getting out and seeing the world. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing with my life but I am only 23 and I really enjoy the choices I have made so far.

A means to an end..... It has made me appreciate The United States more than I did when I left.

Good for people who are unconventional and don't want a family/house/roots

I am very content, especially since I have many American friends who are also living in France long-term. I don't consider myself an "expat" since I am well integrated into life in my adopted country.

Exicting, many opportunities to explore, but sad that so many Americans have misconceptions about countries and cultures around the world.

I'm torn between staying (I love my partner) and going back. I'm not fulfilled at work, and it's a major factor in my unhappiness. (I'm an English teacher at a language school.) It's been difficult for me to decide whether to go back to school, since the main language would be German. (I'm not sure I could succeed, even though my German verbal isn't bad.) I understand the grass is always greener, and somehow I think it would be easier for me to have a job and go to school in the US -- but then I'd be without my partner. ugh.

Big mistake.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Overseas Exile Expat Survey Results — Living Abroad

This is the second entry in my Overseas Exile 2013 US Expat Survey results. Click here for the first entry, covering "Personal Information" about expatriates. Click on any image to see a larger version.

The second part to the survey was about "life abroad". Slightly more than half of participants felt that the local's had a better quality of life than in the US, with slightly less than a quarter feeling it was about the same and only 20% feeling that locals were worse off than the US.

235 participants by local quality of life

Most US expats, 59%, felt they had a better quality of life than in the US, with 25% feeling it was the same and only 11% feeling it was worse.

235 participants by their quality of life

Their reasons for moving abroad were also very interesting. Because there was an "other" column in which people could supply their own answers, I had to correct many entries to "other", as I'll show below the graph. It's clear that I should have listed "Education" as one of the choices.

Fully one-third of the people choosing to move abroad did so for adventure. Contrary to what many people back in the US believe, only 12% did so to get away from US politics. This is in line with other surveys showing few people moving away due to politics. As expected, many people (17%) moved abroad for love, while 10% did so to seek work and 8% did so for their current job.

235 participants by reasons for moving abroad

For the "other" responses, I corrected all references to "grad school", "university", "master's degree", and so on, to "Education".

14 responses — Education
3 responses — All of the above
2 responses — Health care
2 responses — Never lived in US
1 response — Adventure, then history, now love. I wouldn't be in the UK if not for love.
1 response — Adventure, work, and to avoid paying US taxes (Foreign earned income exclusion)
1 response — Better cycling infrastructure and urban design
1 response — Better life
1 response — Better long-term opportunities
1 response — Escape US lifestyle
1 response — Humanitarian work
1 response — Husband accepted job abroad, I followed.
1 response — I had a good opportunity fall in my lap
1 response — I was born an expat.
1 response — I'm a lifelong expat. First moved to China at age 7. For me living abroad is more comfortable than living in the states.
1 response — Love Europe
1 response — Love and Wanderlust
1 response — Love of France
1 response — My parents moved me when i was 14 and never wanted to go back
1 response — No interest in US
1 response — To continue living abroad in one section of the country until I could hop to the one I wanted to be in
1 response — To make money
1 response — canadian mother moved me to canada
1 response — child dependant
1 response — i was here
1 response — spent most of my life abroad in other countries, came here to study
1 response — why not
1 response — with parents
1 response — work and way of life

The "year you left" data surprised me because fully 20% of respondents said they had left the US in 2013. While this does fit the general trendline, it seems a touch suspicious. However, it's entirely possible that more recent expats are more likely to search out expat-related news.

On a side note, Excel's pivot tables did not like a numeric year as a data label. Hard-core Excel users know what I'm talking about.

224 participants by year left

For whether people planned to return to the US, they were fairly evenly divided between "yes", "no", and undecided. Of those who were decided, they tended to prefer not returning to the US.

234 participants by "plan to return to the US"

Generally, the largest group of participants reported that they could speak the local language fluently, with poorly coming in second (Note: I now know why so many people number their answers when creating surveys: it's much easier to make the answers sort properly in Excel).

235 participants on ability to speak local language

When I corrected for those living in countries for which English was not the native language (the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), the largest group reported that they could speak the local language poorly:

235 participants on ability to speak the local language
in primarily non-English speaking countries

Of those reported as living outside the US more than 20 years, all spoke the language at a fluent or native level, with the exception of a gentleman living in France for 35 years who reported that he spoke "conversationally". Generally speaking, those living outside the US for more than 10 years speak the local language well, with results dropping off sharply for 10 years or less.

Regarding the number of countries participants have lived in, the text stated "this includes your home country." I perhaps could have been more clear as 10 people listed 1 country. Only one of those stated they were born on foreign soil, so the other 9 have presumably lived in the US and one other country.

