Expat Allegiances

Once England got knocked out of the World Cup there was no doubt which team I wanted to win … having been a resident of the country for so many years it had to be Spain.

But what if Spain and England had happened to meet in the World Cup final?

This issue of country allegiances and divided loyalties struck me during this year’s tournament climax because one of our good friends in the Spanish town where we lived hails from the Netherlands. Who would she be cheering on to lift that special trophy?

We guessed it would be the boys in orange … albeit perhaps sotto voce. But what about her children? Living in Spain, with a Dutch mother and German father, where will their allegiances lie as they grow older?

It’s a question of identity. To my mind, the only point at which you can be said to have fully integrated into a country is when you cheer for that nation – be it in sports, war or whatever – above all others. That is when you become a true citizen, as opposed to a long-term resident. And in most cases, I reckon, that takes at least a generation.

Related posts:

1. Football: The Way to a Nation’s Heart
2. Euro 2008
3. Celebrating the Holiday Season Abroad
4. Catalan Ban Spells the End of Bullfighting?
5. Repatriation Advantages