Expat Shmexpat!

Photo by Out and About in Paris.
expatriate:
v. ex·pa·tri·at·ed, ex·pa·tri·at·ing  1. To send into exile. See Synonyms: banish. 2. To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land. v.intr.
1. To give up residence in one's homeland. 2. To renounce allegiance to one's homeland.
n. ex·pa·tri·ate
1. One who has taken up residence in a foreign country. 2. One who has renounced one's native land. 3. Or in Ella Coquine's case, one who meets the world's most insane and deranged people, gets tangled up in some major shit and somehow manages to stay in said foreign country.
Is it just me or does the official definition of expatriate sound like one big betrayal against one's homeland? I love the "renounce allegiance" and "See synonyms: banish" part. Coming to Paris, I hardly considered it a banishment from America, just a temporary leave of absence. I mean come on, most of us are still paying US taxes, are we not? It just goes to show that we're never too far from Uncle Sam.
Over time, I've gotten used to this word as it means less exile and more relocating. That, I can handle so I take back the "shmexpat" remark. Apparently I've grown so used to this word to describe myself that I have recently been nominated for an Expat Blog Award! 
So, if you like what you read here on the ole Tales from the Chambre de Bonne, please feel free to leave a comment for me. Thank you mille fois for those of you who already have. I actually teared up at some of your comments. I was truly touched. Thank you.
If not for me, then for any of the other talented and hard-working bloggers who are also participating in this fun contest hosted by Expats Blog! 
Bravo to everyone and good luck!  I say we all deserve an expat on the back. Ah, couldn't resist...
Also - for continued reading, check out my interview...  The who, what, why, and wtf of my French life!