In this episode our Hot Topic was Things to Do Before You Go. Kirsty posted about how she was feeling in the weeks and days before the final decision was made in the company merger. Both 4 kids, 20 suitcases and a beagle and the Two Fat Expats group had lots of great advice. You can hear it all in this week’s podcast, along with the the other regular chatter.

From the Two Fat Expat group

Getting ready to record today’s podcast. For those who don’t know my husband is waiting to hear his fate in a recent merger. I’ve had fantastic advice on what to buy/do if our expat adventure is about to end (it’s evidently all about the rugs and lamps) but it’s really got me asking the philosophical and fiscal questions. If it all ended tomorrow what would you hope you had done – what was your mission at the beginning of your expat adventure. House paid off? School fees covered. A good share portfolio? Did you have a set financial goal when you began?

Kirsty’s social media

Podcasts – More Don’t Shoot the Messenger

Watching – The Big Sick, The Circle, Sisters, Trackdown, The Letdown

Reading – A man called Ove

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Conversations – The Adoption, Common Ground

Watching – Listen To America – A Huffpost Road Trip, Catastrophe Season 3

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

International Schooling, first discussed in Season 1 Episode 10, is revisited this week as there is always so much to discuss. In  Season 4 – Episode 8 we discuss the many facets of international schooling. We were also lucky to interview an International School parent and an International School teacher.  Other topics from the Two Fat Expats Facebook group this week, the amazing Two Fat Expats location map, explain your expat life in a GIF, the first Doha TFE book group and a coffee morning in Paris.

Hot Topic of the week was a return to International Schooling. We launched the conversation in the Facebook group with this post that generated lots of discussion.

Okay here we go…International Schools. I’ve often spoke of the incredible opportunities International Schools offer: intercultural experiences, international curriculum and a sense of community within community. But today I’d love to hear your thoughts on the pitfalls or if there are any. I often hear of “gaps” in education with kids moving around but what about the kids who are long term expats in the same location? Do those kids suffer from the constant relocation of teachers? Do they miss out on the traditions of a school because the school is constantly evolving with new ideas from new staff. And who is left accountable in an international school eg when it’s discovered five years later that a change in the way math was taught is actually a disaster and the person who implemented the change (the changed looked great on their CV) is now far away in Boogoodoogoo as the Middle School Principal. What are your thoughts and experiences?

Amanda’s Instagram account of her Greek life can be found here

Kirsty’s social media

Podcasts – Conversations – Helen Razer episode, Head Room – Tiny Issue, Big Argument, Ladies We Need to Talk – Fat Talk

Watching – The Founder, Doctor Doctor  and Glow

 

Nikki’s social media

 

Podcasts – Conversations – Hugh Riminton episodes

Watching – Poldark (Can be found on BBC or Masterpiece (US))

Other- The Party – A virtual experience of Autism

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our

Drinks anyone? In  Season 4 – Episode 7 we talked about drinking habits of expats. There were many heartfelt responses from the group both in the public forum and sent privately to us as administrators. Other topics from the Two Fat Expats Facebook group this week, finding a Uni in the UK, facebook memories after relocation (and repatriation) and the sadness they bring, and the #metoo social media reach.

Repatriation episodes mentioned were

What’s it like to Repatriate? Season 1 – Episode 16

The Happy Repat. Season 3 – Episode 14

Hot Topic of the week was to do with drinking while in an expat environment and many of the associated issues. The group offered a lot of insight into this topic.  An informal poll on the topic gave overwhelming results indicating that many felt that being an expat increased their drinking of alcohol.

We discussed several articles relating to drinking and expat life

Global views on morality

Expat teens drinking

Illegal drinking in some countries

Sites and articles to look at if you are concerned about your own drinking

We need to talk about women’s drinking

Drink Aware – self assessment

Do you drink too much?

 

Kirsty’s social media

Podcasts – Lily Bailey on Conversations – The Strange Reality of Life with Severe OCD

My Mum says my Memoir is a Lie – Rosie Waterland

Reading – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Watching – Luther

American Vandal

Hillary Clinton Interview on 4 Corners

Backstory to Hillary Clinton interview 

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Murder on Orchard Street

Reading –  Unfinished Business – Anne Marie Slaughter

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes,

Lets discuss Leading Ladies! In Season 4 – Episode 6 we discussed when females are in the Lead Expat role. We went old school and bought back the longer form interview. From the Two Fat Expats Facebook group this week, transferring money, expat divorce, living in limbo and moving from hot to cold.

Two earlier episodes where we covered topics related to Expat Divorce. Season 1, Episode 17 – Expat Divorce and Season 3, Episode 20 – When Expat life meant losing my child

Hot Topic of the week was Leading Ladies. We interviewed Julie, an expat, who moved from the US to Saudi Arabia and then the UAE with her career and family.

The article we discussed from the Financial Times was ‘Women still hesitate to accept foreign assignments‘ by Helen Barrett.

Kirsty’s social media

Podcasts – Where Should We Begin 

Reading – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Watching – Survivor (Australia), Gogglebox (Australia)

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts –  How do you sleep at Night, The Economist Tasting Menu

Watching – Young Sheldon

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Welcome back to Season 4, Episode 5. In the Facebook group this week,  Hong Kong vs Singapore, Skype tips with the family, the people who help you settle without you really realising it and what’s your name (the one your kids call you), does it change with different places?

Hot Topic of the week was the how and why you started your Expat life (let’s not say journey). We talked about the broad range of responses and we discussed what are our sentences? The one you say when people ask you, Why are you living here? We would love to hear your sentences too. Please leave us a voice message by clicking on the microphone to the right hand side of this page. Send us your sentence.

