A woman who has lived in Luxembourg for five years has confirmed that one of the little joys of living abroad as a so-called expat is meeting people from her home country to despise.
“We don’t have a cohesive community like people from other countries do,” said Anna Aylander. “So, when I do run into someone from my home country, at the supermarket or at an event, it gives me the chance to instantly feel deep contempt for him or her.”
Aylander sas that sometimes she will instantly despise the person for the way they speak, hold themselves, or dress, and other times she will despise them for the stereotypically national characteristics they display, such as arrogance, shallowness, pettiness, and hypocrisy.
Aylander says it doesn’t matter if the person has been here a short time or a long time. She will find a reason to despise them.
“If the person is new, I will despise them for encroaching on my territory, like, ‘hey, I was here first,’” she said. “I’m like, ‘no, don’t try to talk to me, don’t ask me which city I’m from, just go away.’”
Aylander also says that it is of little importance if the person has negative or positive feelings about living here. Either way, she will despise them.
“If they’re too overwhelmed, confused, or critical about living in Luxembourg, I’ll despise them for that,” she said. “If they’re eager, enthusiastic, and happy about living here, then I’ll despise them for that as well.”
“And if they’re discreet, curious, and motivated to learn about Luxembourg, I’ll also despise them for that.”
Aylander insists that she is very fair-minded, and that her negative feelings about newcomers from her home country extend to those who have lived here a long time.
“I once met a man from my home country who had lived here for 40 years yet still hadn’t learned the languages and stuck out like a sore thumb, so I despised him – so typical of my people to cling to their ways and refuse to make any effort to fit in,” she said. “Another time, I met a woman who had lived here for only 10 years, yet she had seamlessly integrated and found a community, so I despised her for that – so like us to turn our backs on our own culture and pretend to be someone we’re not.”
Aylander cautions anyone from her home country against trying to strike up a conversation with her, or – horrifyingly – trying to befriend her.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said. “The moment I see you, the second I hear you, I will despise you, too.”
