The Expat Pod

E052 - Navigating the Challenges of Living Abroad

Listen Later

Summary:

Deborah, an expat coach and geocultural psychologist, shares her experiences of living abroad and helping others navigate the challenges of expat life. She has lived in multiple countries, including Brazil, the US, France, Spain, and Portugal. Deborah initially moved abroad for study and later for work and love. She emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural nuances and communication styles when living in a new country. Deborah's own struggles and realization led her to pursue a master's degree in intercultural psychology and start her own business to help other expats. James Doran shares his experiences living in different countries, including the UK, Spain, France, and Portugal. He emphasizes the importance of aligning your goals with the location you choose to live in and seeking support and resources to navigate the challenges of living abroad. He also highlights the value of creating a community and building friendships with people from different cultures. James offers assistance to expats through his Expat Journey Program, which provides a roadmap for preparing for and adjusting to life in a new country.


Find Deborah Here:

https://deborahdahab.com/about/


Takeaways:

  • Living abroad can be a wonderful and daunting adventure, requiring preparation and adjustment.
  • Understanding cultural nuances and communication styles is crucial for a successful expat experience.
  • Language barriers and differences in professional etiquette can pose challenges in adapting to a new country.
  • Seeking support from local communities and building relationships can greatly enhance the expat experience. When choosing a location to live abroad, consider how it aligns with your goals and what you want to achieve in life.
  • Seek support and resources to navigate the challenges of living abroad, such as language barriers and cultural differences.
  • Create a community and build friendships with people from different cultures to enhance your experience and provide a support network.
  • Prepare for your move abroad by creating closure, deciding where to live, and seeking resources to help you adjust to your new location.


    • Sound Bites:

    • "I help people not only navigate the afterwards, but also prepare for the move abroad."
    • "There's no one place that is a home country. It's hard to pinpoint where you feel at home."
    • "Being on a student visa, in order to stay there holding a Brazilian passport, I would have had to find a job and have a company sponsor my work visa."
    • "No matter where you are, there's going to be good days, bad days, marvelous days, you know, horrible days."
    • "Is it taking me closer to where I want to be or not? Or is it taking me further away? Or am I just standing still?"
    • "Being kind to yourself is probably a lesson we can all learn."


      • Connect with Us:

      • Website: https://www.tallmantravels.co.uk/the-expat-pod 

      • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089327439022 

      • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.expat.pod/ 

      • X: https://twitter.com/ExpatPod

      • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-expat-pod/ 

        • Subscribe, Rate, and Review:

        If you enjoyed this episode of The Expat Pod, please subscribe, rate, and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you and continue to deliver valuable content on life as an expat.


        Chapters:

        00:00 Introduction and Background

        02:16 Reasons for Moving Abroad

        06:06 Early Life in America and Return to Brazil

        07:29 First Adult Experience Living Abroad in the UK

        21:24 Life in Portugal and Starting a Business

        22:20 Living in the UK and France

        26:04 Experience in Spain and Love for Barcelona

        31:12 Dreaming of Living in Barcelona

        34:59 Expectations vs Reality of Living in Barcelona

        39:48 Staying Connected with Family and Building a Community

        46:58 Aligning Goals with Expat Destinations

        50:14 Advice for First-Time Expats


        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        The Expat PodBy James Doran
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5

        5

        2 ratings