The Moving Overseas Podcast, Family Edition

Listen to some essential pieces of advice from families, moving specialists, relocation professionals and expat experts on how to make a move to the US. All these folks have been there, done it, settled on this side of the pond and share their tips for setting up and getting settled. This episode guarantees helpful advice for those considering or making that move. This is the final episode in the US season and the podcast will now be on ice until 2022… Stay tuned.

As a seasoned expat, Deborah has lived, studied, and worked in 5 different countries on 3 continents. Her own experience, coupled with her observation of other people'sexperiences, motivated her to search for answers as to why we sometimes fail when moving to a new culture, and more importantly how to increase the chances of success.This quest led Deborah to pursue a Master's in Intercultural Psychology and complete a coaching certification at ICC (International Coaching Community), she is also a certified trainer and NLP Practitioner. In this episode, Deborah shares her top tips and pieces of expert advice for expats and expats-to-be so they can overcome the challenges of moving and create their best life abroad.

Marloes Verhoeven shares her ‘scandalous' story of a move to the USA 20 years ago from the Netherlands and what life has been like raising a family here as well as studying and starting her own business here. Marloes discusses her likes & dislikes of life in America and flags up some extremely important points for those considering starting a life here with a family.

How do you prepare for such a big move? In what order should you complete the tasks? What often gets forgotten? How can you stop the feeling of overwhelm? In this episode, I chat to Professional Mover, Anna Viaud who has moved several times herself internationally and helped countless others do the same. Anna is a wealth of useful information! If you are prepping for a move, this is essential listening…

Find out how dad and academic Robby Mazza moved to the US with his family and pick up some invaluable tips & advice he has for families making that move for the first time. How do you buy or lease a car with no credit score? What is the school system like? What are the benefits to living in the US with your family? Robby shares his experience on all of these points and more.

In this episode I speak to Danni Blackburn who moved to Chicago in the US with her husband and 2 young daughters. We dive into the benefits of city living v.s suburbs and what living in downtown with a young family is like. Danni talks about schools in Chicago, things to do on their doorstep and shares tips for families considering a move there themselves.

I interview British mum, Nicola Robinson, who moved over to Chicago from West Yorkshire in England for her new job, along with her husband and 2 children. Nicola talks about the overwhelming process of the actual move, getting set up in the US, finding schools, the differences and everything else in between. Top tips & advice on things you'll need to know if you're making a move to Chicago

It's the first episode of the new season where we're focusing on a move to the USA! Want to know what life is like here? Want to hear about schools, the housing market, the tax system, the healthcare system? Welcome along! But first, you might want to consider the questions you should be asking before you make that decision. Even if you've done your research, you might not have got the advice you need from folks who have actually been there and done it.

Want some inside info…? In this episode I go through the top 15 pieces of advice from families I interviewed during the UAE series. These are invaluable tips to those moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah for the first time from folks who have been through the process. An essential listen for newbies!

The episode between sisters… Join Ana & while we discuss life in Dubai! Ana is the Drive Time Host on ‘Yalla Home' on Pulse 95 in the UAE. She's also the Global voice of Emirates and won herself a Sony award for her breakfast show in the UK. Ana joins me to talk about the last ten years working and bringing up her kids in Dubai and I get her reaction to the recent announcement from the UAE government to offer citizenship to eligible residents for the first time ever. Having lived there 10 years, Ana has all the inside info you need if you're making a move there yourself.

In this episode I chat with Big Hass, host of the ‘Yalla Home' Drive-Time Show on Sharjah's Pulse 95 in the UAE about life with his wife and son in Sharjah. Hass is a Saudi national and is responsible for introducing hip hop to Saudi - he hosts a Hip-Hop Show on Mix FM. He also hosts a very popular show on Youtube called Buckle Up - think James Corden's driving show but with hip hop guests - you get the idea! Hass teaches rhythm & poetry and is the founder of Re-Volt Blog and Re-Volt Magazine. Last month Hass teamed up with UK DJ & Radio Host Charlie Sloth to film the first Arab show of Fire In The Booth which they filmed on the palm in Dubai. Hass lives in Sharjah with his wife & young son and is a big advocate for children with Autism. We chat about what prompted his move to Sharjah, his life there and the benefits for his son. Big Up Big Hass!

In episode 10, I chat with Leila Choughari about her decision to leave Lebanon 18 years ago while working with Emirates as a flight attendant to start a new life in Dubai. Leila discusses why her and her family have stayed so long and what they love in particular about life in the UAE. Now a Real Estate Agent, Leila knows the ins and outs of renting & buying property in Dubai.

In episode 9, I chat with Emma Jordan; Wife, Mom and Personal Fitness Trainer who has lived in Dubai for 7 years. Emma shares her experience of moving over, living in Dubai as a family and also offers tips and advice for families looking to relocate there.

Find out what life in Dubai was like for American mom & HR professional Erin Haynes who lived in the UAE with her family for 10 years before recently re-locating back to the States. Erin discusses life in Dubai for herself and her 3 boys, some of the challenges they faced and also shares some invaluable pieces of advice for families looking to move there…

In the first of the new season where the focus is on moving to the UAE, I talk to Rozmari Chakarova, a Bulgarian/American Mom who moved over to Dubai with her family in 2019. We discuss that whole process, the challenges and how she finds life living in Dubai.

The episode where I share my list of things I wish I had known before moving overseas; the bits that no one tells you. Also, the stuff I wish I'd researched more. I felt compelled to tag this episode on to the end of Season 1, after so many of them came to mind during the recording of the previous 5 episodes. I'm quite sure they're mostly things you won't have realized yet…

There are so many things to think about before making the decision to move overseas. There are so many things you need to know. This episode is all about answering as many of those questions. If you have a burning question, it may well be covered in this episode.

Oh the joys of an international move! The wonderful thing about moving overseas is that it's a big adventure and no matter what, things will happen and you will have stories to tell for the rest of your life! In this episode, I share some of my own stories. The good and the bad. From crashing the rental car in Dubai to being pinched by a scorpion in Canada and more….

The come down after the build up to your overseas move. A pivotal time. It can be a very lonely time. How to combat those feelings and start your new life away from everything and everyone you've known. Find groups. Don't hide. Be brave. Expect to feel dumb. Expect to feel lonely. Expect to miss your family…. It will all be worth it!

Have you visited where you're moving to? How to plan that visit. Have you considered tax? Your visas? How will you support yourselves? Those (stressful) trips back home once you're living overseas. Making a budget: Don't underestimate the COST!!! We'll discuss all things to consider before making the move….

Start a checklist! It's all about the giant checklist and being organized!

Louise Rook, former radio host, mother of two boys, wife to one husband (!) and four time international mover. Let's talk about moving countries with your family and all the crazy that goes with that! Find out how my family & I have made 3 moves in the past 12 years and let me help you do the same…