230 participants by countries lived in

The person stating they have lived in 30 countries is allegedly a 30 year-old female, 21 to 25 years of age, born on foreign soil. I actually know someone who was a Foreign Service brat and they lived in many countries by a young age, so I suppose it's not impossible, but it seems odd. However, this person took the time to make longer, reasonable sounding comments to other answers. Take it as you will.

Next, we had two questions about whether you were likely to take the citizenship of another country and another on whether you were likely to give up your US citizenship.

For taking another citizenship, people were clearly interested in this, with only 47 out of 232 answering "not at all".

232 participants by likelihood of taking another citizenship

For the likelihood of giving up their US citizenship, 111 out of 232, or slightly less than half, answered "not at all".

232 participants by likelihood of giving up US citizenship

More than half of Americans answering the "giving up US citizenship" are at least considering this possibility. I find this sad, but in reading their answers, it's clear why they are considering this.

Though income levels won't be covered until a later post, I did some breakdowns by income levels. As you can see, for those earning $70K US or more, they're not more likely to give up their US citizenship.

Individuals earning more than $70K US
by likelihood of giving up their US citizenship

For those earning $90K US or more, we have the same rough proportions. Note that these are the individuals most likely to not just be impacted by US tax laws on expatriates, but also to be double-taxed because they'll start earning more than the FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exemption).

Individuals earning more than $90K US
by likelihood of giving up their US citizenship

And again, for those earning $100K+ US, the same general proportions.

Individuals earning more than $100K US
by likelihood of giving up their US citizenship

That's interesting, because if it's representative, it puts the lie to the idea that it's the wealthy planning on casting off their US citizenship. Also, there didn't appear to be a correlation with education level and likelihood of giving up their US citizenship. This really looks like an "across the board" phenomenon.

And for today, we'll leave off with a smattering of responses from those who might give up their US citizenship and gave a reason why. While I realize that most people are not trained in data analysis, if you read through these carefully, you will probably notice a pattern: US expatriate tax law.

The vast majority of Americans abroad will not owe US taxes due to the FEIE, tax treaties, housing exemptions, and so on. It's not taxes people are complaining about. It's the complexity of US tax law for expatriates, the time and expense of filing returns on which we owe no money and the severe financial and legal penalties involved in making mistakes on our forms — penalties that people living in the US do not suffer from.

