Documenting the Worldwide Expatriate Experience
My dream assignment is to document the expatriate experience worldwide, using real-life expats to reimagine historical paintings, iconic photographs and famous literary passages depicting travel and expat life.
Ernest Hemingway. Peggy Guggenheim. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Jackie Onassis. Josephine Baker. Jim Morrison. Gertrude Stein. Pablo Picasso. Madonna and Johnny Depp! These are the famous faces of expatriation, and their stories read like legends; but there are millions around the world, from every walk of life, who currently call another country home.
Who are they? What are their lives like? What inspired them to live in a land far from friends, family and familiar surroundings? My dream assignment is to discover the answers to these and many other questions people have about the expatriate experience.
Some may ask, why not write a book? As an American expat who splits her time between Rome and the South of France, I find that I'm able to explain my own experience more fully, and more realistically, through photography.
Take that phrase, for example - “an American expat who splits her time between Rome and the South of France.” Doesn’t my life sound glamorous? Do you imagine me sipping Champagne on Mediterranean beaches all day long? Well, to be honest, I have done that once or twice. But the photographs I take reveal a daily routine much like yours - I’m just choosing to do it in places other than New Jersey, where my legal residence, bank account and childhood memories reside; or New York, where I was a fast-talking, bagel-eating grown-up for 14 years.
So, the $50,000 question remains: How will I carry out my Dream Assignment?
I plan to research historical paintings, iconic photographs and famous literary passages depicting travel and expat life in a wide variety of locations worldwide. (From my preliminary research, there should be about 10 cities on four continents on my final list.) Then I will travel to those places, meet with expats, and tell their stories in words and pictures on the Dream Assignment blog. The expats I meet will then become the subjects of my main photography project, modern-day reimaginings of the expat-focused art research.
My own expatriate experience has inspired me not only to photograph expats in their habitats (natural or otherwise), but to do so in a way that brings the true expat experience to light in the hopes that it will inspire others to follow their dreams all the way to the arrivals gate at their destination.
74 Comments
This is an awesome one! you have my "PIC". My dream is to documant and expose a fatal war taking place in the Congo. Check it out and pleaseeee return the vote!
lovely idea. I voted for you, perhaps you can read my proposal and return the favor.
Voted for you. Good luck, gorgeous!
Dunni
In bocca al lupo!
great idea! and cannot think of a better person to take it on.
Voted for you, chica!! In bocca al lupo!
This is incredibly intriguing! Amazing dream! Best of luck and you have my "PIC" - please check out my dream of furthering peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Thanks!!
Will my can of beer wrapped in a $5 bill be delivered to my home or office? That is my going rate here in New Mexico USA for general and primary elections.
done.
Buona Fortuna Bella!!!
Ya got my PIC.
Voted... good luck bella
I have my Fingers Crossed!!!
voted - good luck!! your dream assignment is awesome!
Done and success!
Good luck darling!!
I voted for you baby and hope you win BIG TIME!!
Done, done, done! Live the dream, girl!
voted.
done and done!
Good luck hon! Your proposal is awesome...
good luck bella ! I really hope you get this.. you deserve it :)
leo
Good luck Miss Expatria, waiting for you here in Istanbul -- especially the women of the Expat Harem, a community (like your project) inspired by the land's history. In our case, we're a modern counterpart to the foreign women who made up the Ottoman sultan's harem. Anastasia www.expatharem.com
Katie Mack in NYC is a loyal soldier in your creative campaign. I very much enjoyed your blog and photos. Anyone on the edge of walking from the madness that is the US will be swayed by your words. Best of luck with this contest but, regardless of the outcome, continue to do what you do.
go for it kiddo -best of luck
Go get them!!!
Done dealio! Your biggest fan, your cousin T xo :)
WIN!
Voted. Good luck!
Voted 4 u, good luck! -- kathy Hogan
I voted for you. Good luck - Joy
I was #69 - love it!
Go RG!
vote good luck
My going rate for voting is a bag of Cheetos. You should so win this.
In bocca al lupo, bellezza!
I voted - good luck! Love, Ellen
Voted! Good luck!
Knock "em dead.
good luck darling sweetie darling
Amazing concept!! GOOD LUCK!!
Terri's cousin here...best of luck
A friend of Terri's voted for you. Good Luck!!
Voted ;-)
Sandra's husband voted for you, GOOD LUCK!
You guys are all awesome, thanks for breaking me into the Top 100! Now, harass your friends until they vote, too - and let's get on the Top 10!! Christine
I voted !
Sounds like a terrific assignment. Good for you.
Voted ;-)
Voted. Tried to before, but my confirm email never came :( Tried again and it worked! Good Luck!!
A cousin of Terri voted for you youy
good luck! fingers are crossed. - karen heller
Good luck, Ben and I'll get Missy to vote also plus a few other friends of mine.
Good luck, Miss Thing! Voted and done for your romantic and illustrious plan.
Voted for you! May you wishes come true ;)
yeah
Good luck!
Cleverly written essay. Best of luck with your project. Voted.
Check out my project on innovation and technology as change for the developing world and my portfolio here: http://maclellanimages.com/blog1/galleries/
Good Luck from NJ- E.
Good luck lady!!
YAY! Just voted. Good luck MissExpat! You deserve it!
Just voted for you. Good luck MissExpat!
You have my vote, If you get the chance, check out my dream "From Australia With Love" and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for it!
Thanks.
-Adam
pic'd #172 :) good luck!
Voted for your proposal
I want to go to there!
I voted for you.
Buona fortuna!
In Bocca al Lupo! I just voted :-)
Voted! Good luck.
friend of Trinity's. Voted for you! Sounds like a great project. Please let me know if you ever want to photograph expat ballet dancers...I know a few!
Hope you win!!! Best wishes & good luck!!!
Please check out my idea: http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/richs85/making-peace-with-the-world-peace-corps-at-50/
Voted for you. Don't forget to vote for yourself. Good luck with the project.
Would you mind looking at my small cat species assignment to see if you are interested in voting for it?
Thanks and take care,
Sebastian