Kirsty’s social media

Podcasts – This is About – Family Photos (Penguin Bloom) Ladies, We need to Talk (Episode – Anyone for a Drink?), Don’t Shoot the Messenger (Episode 10)

Other – Apps Kirsty is using Carb Manager, Zero, Google Duo and Zoom

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Deadly Manners

Watching – Liar, The Good Place

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Hello it’s Season 4, Episode 4 and we’re back with all the big posts of the last week. Those discussions included VPN’s, access to english books, mail and bill management while expat-ing and a big hello to our 54 group members in Port Moresby!

Hot Topic of the week was Elections and how involved you are / can be depending on your nationality in your ‘home’ country elections and if anyone can ever vote in a country that is not their passport country (turns out the answer in some circumstances is yes).

The article from the Economist about expats and elections

Here’s the links to the social media discussed in this episode:

Kirsty’s social media

Watching – Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father

Reading – Hug Your Haters – Jay Baer

Podcasts – Dirty John

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – The New Washington – Lobbying in the Trump Era

Watching – The Good Doctor, Call the Midwife

Reading – Unfinished Business. Women, Men, Work, Family. – Anne Marie Slaughter

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Can you believe we’re already at Season 4, Episode 3? This season is flying by. Posts that were big in the group this week, celebrating without having taking actual tonnes of things with you to each location, an interview with Donna, and looking for volunteering opportunities when you move.

Hot Topic of the week was a little tongue in cheek and involved discussion of the school gate and all the different nationalities that congregate there.

The Blog post that launched our Topic of the Week

Louise, Sassy and Ooshka. The Women at the International School Gate.

Do you have some ideas for who we should add to the  Sassy, Louise and Ooshka post? Send your ideas on our speakpipe / messenger button. We’d love to include your message in our next episode.

Here’s the links to the social media discussed in this episode:

Kirsty’s social media

Watching – Lovesick Season 1

Reading – The Geography of Bliss – Eric Weiner

Podcasts – No Filter Mia Freedman with Scott Pape

Other Things – Dear Colleen on Instagram

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Hanging, Week in the knees

Watching – Riverdale

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Welcome to Season Four, Episode Two. We’re back with our new season and new format, still trying a few things out. Posts that were big in the group this week, return locations, Doha Book Group, the life of a container and Russian washing machine settings. Hot Topic of the week was how you feel in your current situation, powerless or powerful or somewhere in between? Lots of great insights from the group for this issue, we shared some of our favourites.

The Blog post that spawned our Topic of the Week

Powerless and Pissed Off

After you listen we want you to come to the website and send us your thoughts. Are you feeling powerless and pissed off or altogether different? Share your experience on our speakpipe / messenger button. We’d love to include your story in our next episode.

Here’s the links to the social media discussed in this episode:

Kirsty’s social media

Watching – Survivor Australia

Reading – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot

Podcasts – Ladies we need to talk

Other Things – Zoodles, Nice Cream, Cauliflower Rice & the Zero app

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Unspeakable

Reading – Who Thought This Was a Good Idea – Alyssa Mastromonaco

Watching – Ozark

Other Things – Rocur accounts – @Netherlanders @peopleofUK @peopleofAustralia @I_amGermany

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Hello, we’re finally back after a ‘summer’ break for the Two Fat Expats.

This is the first episode of our fourth season. This season we’re changing it up a bit, bringing in a ‘What’s Hot’ in the Facebook group segment to the party while still including a topic per episode where we examine an issue in a bit more depth from an expat point of view, and of course our favourite things on the web and social media round up. This week, we’re kicking off with friends and how to make and keep them. A skill that every expat needs because new locations = new friends.

Articles mentioned

How to Make Friends as an adult 

How Friends become closer

After you listen we want you to come to the website and send us your ‘my first expat friend’ experience on our speakpipe / messenger button. We’re going to include your stories next week.

Here’s the links to the social media discussed in this episode:

Kirsty’s social media

Watching – The Handmaid’s Tale  and Atypical 

Reading – The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Podcasts – Don’t Shoot The Messenger

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – No Such Thing As A Fish

Watching – Top Of The Lake

Facebook Group Expat Kids Learning Differently 

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!

Hello and welcome to the last episode of Season 3 for Two Fat Expats, where we believe everyone should live a fat expat life. We finally bring you (from the editing suite floor) the curtain closing episode of Season 3 and it’s a goody filled with exotic locations from all over the world. Where is your favourite holiday destination and why? We had a great response via voicemail and share loads of the amazing destination recommendations with you. Kirsty is just about to wrap up a couple of months in Australia and the summer (without the sun) is apparently nearly over in Hamburg, well the school holidays anyway. We’ll be back soon with Episode 1 of Season 4 watch this space!

Here’s the links to the social media discussed in this episode:

Kirsty’s social media

 

Watching – Football (as in Australian Rules) and The Fall

Reading – We are Never Meeting in Real Life – Samantha Irby

Nikki’s social media

Podcasts – Ear Hustle, 74 Seconds

Reading – Hillbilly Elegy

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you have feedback for this episode or ideas for new episodes you can email us at [email protected]. For iTunes, a rating / review or to hit subscribe.  Join the conversation in our Facebook Group or send us a voice message from the button on the web page. We also are on Instagram @TwoFatExpats,Twitter @TwoFatExpats and of course Snapchat TwoFatExpats. We love to hear from our listeners!