A punitive tax system which provides me with much anxiety and no benefit.
Avoid the stress and pain of dealing with the IRS
If I did not agree with the long-term direction of the U.S. Cost of compliance, limited opportunities to save for retirement in the host country,
US politics. The corporations have more control over my representatives than the voters do.
I want EU citizenship, can't have both. Also, taxes. I'm not about to give the US a chunk of my income that they don't give me anything in return for. I'll consider keeping it if I can afford to, though. US tax liability.
FBAR/FATCA requirements and penalties which reek of a presumption of guilt
The increasing burden of tax reporting, which is preventing me from saving for retirement.
Frustration/fed up with the nonsense
Being forced to. I have dual citizenship and this actually reflects my feeling: connected to both my old and new country.
The tax situation for expats (complicated filing requirements, draconian penalties if I make a mistake, possible financial impact on my non-US husband).
Health care; safety
Taxes
Having to pay US taxes despite living abroad
I guess the big thing is that I was brought up with a very patriotic set of beliefs. My father was a history professor, specializing in the American Revolution, and worked for the government during the Bicentennial. I was in the military (never saw any combat), and I believed in "America" (tm). But over the years, I've seen how the government no longer represents the people. It does what it wants to them, it unilaterally changes its agreement, and it ignores its own rules and laws. It's gotten to the point where I almost feel like a beaten wife. So it's time for me to leave.
hard to say, tax bullshit, political bullshit, not identifying with the country
So that my taxes would be paying for the United States' wars.
Complexity of taxes once living abroad
No need, no benefit, FATCA.
The burdensome tax filing requirements. I don't mind having to file, but I mind that my tax filings are so much more complicated and prying than the filings my family in the States need to perform.
Lack of desire to ever return or escalating political and economic issues in the US
Ability to work in the EU. I can currently only work in the UK and the USA.
In Switzerland, Americans are having their bank accounts taken away due to fatca. I am hoping my swiss passport will arrive before my banking options are limited.
Job, marriage. Really just depends
Onerous double-tax obligations and filing requirements, including stiff penalties for making minor, accidental clerical errors with no tangible benefits or representation to change the laws, and despite being middle-class, being treated and misrepresented as a fatcat trying to hide assets.
It's fucking worthless.
FATCA.
Taxes, military obligation, politics
To not have to pay taxes if I'm a permanent resident of another country.
"Obtaining Taiwanese citizenship. No real benefits to US citizenship - only real reason to keep is for family ties (father still lives there)"
Taxing abroad citizens, what's up with that?
It no longer was necessary, or it did not provide any marked benefits to my life over my quality of life under a different citizenship. For example, if I decide to settle abroad permanently and I still had to pay high US taxes but received no benefit from it, other than a little less hassle going through airport security in the US, I would likely renounce my US citizenship. But if I were working for a US company or my future partner was American and our maintained American citizenship made life easier, I would keep it.
Employment
Taxes and regulations
Having to pay double taxes or military draft. Otherwise would not give it up unless by some change in the rules forcing me to.
Tax and reporting reasons
To avoid paying US taxes when living abroad
Taxes
Better job opportunities.
Taxes
Better living, work conditions that make me happy
Tempted to because of tax hassles, but holding on to for now in case I end up having to move there for a few years for work.
Taxes
N S A
tax purposes
Better quality of life, particularly universal healthcare.
Healthcare
Taxes
Taxes
Taxes
Tax implications
foreign or domestic policy
Filing taxes and declaration of savings. I also feel no sense of loyalty or patriotism to the US. Partially because I was born in Australia and partially because I disagree with certain aspects of the American psyche.
better quality of life -- health insurance, benefits, marriage, etc.
The income tax BS.
Be done with highly complex tax filing obligations.
The politics and how America is fast becoming a police state.
If I had to end up paying US taxes even though I'm not living in the US.
FATCA
The US scares me.
The paperwork is really a burden. Also tons of countries like cambodia or vietnam have a special tax on visiting americans, which is lame. Also I'm disappointed by being disenfranchised by the voter registration rules particularly those of california and colorado.
Do not wish to support war, want to escape the inevitable decline, want to be free of tedious reporting obligations.
Becoming the most worldly possible. Also to not be 'american'
Because it is becoming tougher and tougher being financially involved in the local economy as an american citizen.
Easier to stay in EU
Do not want children to be U.S. citizens.
I haven't done it, yet, but it's on my mind, and if I do, it's not because of taxes, but because of banking and investment restrictions placed on me at home, in France, because I am a US citizen and in the US because I live in France.
The right wing crazies trying to run the country and guns
Unfair double taxation
Stupid taxation-without-representation system that treats us like plutocrat money-laundering criminals and gives us anything in return
If it would really give me much better benefits in the country I'm living in. Also, that I'm 100% comfortable in that country.
To escape tax liability.
Taxes/banking/ability to invest
taxes
It was worthless.
My husband is the primary wage earner in our family and he is German. Germany would provide me with a better safety net for myself and our children if something should happen to him.
Expenses and complications tied to US tax and banking declarations when I haven't even lived in the US since 1996. Note: I am single, not wealthy and I own no property, but this obligation is a nightmare for many Americans abroad who have lived and worked in a variety of countries, changing banks along with way. Trying to find a qualified accountant (who is knowledgeable about US and French/international filing) AND who accepts to take an average American as a client has become a challenge. They are all busy with their much wealthier clients who need more of their services and thus bring in more money. What's more, trying to get the information from my banks to declare the highest balance per year in all my bank accounts for the past five years involves contacting banks in other countries where I have worked and hope they reply (several of these accounts were closed years ago, but I still need to declare them) is a time-consuming hassle. As I no longer have accounts at their bank, I'm not even sure if they will reply, but I've been told that I cannot simply declare the highest amount on my monthly bank statement for the year, because within that month there is movement. Therefore, the banks all have to supply an official document stating what my balance was. You can imagine that most foreign banks are not anxious to welcome Americans with that kind of extra work. I'll stop there, but you get the picture.
i am Canadian by birth, and American by association through my late father. I have never really felt American, and now I'm not too happy about what i was given. Based on the financial burden placed upon my family, i would say that would be the prime reason.
Taxes, regulation, gain more freedom
US tax policy, Disgusted and ashamed by US government and US politics
Taxes or conscription to a war that I don't agree with.
Taxes
Burdensome financial reporting and double-taxation.
oppessive undemocratic bullying.
Taking on Canadian citizenship with intent to relinquish US citizenship
The expense of filing tax forms to the IRS even though I have owed nothing to USA for 28 years. Also there are some cases of double taxation even though USA and Canada have a tax treaty -- they cannot fix all the loopholes. USA should get rid of citizenship based taxation.
Better healthcare, safer society, less disastrous sociopolitical policies. "Depends on where and what I do next.
Tax policy
Tax complications, shame.
Taxes
Tax crap even though I barely get by on my paycheck, the absurd costs to do my taxes is unjustifiable and the citizenship status I would receive here is better that the US.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Initial Overseas Exile Expat Survey Results

