Expat Hour

Moving abroad on a corporate expat package with massive benefits? Piece of crumb cake. But what about taking the plunge alone and job searching when you get there…and learning the language at the same time? You’re not alone if the thought of that situation sends you sprinting in the opposite direction.Meet Nicole, the bravest (and most hard working) woman you’ll ever know. She mustered up the courage to leave America with a new Master’s Degree and a basic grasp of the German language to start an adventure in Freiburg, Germany.We discuss:+ The ideal location of Philadelphia USA and a quest to find a comparable city elsewhere+ Living in the Deep South as a Yankee+ A financial journey- the struggles of working super hard to become self-sufficient, and continuing that pattern abroad+ Job seeking in Germany- becoming fluent and surviving on a very tight budgetEnjoy getting to know the delightful Nicole, host of The Expat Cast Podcast, and be inspired by her courageous spirit! Connect with NicoleThe Expat CastInstagramTwitter

Today's guest is Stephanie Ward of Firefly Coaching. She is an American/Dutchie who has been living in the Netherlands for 22 years now! We talk all about her personal story and move into her professional work as a business and marketing mentor.We discuss:+ Growing up in Tulsa, OK+ A surprise love story that turns into a move abroad+ Making a switch from the corporate world into entrepreneurship+ The 3 ways to secure your ideal clients+ How to connect authentically and meaningfully+ Her final thoughts on expat life and advice for fellow global citizensConnect with StephanieFirefly CoachingLinkedInInstagramFacebookYoutubeTwitterResources from today's episodehttp://www.sethgodin.com – see ‘Book, Courses, and More’ and http://www.altmba.com his podcast is AMAZING!http://www.thework.com – Byron Katie, for investigating stressful thoughtshttp://www.talencoach.nl - Albert Both, language teacherhttp://www.aabc.nl - Amsterdam American Business Clubhttp://www.meetup.comhttp://www.internations.orghttps://www.girlgoneinternational.com/Stephanie's BioStephanie Ward is the Business & Marketing Mentor for Small Business Owners who want to create a meaningful and prosperous business. Stephanie helps business owners get clear and then generate marketing ideas that are a perfect fit for them. Her passion is to help Small Business Owners make a living doing work they love. Her formal education consists of a Master’s degree in Communication and BBA degree in Business Management.______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Oh boy. Here it is. My life story in an hour. I sit down with my husband, Dustin to talk about moving around a lot, living in the four corners of the United States and finally making a move abroad.We discuss:+ How moving as a child influenced my personality and life skills+ The turning point of living in New York City and what that meant for us+ My original vision for my life and how my current reality is the exact OPPOSITE!+ Our first international move: Opening Pandora's boxMy life creed has unofficially become: "Does it scare me? Let's do it." Saying yes to as much as I can has provided incredible adventures (that are also very hard!) that have forced me into growth, and it's been life changing. Hope you enjoy!______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Dr. Anisha Abrahamis a pediatrician and teen health specialist based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was born to immigrant Indian parents and raised in Delaware, USA. She describes what it was like growing up as a minority and establishing her identity, taking pride in her cultural heritage while being raised in America. Shortly after meeting and marrying her German husband, Anisha along with their two very young children moved to Hong Kong for work. Their five years there were very impactful to Dr. Abrham’s development both professionally and personally. She talks about the impact of this experience and how it led to her interest in working specifically with global families. Dr. Abraham’s family then moved to Amsterdam where they now reside. The second half of the interview is a discussion about this historic time of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what teenagers can do to not only cope, but to thrive. Dr. Abraham refers to the acronym RESPECT, where: R=RoutinesE=ExpectationsS=StrengthsP=Positive BehaviorsE=EngagementC=CheersT=Technology Along with advice specific to teens, Dr. Abraham offers suggestions for younger children as well using the three C’s: 1. Content2. Child3. Connections Connect with Dr. Abraham 1. DrAnishaAbraham.com : Sign up for the monthly newsletter!2. Instagram3. Dr. Abraham's book, Raising Global Teens: Parenting in the 21st Century (Summertime Publishing) will be released this autumn in local bookstores and on Amazon. Resources mentioned in this episode 1. Common Sense Media: Resources for Families During the Pandemic2. Book explaining Corona Virus to Children______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

