The Expat Stereotypes.…Lifting
the lid on 21st century expat life in Africa.
Synopsis
“I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong
Hills….” Hang on a minute...this book was written a hundred years
ago! Today news stories concern terrorist strikes, famine and corruption but what
does Africa look like from the point of view of the British or international
expat who actually lives here today?
In the 21st century times have changed. A tech boom, rising middle class, oil and
gas discoveries, traffic mayhem, the arrival of the Chinese and a rich new seam
of expats who are grabbing opportunities and making a life in the
sun. Is it still all polished floors, servants and white
gloves or is the truth very different?
Following the success of the Telegraph Magazine’s best selling ‘Social Stereotypes’ by Victoria Mather and Sue Macartney-Snape, I
devised the ‘Africa Expat Stereotypes’ in order to dispel myths of modern
life in Africa as an expat; from the locally recognisable Kenya Cowboy (and cowgirl) to the modern day ex-army security specialist, the jobbing news reporter, the craft fair stall holder, the UN worker who is set to solve the world’s
problems, to the aging safari camp managers who are holed up in the Masai Mara.
The ‘Africa Expat Stereotypes’ humorously describe how foreigners are carving out a life here that is very different to the one that they would be leading back in Blighty. The Africa Expat Stereotypes are currently being serialized by the UK Telegraph online (on their Life/Expat Life page).
Potential
audience
The book would have a wide appeal, either to expats the world over (since many of the themes are universal) to travellers who are interested in Africa or in living overseas. The short, satirical articles are coupled with fantastic illustrations that would make the book an excellent gift item. Just
as the UK Social Stereotypes series is
still running, the ‘Africa Expat Stereotypes’ could run as a multiple series of books since there is a wealth of untapped material available!
*Look out for 'The Reluctant Camper' due to be published with illustration in The Telegraph soon.
Am going down the conventional route but it's tough (needless to say). Creative suggestions as to how I might get this book off the ground are welcome!!! :)
This is interesting. You could always self-publish via Amazon. The Goodreads website also has a publishing option.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for your help! Am a bit daunted by the self-publish option since it means self-promoting the book too, but will definitely look into Amazon and Goodreads nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteQuick, serious question for you. Why is it that when British people go overseas to do jobs they are expats and yet when people come into Britain they are immigrants? Surely you mean British immigrants?
ReplyDeleteAlso, at what point does a person stop being an expat? You've been in the country for over 17 years, do you still not consider yourself acclimatized?
Or is it that you're all too good to label yourself immigrants and that label is only to be used for the brown/black folks?
Please, do tell.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. I have lived in Nairobi for 11 years now and still do consider myself an expat - or long term expat. I guess that if you move to another country for full time employment, whatever your creed or colour - especially when sent overseas by an multinational organisation, then you are an expat. The fact that all of my family are in UK means that, though I feel very settled here, this is not my home and we never considered that move here would be permanent.
I thought that the term 'immigrants' was a word used for people who are somehow seeking refuge or asylum in a foreign country.
Wikipedia says this: 'Immigration is the movement of people into another country or region to which they are not native in order to settle there,[1] especially permanently.[2] Immigration is a result of a number of factors, including economic and/or political reasons, family re-unification, natural disasters or the wish to change one's surroundings voluntarily'
I had a long chat with a Kenyan friend who moved back to Nairobi after following her husband who was working for multinational companies in London and Spain for the past 10 years. In addition was a student in Europe in her twenties. I would not ever have classed has as an immigrant since the situation was never permanent for her.
You can call me an immigrant if you like? Don't mind. Interesting debate.
I'd like to contribute to your comments: Don't kid yourself. You're here for economic reasons - you're an immigrant by definition.
ReplyDelete... Actually, I just went through your archived and read the story of how you sent your daughter to boarding school to be enseeped in her own culture. Says it all really.
Also, you might consider the "This will never be my home" expat stereotype. Seems you have a good role model to base your story on.
Thanks for reading and for your great feedback!
ReplyDelete"the modern day ex-army security specialist"
ReplyDeleteWe had one of these idiots managing our estate. Leaving alone the fact that they have no idea how to manage local security because they have no experience, here is the stupidest thing he did:
Organised for bees 'nests' to be cleared at 5am. Told us to keep indoors and keep dogs indoors because security dogs had been killed by bees (hence hive removal.) At 11am, late for an extremely important business meeting I ask for an update. Reply 'I'm playing golf, nest not removed yet, sorry dunno when it will happen could be be anytime today'. Thanks.
After telling him off for being incompetent he informs me that it's not 'his staff' and tells me that as head of security he can't send security to make sure nests aren't disturbed in the middle of the day. Also calls me a jumped up prick. He also tells me that it's not his problem because he's not the one that put the bees there (would he say the same thing if I reported burglars?). I should be grateful for being informed at all, he says.
He comes over to my house to apologise (probably realises that a report of this conversation would get him fired) and I can see the lightbulb go off in his stupid head when I demand an explanation for why I have to lock my entire family, staff and dogs into the house all day because he can't spare a security guard to make sure the hive isn't disturbed. Didn't think of the idea he says. Some head of staff.
People have a hero-worship of expats simply because they're British, or French, or, well, white. Fact is, the average Kenyan has a practical intelligence far beyond what I experienced living in the UK.
The estate had a long wall, with all security concentrated on the main gate. For my entire stay there, walking dogs along the perimeter, I never saw a single security guard. The genius idea being that burglars will obviously attempt to sign in and submit IDs at the front gate before robbing us blind.
Wow, like your anecdote! Sounds like a crazy scenario that you were caught up in. I've also noticed that expats in Nairobi are often given an undeserved high status and are often treated differently, even reverentially. This, I feel sure, has to change.
ReplyDelete