People move to other countries and begin new lives as Expatriates for many reasons.Some may do it as a result of their work or career.Still others may do it for Love,a retirement choice and some folks are just looking for something else, or even to escape a traumatic past.
I can honestly say I did it for a variety of reasons.Love was a big part,but it was not something planned.Tuija,my wife now,just came into my life in London in 1988.The rest just snowballed from there on!It has only been over the last 7 years that I began to look at my childhood and see if there were influences from it,that may have contributed too the direction/path my life has taken me.I could say in hindsight:It was pre-ordained that I was to eventually move abroad,
My Early school years
I was raised a happy child,from what I remember.My Father was serving as a P.O(Petty Officer)in the English Royal Navy.As a result of his career and various postings overseas and in the UK ,We as a family would up and move to differing locations.By the age of Eleven I had attended 8 different schools.This may not seem alarming to some,however the side effect was to leave me with a sense of abandonment and a feeling of broken friendships.I would join a new school,make new friends,and 16 months later have to say good bye and move on to another part of the country;or even another country all together.
After having returned from living in Malta for 18 months, in 1979.It was decided that the best thing for me and my education,was to be sent to a Public Boarding School.
Royal Hospital School,Holbook[singlepic id=2 w=320 h=240 float=]
I was told about The Royal Hospital school,at the age of 10.So I really had no influence to bear on any decision that was to be made.Sure, I wanted to stay at home,like any normal kid.However it was stressed to me that,this was a good school where I could make new freinds and not have to keep up and moving around.After examinations to enter the school,I was accepted and pretty much within a year I was officially located at The Royal Hospital School.
I will not go into all the details here.Suffice to say I became an upstart.I could not settle in to Military style school life.The bullying was rife from the older boys.Punishment was harsh.Often times I would with others,be stnading to attention ,fully dressed with raincoat and a broomstick held above our heads,In thee scorching sun for up to 2 hours.This was at the age of 11-12.What I was meant to learn:LOST ME
Myself and other boys would often talk about running away back home.Some did,but there was no real place to run too.The school had a brilliant agreement with the local police,so it only took 24 hours at most,to be picked up, at Ipswich railway station and returned to the school,The punishment for which,was a caning.12 of the best.I guess that is one reason for my rebelious and so No attititude.
The year 1980 came and not to quickly either.I had spent 5 years in a place I detested greatly.Granted I got a good,solid education,and, everyone kept reminding me,some much needed discipline.In the last 8 months before leaving the school,we were given careers guidance.I had pretty much made my mind up,to leave and travel in the Merchant Navy.The option of joining the Royal Navy seemed to much like the place I was about to leave.So I dismissed that as a matter of fact.Maybe I let my Father down,i dont know,but I vill talk to him when I next see him.[singlepic id=3 w=320 h=240 float=]RHS School
So, as to myself becomming an Expatriate,I can honestly put it down to three ingredients,Love,A dreamer who dares to question authority,and an intense dislike for England`s public school system and from that everything quintessentially English.Oh just to add,my father finally left the Royal Navy after 32 years service and attained the rank of Fleet Chief Petty Officer.
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