Moving abroad isn’t just an adventure—it’s a full-on identity shift. In this episode, we (Emma & Celina) unpack what it’s really like to leave home and start fresh in a new country. As two-time Paris expats we share our personal stories of navigating life in a foreign country - Emma also reflects on her time living in Dubai as a teenager.

We dive into the realities of the adjustment period, the unexpected challenges, and the moments that made us feel like locals. If you’ve ever moved abroad—or dream of doing it—this one’s for you. We share some laughs, lessons, and plenty of stories that will make you feel a little less alone in your expat journey.

In this episode, we dive into an honest and heartfelt conversation about death. Celina shares how her worries have been heightened recently about losing loved ones and saying goodbye to the world, while Emma offers her perspective as they unpack their evolving views on the topic. Together, they reflect on recent losses in their families, how they’ve coped, and the ways these experiences have shaped their understanding of life and death. It’s a thoughtful exploration of a topic that touches us all.

In this episode, we share the story behind renaming our community and podcast to "Pretend". We also dive into the ebb and flow of friendships as life takes us on different journeys. Finally, we explore how we want to carry the community that we found while abroad back home, and the bittersweet reality of returning to find that things and people have changed.

In this episode, we explore the bittersweet reality of having your heart split between two places after living abroad. From the joy of building a life in a new city to the challenges of returning home, we discuss the emotional tug-of-war between two worlds. Join us as we share personal stories, reflections on belonging, and how to embrace the beauty and complexity of feeling connected to two places at once.

If you have ever spent time living abroad, you'll know that it can be difficult to settle back in to life at home afterwards. You'll also probably know the feeling of having your heart in two places. In this episode, we discuss the adjustment period, reverse culture shock, moving back in with parents, and trying to make a new life in your old home. Sometimes we get addicted to that thrill of moving somewhere new - but what if we just focus on being in our home towns for a moment...

Welcome to our very first long distance poddy! Emma has moved back to Melbourne, Australia, while Celina continues life in Paris for now. On this episode we chat about whats been happening since our last podcast (4 months ago!).

On this episode, we have some big news... Emma made the decision to quit Au Pairing and LEAVE Paris. We discuss how this choice came about, mental health while abroad, the process of actually quitting Au Pairing, and everything else that comes with making the big decision to end an experience abroad!!

Dealing with feelings of heartbreak is sooo tough... especially when you're living abroad and away from your usual support system and comforts. On this episode we discuss how difficult these feelings can be, our own personal experiences, and types of heartbreak other than just romantic heartbreak.

Hey Pretend Parisiens!

This week we decided to have a casual catch up chat. We talked about how life in Paris has been looking recently - what we have been up to and what we have planned. We also delved into the topic of temporary friendships, deciding what to do after a year abroad, and Emma chats a little about dating while in a temporary home.

In this episode we talk about how it felt initially arriving in the bustling city of Paris. It was exciting, overwhelming, and a little daunting at times. We give our tips for the main things to focus on during your first days and weeks after arriving somewhere new, to start feeling more at ease and settled.