The Influence of Expat Living on Self Identity
http://frenglishthoughts.com/does-expat-living-influence-your-self-identity/

I think the main explanation can be found in the fact that the initial challenge I set myself on settling in France was to immerse myself so totally in the everyday life, culture and language of the country as to become as much of a native as I possibly could. One of the things this meant was having the least possible contact with my countrymen.