Speaker 1

I’ve been here now for about fifteen years. It’s a good
life, though I work hard, but frankly I miss my country and
the town where I grew up and dream of going back. I feel
special ties to the place and when I retire I hope to return
there to be among my friends and my family.

Speaker 2

We were utterly fed up with the crime and feeling of

insecurity that surrounded us and it was precisely for
that reason that we moved away. What really worried
us was the effect it might have on the kids going to the
local school. We felt it just wasn’t worth the risk. On the
other hand, it hasn’t been easy coping with the language
barrier, I have to admit. At least not for us parents. The
kids integrated straight away, of course.

Speaker 3

I haven’t changed countries, but I’ve moved from the

country to the city because it has better services and
more opportunities. I was absolutely astonished to find
that many people looked down on me when I first arrived,
which didn’t exactly make things easy. I suppose they
thought: here’s some country bumpkin come to the city to
make good, and I guess they were right because I have!
Speaker 4

I love lots of things about my country: the food, the sense

of humour, the newspapers, lots of things. Actually, I have
to admit it was the climate I couldn’t stand any longer.
I just found the short grey days and the continual rain
totally depressing. Mind you, the heat’s sometimes a
problem here and then I dream of going home. But that’s
only the odd day here and there. Mostly it’s fine.

Speaker 5

I guess you could call me a rolling stone, if people still use

that expression – I mean, I’ve been abroad for so long I
don’t know all the latest slang. You see, unfortunately I’m
one of those typical expatriates who spends two years
working in this country and three years working in that.
I don’t think I could ever go back to my home country
because, quite honestly, I just wouldn’t fit in. I’d be
completely out of touch.

Speaker 6

As a professional ballet dancer there’s just no way I could

have stayed in my home town. Obviously, you have to be
prepared to move abroad if you want to get to the top
and there’s no point in being in this business unless that’s
your aim. I’ve been incredibly lucky, though, and I think
everyone needs luck.