Guest: Remiah from Remiah Travels

Solo traveler and educator living in Abu Dhabi, focused on authentic travel, cultural awareness, and intentional movement through the world.

Episode Breakdown

Arrival vs Belonging

Remiah shares what surprised her most about moving to Abu Dhabi, particularly navigating a country where 90% of the population is expatriate. She reflects on finding her place within a multicultural teaching community and what it means to feel “local” after six years.

Routine as the Real Cultural Immersion

Tourists experience highlights. Residents experience routine. From knowing her gym and café spots to participating in local life administration, Remiah explains how daily structure builds belonging more than sightseeing ever could.

Ramadan & Community

One of the biggest cultural shifts was experiencing Ramadan, not as a visitor, but as part of a school community, adjusting work hours and participating in iftar gatherings. This segment explores how shared rituals create connection across faiths and backgrounds.

Identity, Safety & Representation Abroad

Remiah discusses navigating life in the UAE as a Black woman and how modesty, cultural awareness, and intentional movement through space shape her experience. The conversation expands to how safety and belonging evolve when you stay somewhere long-term.

Language as Respect

Kiara reflects on her own experience in Moldova and how choosing to learn the local language dramatically impacted relationship-building and access to community life. Language learning becomes framed as an act of cultural respect.

Authentic Travel vs Surface-Level Tourism

Remiah defines authentic travel as immersion through food, faith, traditions, history tours, and local events, not just chasing aesthetic “hidden gems.” The conversation critiques buzzwords in travel culture while acknowledging the reality that we are all tourists at some point.

The Hidden Gem Illusion

The term “hidden gems” is unpacked as a social media buzzword. Both reflect on travel moments that fell flat and discuss how social media often prioritizes novelty over nuance.

How to Travel Better

Practical takeaways include:

Taking walking tours for local orientation

Supporting sustainability efforts (including recycling initiatives in places where they’re not obvious)

Bringing reusable water bottles

Leaving destinations better than you found them

Respect & Modesty in Abu Dhabi

Remiah explains that visitors “get what they put into” the experience. While dress codes are flexible for foreigners, choosing modesty can open doors to deeper local interaction and cultural access.

Redefining a Successful Trip

After years abroad, Remiah now defines a successful trip as slow, immersive, and detail-oriented, favoring wandering and local life over checklist tourism.

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