How about this success story? April had never seen an escalator until high school and thought Starbucks was a fictional store only in movies due to her rural upbringing. And now, she can proudly say she's thriving in Korea as a teacher and entrepreneur! April and Jackson talk about growing up in the States and their plan to start a life together. They wanted more than giving their entire paychecks to living expenses in Southern CA. So they made a plan that would maximize saving money and give them the lifestyle they wanted…and the answer lied in KOREA!That was 6 years ago and the couple has been living happily there ever since. We talk all about Korean culture -the good, the bad, and the ugly- and advice to expats everywhere.Hope you enjoy this chat with a super cool couple.Connect with April and JacksonThe Migooks PodcastThe Migooks YouTube ChannelApril's YouTube ChannelApril's instagramJackson's Podcast, Head Trip______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

"America First, but can we just say The Netherlands Second!" is the phrase that put made Greg Shapiro go viral here in the Netherlands. He is the talented Donald Trump impersonator and comedian causing laughs now for 25 years! Today he's giving us a peek into the man behind the stage: His upbringing in Chicago, Illinois, how he ended up getting steady gigs in Amsterdam, and the unexpected twist of meeting a girl who changed his plans. Greg gives some insight on what it's like for an American to raise a family in The Netherlands, how Dutch audiences are a tough crowd (!), and some great advice for aspiring comedians out there.Check out Greg's Hilarious spot, "America First, Netherlands Second."Connect with GregWebsite: Gregshapiro.nl Everything you need to know about Greg's projects and availabilityTwitter: @gregoryshapiroInstagram: @gregshapiro.nlfacebook: @gregshapirocomedianYouTube: @GregshapiroBuy Greg's StuffComedy Album, The Madness of King Donald: A Trump Survival GuideBook: How to be OrangeBook: How to be Dutch, The QuizWatch Greg Live!Check Greg's website for Boom Chicago Performances, Tour Dates and other booking events______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Norm, from Travel Younger is on to something big. He is a baby boomer who traveled to Europe at the age of 62 and was wow'ed by the quality of life he saw there. He returned later with his girlfriend in a quest to experience more.At the end of that trip, they decided to jump in with two feet. They decided to sell all they owned and travel around the world, staying 4-6 weeks at a time in one place. That was over a year ago and they are still going strong. His message is to baby boomers everywhere:+ You are NOT too old.+ It is NOT too expensive (in fact, can be much cheaper than the states!)+ And today's technology takes the hassle out of it all.Get ready to be inspired as Norm shares what he has learned and the logistics of how he is doing what he's doing!Connect with Norm!Travel Younger WebsiteTravel Younger Facebook AccountTravel Younger instagram AccountNorm's Personal Facebook accountNorm's book: Traveling the World, 6 Weeks at a Time, Volume 1Resources in this episode:1. Currency Convert App2. Google Translate3. Airbnb4. Booking.com5 Trip.com6. What's AppFind the Show Notes to this Episode here.______________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Eddie is a Venezuelan American who relocated from Texas to Germany as a 9 year old. That was 6 years ago, and his life is now looks completely different! In this episode he talks about:+ Attending a local German school and learning a new language+ Embracing Integration+ The main differences between the USA and Germany+ His identity and sense of "home"+ Life experiences that have impacted him in a major wayFinally, he ends with some advice for both expat kids/teens and their parents about how to thrive while living abroad.A must-listen for parents of kids and teens abroad!Connect with EddieRead Eddie's popular essay about being raised as a Latino Third Culture KidEddie's Mother, Flor can be found on instagram @LittleNomadasFlor's website ________________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

American photographer Carrie shares the story of her husband going to extremely great lengths to win her over. He wrote in his journal, "Should I really go through all of this just for a girl?" Short answer- he went through it. Find out if Carrie was impressed or not in this special bonus clip!Connect with CarrieCarrie's Photography site: CarrieStroudPhotographyPhotography instagramCarrie's personal instagram account________________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

In honor of Valentine's Day, my three guests share their stories happening at unexpected times and in surprising ways.I'm talking with:1. Marianna from HungaryMarianna's instagram pageFind her book, The Footloose Book here.2. Denise from The NetherlandsDenise's instagram pageDenise's coaching website, The Happy Outlander3. Cosette from AmericaCosette's instagram page________________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Mariam continues her timeline of moving abroad to Singapore, Dubai and Ghana, where she currently resides. Mariam discusses writing her praiseworthy book, "This Messy Mobile Life" and offers us invaluable wisdom about thriving while living abroad.Mariam can be reached at her website www.andthenwemovedto.comwhere you can find her book as well as recent posts about her family's life.Find Mariam on facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Show notes for this episode can be found here. ________________________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

