It's Tea Time Somewhere

In this final episode of the season, our podcast team gathers together once more to discuss a relatable topic of overseas life. This time, it's all about transition. Denise, Melissa, and Alicia each take a moment to share about how they've navigated through and coped with the transitions that have come their way this past year. Some of the change was excepted and some of it came as a shock. Regardless of how it comes about, we're all aware change is a regular part of the expat life that we have to work through. You know how the saying goes, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade-flavored LaCroix and decide whether or not you like it." Maybe that's not quite how the saying goes but Denise, Melissa and Alicia do take a moment to discuss our opinions of this popular beverage.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Emily Thomas (Mom Struggling Well Podcast) admits that expat life was not the exciting adventure of her dreams. Maybe it was the lack of a good shower, the morning roosters, the firework plant next to your apartment or maybe, it was the fact that she was right in the middle of her journey through infertility. It can be excruciating enough dealing with the disappointment of not being pregnant month after month, but when you sprinkle in life abroad, life can be overwhelming. Emily shares about what she learned through her time difficult years overseas. She candidly talks about how it affected her marriage, her attitude and her interactions with nationals. She also encourages us on how to bless our expat sisters who are struggling with infertility.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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There are very few careers on this earth where we group individuals by their marital status. However, when it comes to team dynamics and cultural expectations overseas, it happens a lot. Oftentimes, we gravitate towards being best friends with people who share the same marital status as us, but that doesn't have to be the case. In this episode we talk with happily-single Amy Young. She shares about her experiences of living in community during her 20 years of life in China. We discuss the good and the hard of building a community which intertwines families and singles, and how sometimes you just have to invite yourself and ask to be included. Amy eloquently describes how families need singles and singles need families. When expats work hard to open our doors and our lives to each other, community is built and beauty is found. Also, find out how her life was like an episode of Friends.You know how much we love referencing Friends...

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

Stress, transition and unrealistic expectations of a culture can all be triggers for eating disorders and negative body issues. All three of these things are prevalent in life abroad. Elizabeth Trotter, Editor of A Life Overseas, shares candidly about her personal story of battling an eating disorder and how she has seen victory in this area of her life. Elizabeth shares how to speak positively about our bodies in front our children and how to protect them from unwanted touching and attention. She points out common signs of someone struggling with an eating disorder and gives us practical advice for speaking truth over ourselves and seeing ourselves as a beautiful creation of God.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

Exhaustion. Burnout. Fatigue. Somehow we don't see it coming but we know when we're there. That moment when we've come to the end of our rope, when we've given and poured out all that we have, all while forgetting to take care of ourselves in the process. In this interview with Danielle Wheeler, founder and creator of Velvet Ashes, we talk about being proactive to find sustainment in our lives (and not waiting until we've depleted ourselves before doing so!) Danielle isn't only passionate in speaking about women finding sustainment — she puts her words into action by creating a yearly online retreat geared to meet women anywhere in the world. Listen to this episode to find out more about this year's retreat (and how much we have in common with air plants).

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

"You think your life is one thing and then you get blindsided by the reality that it's actually something else, something you were totally unprepared for," Julie Martinez recounts about her final weeks in Chile. Five days after Julie delivered her second child, she found out devastating news concerning actions done by her husband. The next thing she new, she and her family were on a plane headed back to the States in a cloud of shame and embarrassment. Just when she thought the worst was behind her, more betrayal and hurt entered her life. During our chat with Julie, we talk about the toxicity of shame, the need for intentional people to reach out to those hurting, and the importance of being obedient in the small, seemingly insignifcant things. Julie knows what brokenness is, but she also knows what it is to be healed.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

Depending on where you live in the world, the topic of skin color might come up daily. Maybe your skin tone is noticeably different than everyone else around you and this physical feature is brought to your attention (as if you weren't already aware of it). It then becomes the topic of discussion for the next 5 minutes. It's a type of discussion our friend Sharon Rivers is all too familiar with and she's become quite well-versed in it by now. As a mother of 5 children (3 biological and 2 adopted), her colorful family gets extra glances and comments directed their way, no matter where they are in the world. During our interview with Sharon, she beautifully articulates how race is both nothing and everything for their family.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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One of the more intimidating things about living cross-culturally is when you decide to start inviting people into your home. Our minds tend to go into overthinking mode with all sorts of questions: "What if they don't feel comfortable? What if they don't like the food I prepare for them? Is this halal? Do I need to make room to sit on the floor or in chairs?" Fortunately, Julie, the writer behind The Serviette, puts our minds to ease about the topic of hosting others in our home. She opens up about her own experiences—as well as insecurities—when it comes to being a hospitable expat and helps us to remember that it's really about making more room in your heart, schedule, and lives for those around you. It has much less to do with the space available in your home or whether you can prepare the best meal.

Be sure to stick around after the interview to hear more cross-cultural experiences and tips from expats from the Taking Route Community.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

Christmas is upon us and Denise, Alicia and Melissa are talking ALL about it. They take the discussion way back to their childhood years and discuss the traditions they grew to love. Those traditions turned into expectations (which sometimes led to disappointments) they put on the holiday season as an adult. They discuss their first Christmases overseas as well as what they have come to love about celebrating the holidays overseas. And what holiday special wouldn't be complete without discussing traditions around the world that involve pickles, roller skates and a murdering grandmother? So grab a cup of tea, relax and enjoy another episode of "It's Tea Time Somewhere."

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

For 13 years, Phillippa and her husband and their 2 kids lived in a remote village in the Philippines. When it became obvious that their time there was coming to a close, Philippa found herself dreaming of a life in the West drinking coffee while her kids went to a beautiful public school. Then they received an email asking them to consider a new village with a NEW language and a NEW culture (which also requires a helicopter ride in and out). Philippa knew in her heart her family would be moving there. In this episode, she shares how starting over can be challenging, especially when juggling language learning, family commitments, and homeschool. But she's also finding these challenges to be a beautiful, life-changing experience.

Stick around for "Favorite Things" segment where we discuss Denise and Melissa's favorite books, shows, Pandora Stations and boots.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources. Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.