Thanks for your thoughts on this Tom.

I have never lived abroad but I have travelled to many countries. However, just as you said, holidays and short trips do not allow you to be immersed in the day to day culture of the place.

I am married to a Filipina and we are talking about spending extended periods of time in the Philippines without actually living permanently there. There are other places we would like to spend extended time in.

So, once again, many thanks for writing this.