Part 1 of my interview with Mariam Ottimofiore, author and seasoned expat of 15 years. She has lived in seven countries and fits every description of global life there is: She's an Adult Third Culture Kid in a Cross Culture Relationship, raising Multilingual, Multicultural Kids!During our interview, Mariam talks about:+ Living in Bahrain, New York City and Pakistan as a child+ Moving to Boston as a Muslim right after 9/11 + Studying abroad in Brighton and meeting her German/Italian husband+ The complications of their families planning a wedding to merge so many cultures while living on 4 separate continents!+ Becoming an "illiterate expat spouse" in Germany+ Adjusting and thriving in Denmark as an expatMariam is filled to the brim with fascinating stories, unique perspectives and the collective wisdom of a decade and a half of living abroad.Mariam has recently authored a book about navigating a global life entitled This Messy Mobile Life. She also writes regularly on her blog, And Then We Moved To.Find Mariam on facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Find show notes for this episode here.

Mari is a Peruvian/American who faced the same difficult challenge as her mother— that is, meeting a special someone at work and having to choose to continue life as is or leave it all behind for love.We hear her mother’s story and how it influenced Mari in a major way and even set the stage for what she would face later on.Mari talks about spending summers in Peru, big dreams of becoming an author, taking the plunge to transfer jobs in a completely new language, and making a new country a permanent home.Find show notes to this episode, including more pictures here.ResourcesDemocrats AbroadMeet Up Connect with MariFind Mari's book, "The God Queen" here.Mara's YouTube ChannelMari's instagramMari's facebookMari's TwitterMari's Professional Website and follow her adventures in Germany here.________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

How are Americans like peaches and Austrians like coconuts? Katie explains this metaphor and more as she delves into Austrian culture with me.Katie is an American from Missouri with Russian and German heritage. As a young teenager she decided to study German in high school. That one simple choice put her on a path that would dramatically influence her life.In this episode we talk about her move to Austria to improve her German, and the rich culture she encountered. She talks about:+ The Austrian wedding tradition of stealing the bride+ Leaving her American mark in a gymnastics gym that still plays "Duck Duck Goose"+ The significance of the waltz and Austrian Ball season+ Meeting a cute Austrian guy who later became her husbandEnjoy this delightful and light hearted conversation between Katie and me.Find Show notes to this episode (including more pictures!) here.Resources: 1. Meet Up- Join a local group to meet people2. Duo Lingo- The world's best way to learn a language on the goConnect with KatieKatie's Instagram: @acultureapieceKatie's website about culture and travel: www.acultureapiece.comSubscribe to Katie's newsletter here.___________________________________Follow Expat Hour on instagram and facebook.Subscribe to the blog or sign up to be a guest on the show at www.expathour.com

OHHHH boy, the tables are turned today and I'm in the hot seat alone! My turn to be very vulnerable as I share important lessons I learned last year and how I've incorporated them into my current life.I talk about my work background in NYC, my first big failure after starting the podcast, and taking the first painful steps in reclaiming my sense of self after being a SAHM for almost a decade.Here are my top 3 takeaways:1. The Law of Attraction (Influenced in part by Amy Porterfield)2. Creating a Vision Board (influenced by Audrey Mezas)3. Investing in myself...through childcare! (Influenced by a particular episode of Tandem Nomads Podcast #139).2019 was a whirlwind of a year with constant change, assessment, readjustment, and going back to the drawing board!Find the show notes to this episode here.Connect with my top 3 influencers!Amy Porterfield: instagram, facebook, websiteAudrey Mezas: instagram, facebook, websiteAmel Derragui: instagram, facebook, website

Three International friends sit down together to share Christmas traditions from their home countries. Jessica is German/American, Olga is Dutch and Marta is Polish. We talk about Santa Claus, threats made to keep our children in line, and food. Oh my gosh, the FOOD! Lots of laughs in this light hearted cheery episode as we get in the Christmas spirit. Find show notes to this episode here.

