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Living Overseas as an Expat: Do you adopt the local customs?

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My latest column for Expat Focus…

 

It was Father’s Day in Australia this month, so we celebrated with Sunday brunch in Soho, uptown Hong Kong. Don’t let that fool you; I hadn’t exactly planned it around Father’s Day, if you know what I mean! 

It was a restaurant review and I was technically “working” but hey, a hearty feast of scrambled eggs, hash browns and baked beans, washed down with a fine glass of Italian Prosecco has to be better than a poke in the eye with a burnt piece of toast, right? 

For the record, as an expat I’m still not quite sure which country’s ‘special’ days you’re supposed to celebrate? Your home country or the one you’ve temporarily adopted? Admittedly, I’ve failed miserably at both this year.

When it was Father’s Day in Hong Kong, I insisted I’d forgotten because well, it wasn’t real was it?! Since when is Father’s Day in June! (But just you try getting a Father’s Day card here in September – ain’t gonna happen sister!) 

So it begs the question, when you’re living in a new country, just how much of those familiar traditions from home do you hang on to, no matter what the cultural climate?

To continue reading, head over to Expat Focus here…

Adopting Chinese Customs

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Nicole Webb

Nicole is a journalist and writer (former News Reader with Sky News Australia) who, back in 2010, took a leap of faith and embarked on a journey to the city that never sleeps, Hong Kong! Fast forward four years, and Nicole, her hotelier husband and toddler stepped things up a notch and moved to Central China, where they lived in Xi'an for 2.5 years. Back in Sydney after a whirlwind adventure, Nicole continues her musings! Check out Mint Mocha Musings for plenty of intriguing, humorous and uplifting tales from her expat life in Asia so far. You can also find her on Twitter: @nicoledwebb. and Instagram at Mint Mocha Musings.

Comments

  1. Ersatz Expat says

    Your post really resonated with me. We tend to adopt some of the aspects of our host country celebrations while keeping the most important of our home traditions.
    Ersatz Expat recently posted…Kurban Ait in AstanaMy Profile

    • Nicole Webb says

      Thanks for your comment. Great to discover your blog too on life in Kazakhstan! Look forward to reading. 🙂