By Joshua Wood
Summary:
Every American has their own idea of what it means to be an American in London. Some Americans, however, have a pretty strong opinion about the "right" and "wrong" way to enjoy the London American experience.
So what does it mean to be an American in London?
Over the course of the development of Expat Exchange, it has been interesting to encounter the various perceptions of what the expat experience should be. What it means to be an American in London can be a particularly pointed conversation. Expats, you'll find, often have some very strong opinions about these sorts of things - often to the point where they view their own chosen expat lifestyle as the only acceptable way to explore another country and culture.
The argument goes something like this:
London American Expat Purist - An American in London should do his or her best to avoid other Americans while living there. Spending all of your time with other Americans waters down the expatriate experience, and therefore, to really experience London and the UK, one should stick to spending time with the native populace. That means you should find an apartment in London that is in an area of the city that is just about devoid of every other American in London.
American in London Looking for Americans - Why are these people so uptight? The London American Expat Purists need to lighten up. A person is a person, and if you meet some great Americans while living in London, you should of course develop those relationships. What's more, it's fun to be an American in London and live in Kensington and Chelsea. Lots to do, and a lot of fun people to do it with!
Of course, for those that work in London, especially at a multinational corporation, you'll inevitably encounter people from all over the world, including Americans.
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First Published: Jul 28, 2009
