What is a boater?

Children of immigrants, of any variety, should be familiar with the term, boater. A boater is an immigrant; as in, "he/she just came in off the boat." (Note: a boater may have also arrived by airplane). It's usage is generally derogatory or insulting, meant to insinuate that the person in question is ignorant to modern, first world ideas and technology. Not all immigrants are boaters...some are able to seamlessly integrate into their new culture without causing undue stress or embarrassment to themselves or their children. A distinguishing feature of boaters is that they seem to be completely oblivious to the ridiculousness of their behavior. Instead, they feel that everyone else is preposterous.

In my case, I am the child of educated boaters. As far as immigration services were concerned, my parents were ideal additions to the country. My mother a doctor, my father an engineer; 40 years later they still make valuable contributions to society. Society ended at their doorstep, however. Within our home, all who crossed the threshold were subjected to the sometimes kind, sometimes cruel, emotional cocktail that is my parents.