Comment by piker
15 hours ago
If he was writing to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga, it might make sense to describe himself as an immigrant. If his audience is largely American, though, the story is much more clear with "expat".
15 hours ago
If he was writing to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga, it might make sense to describe himself as an immigrant. If his audience is largely American, though, the story is much more clear with "expat".
Yep.
"Goodbye, USA friend, I am emigrating to Tonga so I won't see you again."
"Hello my new Tongan neighbor! I am an immigrant to your beautiful country."
"Hey, buddies at my high school reunion, I'm doing great thanks! I am an expat living in Tonga these days."
"Emigrant" exists but almost unused (perhaps other than in specialist policy writing.) "Expat" is the common agent noun for "Emigrate."