When Orhan was studying to be an architect, a twist of fate introduced him to sales and he quickly learned he had a natural gift. He took a bold leap of faith to apply for a job for which he was completely unqualified that ultimately paved the way for his future career.Later on, Orhan fell in love with the world of social media and what it could do for entrepreneurs and corporations. He educated himself on everything there was to learn and started his own businesses offering social media marketing. He founded Hello Expat® and O.P. Product Management® and now offers social media training and strategies throughout Holland.Find the show notes for this episode here.Connect with Orhan:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Audrey Mezas is the founder of Expat in Amsterdam and executive lifestyle manager.Not only does she have endless stories to tell of her fascinating life living in Tahiti, Australia, America, and the Netherlands, but she is also a successful business woman and entrepreneur. After accomplishing her dreams of being a flight attendant and singer, She then built a brand and team of 60+ experts as part of her company helping expats, executives & VIPs get settled quickly in the Netherlands.But it gets even better- Audrey is warm and inviting, and her mantra is “How can I help you?” If you work in business or want some captivating stories, you don’t want to miss this one.Connect with Audrey:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterFind Audrey's show notes here.

How do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving around the world? Three American guests share their tips and ideas of celebrating this and other holidays while living abroad. We are talking with:Rachael in Dubai Caitlin in Seattle (by way of the UK)Jodi in Brussels (by way of Japan, Dominican Republic, and Madagascar)We discuss favorite Thanksgiving memories, logistics of meal planning, and some good old fashioned turkey mishaps.

Ruth and her family are from Antwerp, Belgium, a country with blended language and culture. A self motivated achiever, Ruth loved learning from an early age, especially languages. She speaks Dutch, French, German, English, Italian, and Mandarin. Wow.After graduating university, working for a major international company and having three children, Ruth branched out on her own as an entrepreneur consulting to a major diamond manufacturer. Life was beautiful...until her husband brought the news that they had an opportunity to move to Shanghai, China. Ruth discusses all the details of experiencing the wonder of this distant land, and how she showed up with courage to meet the coming challenges.Find Ruth's show notes here.Ruth's recommended resources for living in ChinaRuth's favorite places in ShanghaiConnect with Ruth on instagram

We continue our interview with self-proclaimed "Global Happiness Coach" Talu (True Awareness Coaching) shares her fascinating life story. In this episode Talu discusses:+ Moving to America and starting a family+ Soul searching about her shifting roles+ Moving to China as a family of 4+ New Career opportunities+ Moving to Hamburg, Germany and finding her true purposeAs one who has lived and traveled abroad, learned many languages, and adjusted to over 6 international moves, Talu is uniquely situated to offer coaching to global citizens everywhere.Connect with TaluInstagramFacebookLinkedInWebsite

Self-proclaimed "Global Happiness Coach" Talu (True Awareness Coaching) shares her fascinating life story. Raised as a third culture kid in the UK, Talu's interest in culture and travel led to an international career in aviation management. After her first big move to Geneva, Switzerland, Talu married her husband, a German native raised in Japan. Together they started a new chapter as a family abroad, this time in Indonesia. A few years later, Germany came calling! At the end of part 1, Talu and her husband find yet another opportunity to move abroad. Stay tuned for part 2.Talu discusses:+ Mixed culture families and marriages+ Tackling the question "Where are you from?"+ Investing in self discovery to find your true purpose+ Evolving careers as a "trailing spouse"+ The importance of learning local languages+ Expat life in Switzerland, Indonesia and GermanyAs one who has lived and traveled abroad, learned many languages, and adjusted to over 6 international moves, Talu is uniquely situated to offer coaching to global citizens everywhere.Connect with TaluInstagramFacebookLinkedInWebsite

Expat Teen James talks about moving from the UK to Qatar as a young child and the dramatic difference between those two worlds. He talks about unique experiences with the culture and holidays abroad. He then discusses moving to a tiny town in Germany where he learns German and integrates with the local community. Not long after, the family moves to The Netherlands, where they currently reside.After getting settled in a new country, James then faces another transition--gender reassignment. His tremendous courage is met with open acceptance from peers and family. He offers advice to fellow transgender teens as well as to parents and teachers in how they can offer support.James talks in detail about the impact living abroad has had on his life, and what he envisions for the future.Parents especially will not want to miss this incredible episode by an outstanding teen!Find the shownotes for James here.

Three of my dear friends join me in talking about repatriation back to the United States. We discuss what they were most looking forward to when heading back home, the things that have been a hard adjustment, moving "home without moving home," and much more.We take a dip into the comparison between public schools in America compared to International Schools in Europe, and how the kids ages 4-19 have adjusted.A fun, light hearted chat among friends offers advice and wisdom about living abroad, and then moving

Leila is an inspiring woman who wears many hats. This daughter of middle eastern immigrants grew up in Southern California. She married her husband (also middle eastern) and a few years later they decided to connect with their roots. They moved the family to Lebanon, learned the language, started a business, and bonded as a family. Later on they lived in Malta off the Italian coast, and finally landed in the Netherlands.Leila shares her thoughts on expat life and the wisdom she has gleaned over the years. She touches on:+ Keeping children connected to their ancestral roots+ The importance of teaching children their cultural language+ Staying connected while living abroad+ Starting a family business abroad and exposing the kids to work+ Balancing work, life and motherhoodLeila is truly inspirational and has endless drops of wisdom. Find the shownotes to Leila's episode here.

