An expat (also known as an expat) is a person who lives in another country and is a national. A person becomes an immigrant by permanently leaving his/her home country. Entering a foreign nation makes that person an Immigrant. By living in the foreign country, the person is Expat. There are many reasons why someone becomes an Expat. The Expat might be fleeing prosecution for a crime/alleged crime that he or she committed in his or her home country. Or, he or she may hate their home country, their family, or their lifestyle, so by uprooting and moving to another country, that person attempts to restart their mortal life (a do over) elsewhere.
There are also positive reasons why someone will become an Expat. Meager savings or retirement income may support a better lifestyle in a third world country. A new country could be an exotic place, or a lifestyle they have longed for that becomes a reality. The new country may be central in a region to which the person wishes to travel and experience, such as Austria, which is central in Europe. Perhaps a job offer south asian experience in the foreign country, one with generous benefits, becomes the deciding point in a person's decision to become an Expat there. For whatever the reason, if the new country has a community of Expats that welcomes others like themselves, the temptation to do it quite often becomes a decision to move there.
Penang, Malaysia is my choice for a place I could travel to be an Expat. Web search "Penang Expat" to find and enjoy a superb Expat You Tube video titled "The ExPat: Penang, Malaysia." In the video, see how the producer/narrator sets a financial benchmark (cost of living not to exceed). He then immerses himself into the culture of Penang to learn about the cost of food, travel, transportation, housing and entertainment. He also meets and speaks with locals and traders to help him make an informed decision on how to keep his budget within reach.
Why does Penang interest me? Penang, is an island as well as a Malaysian State, and I am specifically interested in that state's capital, George Town, as a location. The Penang International Airport is located on the island south of George Town. It's a gateway to Southeast Asia. It is easy to travel cheaply with Malaysia Airlines from that airport and see approximately 25% of the globe. The trips are also short. Equally important to me, the history of Penang is compelling. To live there is to have the chance to deep dive into the exploits of the 15th century Chinese Ming Dynasty, which launched naval expeditions to establish a foothold there. In the 18th century, the British East India Company established diplomatic relations with the Malay Sultan of Kedah to base in Penang, and that put the company in direct conflict with both the Dutch and the Portuguese East India Companies. Many trials by diplomacy and by combat between ships and company armies of these three companies happened in the area. East India Companies, forerunners of modern Corporations, end