They're local people, but they live in another hemisphere. Many haven't visited Manchester for years, but they drop in every day, catching up on the local news, chatting with relatives or looking up an old friend.
They're local people, but they live in another hemisphere. Many haven't visited Manchester for years, but they drop in every day, catching up on the local news, chatting with relatives or looking up an old friend.
They do this not by astral projection or a private jet but via the Internet, connecting with exciting new locally-based websites such as Virtual Manchester, Eyewitness in Manchester, Chorlton Web, and the long-awaited Manchester Evening News Website, providing local information and features for a growing Internet community here, and helping those abroad to keep in touch with home.
But just exactly...
WHO ARE THE EXPAT VIRTUAL MANCUNIANS? AND WHAT DO THEY MISS ABOUT HOME?WRITTEN BY AIDAN O'ROURKE (aidan@anamaria.u-net.com)
A recent e-mail questionnaire was sent out to overseas users of Manchester websites, and their answers were revealing and often surprising. Contrary to the impression that Internet are under-25 techno-nerds, the people who log into Manchester websites come from all age groups. Most live in the USA, Canada and Australia, where both British expat communities and Internet use are well established. Many haven't seen Manchester for decades, though a few come home regularly. They left their home city as long ago as 50 years and as recently as a month or so.
They moved abroad for a variety of reasons, including marriage, divorce, once in a lifetime job offers, a lack of opportunities here, and often sheer wanderlust. Middleton, Wythenshawe, Moss Side, Longsight, Old Trafford, Chorlton, Ashton, Eccles and Denton are among their localities of origin. Wisconsin, Dominica, Ontario, Syracuse, California, Brisbane, Canberra, Alberta and San Francisco are some of the places they emigrated to.
Their careers are as diverse as the people themselves: Nurse, singer-songwriter, mechanic, marketing executive, company Vice President, IT manager, computer programmer, graphic designer, chef, university professor and webmaster are among the job titles given.
They remember their home areas as friendly, safe and caring, but also depressed, colourless and rainy. They miss relatives, friends, old pubs, Hollands' pies, old buildings, wine gums, United, night clubs,the music scene, the sense of humour, the rain, the shops, the public transport, air shows, bakers' shops, and small vegetables. Among the things they don't miss are, the rain, the cold, emptying the grate, the dirty streets, the "knuckle" mentality, the taxes, the long winter, the traffic and the pollution.
In their adopted countries they enjoy the climate, the salaries, the educational and employment opportunities, low taxes, the outdoor lifestyle and natural environment. Many haven't been back for forty years. The ones that return regularly are impressed by how much the city has changed, and goes on changing, and often finding their home areas unrecognisable. People notice heavier traffic, and say it's more expensive and less safe. Some say things have got worse, others notice a great improvement. Most are very happy in their adopted countries, but a few suffer from homesickness, and have a passion for anything connected with their home city and country.
They all use the Internet regularly to keep in touch with home. They surf the Internet for up to forty hours a week, of which up to two hours are spent with Manchester websites.
Though generally very pleased with the present service, they wish there was a full Internet version of the Manchester Evening News website, with regular news updates, and they would like to see the services of the libraries and record office placed online.
Nearly all the expats are proud of their Manchester origins, and quote cotton, Boddingtons, United, rain, smog, great bands, the Industrial revolution, Eccles cakes, splitting the atom, Alcock and Brown and winners in every field, as among the things Manchester's famous for. Here are summaries of the answers they gave. Their e-mail addresses are in brackets. Some have personal websites too. If you know them, they'd probably love to hear from you!
If you're featured in the article, please check your details are correct, and e-mail me with any corrections. If you haven't, please watch out for the updated version of this article, to appear shortly.