Patrick gives a sample of the German Language

German expat Patrick Hesse from Lifestyle Unleashed shares his life story as well as his online business helping expats find their truest version of themselves.He discusses:+ Early years in a small town in Germany pre-social media+ Coming out to his family and friends as gay+ Discovering his love of helping others and becoming an Occupational Therapist+ Losing his father at an early age+ Meeting his partner and relocating to Canada+ Nuances of expat life abroad+ Changing careers to become a mentor for expats in building their own businesses abroadConnect with Patrick:FacebookInstagramWebsiteFind the shownotes to Patrick's episode here.

Today I sit down with British native Hugo, who was born into a navy family. He moved around a bit as a child until he went off to boarding school in southern England at age 8. He tells the details of those experiences, and his gap year in Pakistan. He later moved to Amsterdam, first for his job, and then a second time years later for his wife's job. Hugo started a flower subscription business that didn't go as planned, but catapulted him into his next pursuit: Our Endeavour. He started this company as a means to integrate new expats into the international community in Hilversum. Together with his business partner and Dutch real estate partners, he offers housing, relocation, and integration services. A part of the international community himself, he has his ear to the ground on the comings and goings of expats in the area, so can facilitate the moves without the expats having to stress about it. Hugo also offers thoughts on The Netherlands, expat life, and future plans for his family. Find the shownotes for episode 15 here.

Part 2 of my interview with Kadri and Idil wherein they discuss:+ Their first expat assignment from the US to Dubai+ The difficult adjustment period of relocating+ Repatriating back to America (their most difficult move yet).+ Relationship tips for a strong partnership during expat challenges+ Reflections on expat living and advice for anyone contemplating it.Bask in the wisdom of these two seasoned expats as they tell the rest of their story. Find show notes to Episode 13 and 14 here.

Turkish couple Kadri and Idil share their success story of capturing the American Dream. They discuss:+ Life and culture in Turkey + First exposures to other cultures and the desire to see more.+ The struggle of gaining English proficiency with America being the end goal+ Working hard to save enough money to attend MBA school in America+ Adjusting to life in the USAThey both go on to receive their MBAs while juggling work and becoming new parents to twins. Their story continues as they support one another in various corporate opportunities and moves within the country. Part 1 ends with the opportunity for an international move to Dubai. Continue in Part 2!Find show notes to Episode 13 and 14 here.

American Expat Tia describes moving to Lebanon at age 6 and what it was like to integrate with the local culture including learning Arabic. She talks about adjusting to life in another country, making friends, and how her family grew closer together as a result of the move. After six years it was time for another move, this time to Malta. She talks about life as an expat there, studying at an all-girls school, and being an expat teenager. Tia had one final expat move at the age of sixteen, when her family came to the Netherlands. She was nervous about what fitting in, but soon discovered a warm and welcoming social environment at her international school. Tia's insight is a valuable resource to teens and parents of expat teens. In the interview, Tia will specifically discuss:+ Keeping in touch with friends after moving+ Local integration/school/language AND international school/Native language+ Advice for other teens becoming expats+ How this lifestyle has helped her prepare for the future.Find the shownotes to episode 12 here.

Danish Expat Linda discusses culture and lifestyle in Denmark, including dating relationships, Hygge, weddings and work/life balance. After attending University in Copenhagen where she met her husband, the couple and their new baby relocated on their first expat assignment to Australia. Linda describes what a big adjustment that was for her and how she had to step way out of her comfort zone to build a community. The move sparked her desire to create a Scandinavian inspired clothing line for kids and she built a business from scratch. It all came to a halt when complications from a pregnancy forced them to move once more. This time they landed in The Netherlands and Linda started over again with equal passion for a new business bringing Hygge to Holland. Enjoy this unique story of a trailing spouse turned expat entrepreneur!Find the shownotes to Episode 11 here.

