Everyone in the Gulf is introduced by their name, which is immediately followed by their nationality.  Rather than remain simply American, I decided to use my heritage to bridge the communication gap with other ex-patriates.  A friend explained that Caledonia wasn’t an island some mercenaries were fighting over, but the old name for Scotland, so I attended a Caledonian party. I badgered everyone to educate me about my heritage.  I learned about “haggis”:  a big rat which limps on Scottish mountains and is cooked  in a sheep’s stomach.  I thought people had ceased eating rats after the Black Death.  I … Continue reading 20 – Cultural Identity: The Expat Experience Explained