In this deeply personal episode of Put The Guidebook Down, Kiara opens up about something many travelers feel but rarely discuss: the version of yourself who returns home after living abroad. Through stories from Moldova, Indonesia, and the transition between three drastically different cultures, we explore how travel subtly rewires your instincts, identity, communication style, and worldview.

This episode dives into adaptability, language, culture shock, reverse culture shock, and why so many travelers eventually find themselves living in “the middle,” no longer who they were before, not fully belonging to the places they’ve lived, but shaped by all of them.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

* Kiara’s first-time-living-abroad stories from Moldova (including getting into a car with coworkers she barely understood… sorry mom)

* The moment adaptability and flexibility became her personal travel philosophy

* What Javanese culture taught her about conflict, respect, and communication

* How switching between Moldova → U.S. → Indonesia created cultural whiplash

* How language learning literally shifts how you think, feel, and express emotions

* Why “culture shock” is often subtle and why reverse culture shock hits harder

* The idea of “the middle,” a space many long-term travelers eventually exist within

* How to navigate the emotional disconnect of coming home as a different person

* Why travel changes you even when you don’t notice it happening

Key Takeaways

* You will change abroad, and that change is not something to resist.Travel broadens your instincts, your emotional landscape, and your openness to uncertainty.

* Adaptability is not just a skill; it becomes a default instinct.Living in unpredictable systems teaches you how to think ahead, react calmly, and create multiple backup plans without panic.

* Language learning reshapes your identity.New words give you access to new emotions, perspectives, and versions of yourself you didn’t know existed.

* Culture shock is often subtle. Reverse culture shock is even more so.Realizing home no longer fits is one of the hardest but most universal experiences among long-term travelers.

* You may never fully “belong” anywhere again, and that’s okay.Many travelers exist in “the middle,” and the goal becomes finding others who also live in that space.

How to Engage With Kultura Travel

If this episode resonated with you, especially the parts about identity, belonging, cultural shifts, and the emotional side of travel, you’re exactly the kind of traveler Kultura Travel was built for.

Here’s how to connect with us:

* Subscribe on Substack for cultural travel essays, podcast episodes, behind-the-scenes stories, and guides that go deeper than typical itineraries.

* Join the Kultura Travel Beta Tester list to help shape an app designed for travelers who crave authenticity, language, and meaningful experiences.

* Follow us on Instagram @kultura.travel for micro-lessons, cultural insights, and community conversations.

* Send in a message about your “middle,” your own story of coming home changed. It may be featured in a future episode.

Listen on:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Substack | YouTube

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kulturatravel.substack.com