Belle and Vic from The Xpat Family share the story of how they traded in suburbia for a life of nomadic family travel for three years now and counting. In this episode, Belle and Vic tell the story of meeting each other, settling down in a nice house and working 9-5. Everything was going well until one day they realized they were bored. In this episode, they discuss making that initial decision and all the logistics of their nomadic travel including:Making the jump from working 9-5 at corporate jobs to moving abroadChoosing the itinerary or places to goMaking money when the funds run lowHaving a baby while living abroadEducating their children while traveling nomadicallyIntegrating into the local cultures Their favorite countries and whyAdvice for anyone considering this type of lifestyleAnd much moreVic and Belle can be found on Instagram, facebook, and youtube. A very inspiring story for anyone curious about Africa, Asia, and nomadic family travel.Find the shownotes to this episode here.

In this episode, we interview American expat Melissa Parks, PhD from Seattle, Washington. Her story is one of perseverance and making your dreams come true. Melissa discusses overcoming an eating disorder, studying abroad in Europe, the long and difficult path to getting a PhD in Spain (in Spanish!), mixed culture relationships, and repatriation. Melissa offers online coaching services to expats from all over the world both in English and Spanish, at www.intentionalexpat.com She currently resides in Seattle, Washington with her Venezuelan husband and new puppy.Find the shownotes to Episode 9 here.

French Expat Fanny discusses losing her father at an early age and how it pushed her into independence. Her ambition and hard work led to a Phd in International law, expat work in the Netherlands, starting her own legal translation/teaching business and authoring four books. She also talks about being in a mixed culture relationship and work/life balance after having a baby. Find the shownotes to Episode 8 here.

On our first ever Expat Coffee Chat we discuss the adjustment to life in Holland as expats; specifically what was hard and what were some pleasant surprises. Join Joelle, Tracy, Janice, and I as we have a lighthearted chat about practice tips moving to The Netherlands, as well as some fun stories. Find more info at expathour.com

South African Expat Tresia discusses the political issues in South Africa and her formative years. After marrying her husband, they relocated from South Africa to Hong Kong for her husband's work. This was a big adjustment, especially because Tresia had to figure out the options for having a baby in Hong Kong as she was pregnant with their oldest daughter. She was able to continue work in the optometry field and further her career as an expat in Hong Kong and enjoyed stability there with her family. Seven years later, her husband received an offer to relocate from Hong Kong to the Netherlands, so they signed up for a second expat adventure. Enjoy this inspiring story from a modern Renaissance woman. Find her show notes here.

Ashley grew up in Florida, USA. Her interest in other cultures was awakened by an inspirational French class teacher in high school. This inspired Ashley to major in French, study abroad in Paris, and to try and marry a European. Her husband Andrew was offered a graphic design job in Amsterdam and thus began their expat journey. When the assignment was over, they weren't ready to go home. Instead they lived a nomadic lifestyle and traveled the world, visiting 11 different countries in a 9 month period and with a toddler in tow! Ashley's sense of adventure proved an enormous asset as she connected with total strangers and often ended up as guests in their home. These experiences taught her the goodness in humanity and that there is a common language of the world. Love. Find her show notes page here.

British Expat Jules discusses life after returning home from India, having her third child at age 40 and becoming a foster parent to eight children. She and her family embark again on an expat adventure to the Netherlands, which has been a positive period of growth and perspective. Find her show notes here.

British-native Jules had her first expat experience at age 9 when her family moved to Bangalore, India. These two worlds could not have been more different from each other. The sights, sounds, smells and chaos awakened her to the amazing diversity the world has to offer. She shares the details of integrating with the locals and loving their rich culture, as well as the adventures that await in the jungles of India. She closes with the struggle of repatriation as going back to her normal life in the UK as a completely different person seemed an impossible task. Find her show notes here.

Gillian goes into detail discussing her career as an expat in Dubai, and how she was able to maintain an upward progression, while integrating with the native Emirates. She talks about what it was like to move back to the Netherlands, but this time with children and taking on a new role-full time mom! Gillian has a wealth of knowledge about education, integration, and building community as an expat. Find her show notes at expathour.com.

Gillian describes her childhood in native Ireland, backpacking through South Africa and Australia in her twenties, and meeting her Dutch husband in a compelling love story. She and her family spent over a decade in Dubai, where she learned the ins and outs of expat life as well as integrating with the native Emirate people, all while raising young children. Find her show notes at expathour.com.

In this episode, I introduce myself as the Host of Expat Hour Podcast, and tell about how our family became expats. I discuss my vision for the podcast and the three underlying objectives: inspiring expat stories; resources for expats worldwide; and acceptance and awareness of cultures and countries. Find out more about me and the mission of Expat Hour at Expat Hour's home page.