Reflections on the Pitfalls of Being an Expatriate — Minority Nomad

Being an expat can genuinely make you an asshole.
Stick with me on this.

The very word “expatriate” is laced with colonial baggage—privilege, entitlement, and centuries of power imbalance. The debate over who gets called an expat versus an immigrant isn’t just semantics—it’s a mirror reflecting how the world sees race, class, and origin. We aren’t going to solve that here or anytime soon. But, in the meantime, we can have an honest discussion about how expats behave—and the damage they can do to local communities, because the negative behavior of many expats is based around how they see race, class, and origin. 1+1=2 all day long.

One of the hardest things to be is a self-aware expat, especially when you’re surrounded by others who are completely blind to their own arrogance. This is especially true in places where expats often arrive with built-in socio-economic power—Southeast Asia and Central America come to mind immediately.

After years of living and traveling through ASEAN as a person of color, I’ve seen the dark side of expatriation up close: casual racism, performative respect, and outright abuse directed at locals by Westerners who know their money often insulates them from consequence. It’s exploitation masked as escape.

Here’s where I admit my bias: I’m an African-American man from one of the most violent, neglected cities in the U.S.—a place where systemic poverty, drug abuse, and police brutality are daily realities. Where survival is a skill you learn young. So, to be welcomed into someone else’s country and simply allowed to be is extraordinary. I don’t take that lightly. And find myself becoming more and more “sensitive” to what I perceive as abusive behavior towards locals. Even if locals might not share my views on the matter.

Langston Hughes once said of Paris: “There you can be whatever you want to be. Totally yourself.” That hit me deep.

Coming from a place of marginalization gives me a different lens on privilege and power. It’s why I believe expats have a duty to do better. To ensure our presence isn’t parasitic. To uplift, integrate, respect, and engage with local communities in a way that leaves everyone better off. That’s how we become real ambassadors—not just for our passports, but for our values. Sometimes, that means having direct and sometimes uncomfortable conversations with your fellow countrymen/expatriates.

So to anyone dreaming of the expat life: understand this is more than a lifestyle choice. It’s a responsibility. One that ripples out long after your visa stamp fades.

How do you feel when you see expats disrespecting local cultures?
And do you believe there’s a difference between expats and immigrants?