Image by Mizunoryu

As of this writing, the US Expat Survey has 235 responses. That's after removing obvious "joke" responses and duplicate responses. Duplicates were determined by seeing all 50 questions answered identically, with freeform responses required as those require people to type in an answer and those are unique enough to say "yup, this is a duplicate". The survey's only been running for nine days, but almost all of the responses were in the first three days. I'll leave the survey up, but I don't expect significantly different results.

Keep in mind the following:

Internet surveys are notoriously unreliable
Publishing results is more likely to bias subsequent results
Internet surveys are notoriously unreliable

In other news, consider this information "fun" rather than useful.

Only the first three questions, gender, age, and current country, were required. If any of the following totals do not add to 235, it's because some people chose not to answer those questions. For all charts below, clicking on the image will open a larger — and thus legible — version of said chart.

Personal Questions

Of the respondents, 100 were female, 134 male, and one was a nonbinary transgender who thanked me for asking (you're welcome, whoever you are). Of these, 209 were born in the US or one of its territories, with 24 born on foreign soil.

Top five countries represented were France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. This suggests that the survey responses are biased in favor of readers of this blog (no surprise there), so keep this in mind while reading.

235 participants by country

The participants tended to be on the young side, with approximately half of participants being 30 or under.

235 participants by age

229 participants answered the question about marital status. Half of the participants were single, with almost half being married. One female participant living in Switzerland stated that she was not permitted to legally marry her partner. I should have added "have a partner", but failed to do. Oops.

229 participants by marital status

Of those who stated they had a partner, only one third of them had a partner from the US. Otherwise, almost everyone had a partner whose origin was the country they were currently living in.

152 partners by country

Almost half the participants had a Bachelor's degree. Fully 75% had a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate.

232 participants by education level

Sexual orientation was overwhelmingly heterosexual. I did breakdowns by gender, age, and education level, but the distribution below didn't significantly change, so I did not include them here.

226 participants by sexual orientation

Unsurprisingly, respondents were overwhelmingly white. With the exception of the three "Native Americans" who responded, all non-white ethnicities had much lower expatriation rates compared to their population percentage in the US (as a percentage of the US population).

227 participants by ethnicity

For the "state" question, I asked which state the expat felt closest to. Florida, New York, Washington, Texas and Massachusetts were the top five.

228 participants by state

And the last "personal" question was about religion. For the record, these were the options:

Agnostic
Atheist
Christian
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim
Other

Those options represent the most common religions in the US, arranged in alphabetical order. For the "other" choice, you could fill in your own. And that made this one a mess. We had two Catholics, one Quaker and one Mormon list those specific sects instead of choose "Christian" (note for non-Mormons: you may not like me grouping Mormons with Christianity, but they are an offshoot of the religion).

We also had "Buddhistically inclined", more than one "atheist Buddhist", an "atheist Christian" and other items that I changed to "other" because it would be hard to categorize them otherwise.

So after correcting for bad data by shoving a few obvious candidates into "Christian" and all others into "Other", we have the following chart:

224 participants by religion

As you can see, atheism won hands down, but we probably shouldn't make too much of this. That being said, I do wonder if this observation is accurate? Are atheists more likely to leave the US, or is moving abroad likely change one's views about religion? Or will it simply make more atheists "come out of the closet"? One Pew study suggests that 20% of Americans are "atheist, agnostic or unaffiliated", but the above has 55% of US expats as "atheist or agnostic". And if you're wonder about the corrections made to the "other" column, the following were all corrected to "other":

6 Agnostic, Atheist
1 Agnostic, Buddhist
4 Agnostic, Christian
1 Apatheist
2 Atheist, Buddhist
1 Atheist, Christian
1 Atheist, Heathen
1 Atheist, Jewish
1 Atheist, Unitarian
1 Buddhism comes closest -- or Unitarian Universalist
2 Buddhist
1 Buddhistly inclined...
1 Budist
1 Humanist
1 Muslim, Deist
1 Unitarian Universalist
1 Zoroastrian
1 athiest with buddhist belief tendencies
1 mine. :)
1 not sure

Make of that what you will.

Future posts will include the sections on Living Abroad, Emotional, Politics, Finances and Taxes, and some selected comments from participants.

Update: I changed the wording on the "religion" section slightly to avoid concerns that I taking a "dig" at some religions.