The Expat Experience

Hailing from Birmingham, Thomas tells me about studying physics at Oxford University and meeting many Germans there. Crazily, he graduated into the 2008 global recession and started doing student jobs in Germany, including one for an online dating platform!

 

He has spent 8 years in the country thus far, and describes Hamburg's cosmopolitan vibe: a happy medium between being having all of the amenities of a major city without feeling completely anonymous.

 

After doing a series of student jobs, he entered the game design industry with InnoGames in 2013. He talks about how the company paid for his relocation and language classes, and offers regular after-work activities - many of which have migrated to the online environment due to the pandemic!

 

We spend some time dispelling common myths around British "sophistication", and describing our experiences in The Reeperbahn: Hamburg's 'Red Light District'. Thomas also shares the aspect of Hamburg life that has won him over completely!

 

He details the study methods he used for learning German vocabulary, idioms, etc., and how learning the finer nuances of a language fosters a change in mindset! Further, he describes the concept of 'Kurzarbeit' (Short-Term Working) in Germany before and after the pandemic.

 

Finally, Thomas expresses how proud he was to do his taxes in German without any assistance and how incredible it is to stand on your own two feet as an expat!

 

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Phil describes his role as the Lead Trainer for a non-profit learning center focused on experiential education, and how he came to the US through a summer camp program. He expresses how the job profoundly reshaped his career path in education!

 

We spend some time laughing about the common mix-up between New York State and New York City, and his experience traveling to the Grand Canyon with his friends. We also banter about airlines offering massively discounted flights in the era of COVID-19.

 

Afterwards, he tells me about his negative experience entering Canada and trying to return to the US; he describes how he and his wife were locked in a holding area because of missing paperwork and wound up losing hotel accommodation!

 

Changing gears, we talk about the growth he experienced being away from his country and family, and how living as an expat is "double the adulting" yet living like a child again. He also explains how he maintains his relationships with family members back in the UK.

 

Lastly, he opens up about what he aspires to do after the curve flattens and we speculate about how much people will want to pursue the expat life and recreational travel!

 

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Juriy and I chat about his work as a Solution Architect for a large IT company, developing solutions for insurance companies and banks. He shares how a business trip transformed into extended time in Switzerland, and why he took a break in Shenzhen, China for three years prior to returning to Switzerland!

 

He describes the broad array of leisure options in Zurich (especially outdoor sports), and how the city has a much slower, quieter pace of life. We also discuss how well-organized, streamlined, and hyper-efficient Swiss bureaucracy is!

 

When it comes to laws, Juriy tells me about the strict enforcement of traffic laws in the country, and compares the strictness of laws more generally in Switzerland with China from the expat perspective. He also reiterates that a suitable country for one person could be ill-fitting for another, and how this can change for the same person in one country!

 

He goes into detail about the benefits contained in his contract, including housing, and how the passport you hold profoundly impacts your ability to relocate and find work abroad. In the era of COVID-19, Juriy describes the ease of transitioning to fully remote work with his company on a technical level, but the challenges on a social level.

 

We finish with him sharing his favourite aspect of living in Switzerland, and advice he has for aspiring expats who have their sights set on the country!

 

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Sophie talks with me about her job as a Content Manager for a travel company, and how she was moved to working from home at reduced hours during the peak of the pandemic. She explains how revenue is steadily rising within the EU with increased travel. We also discuss the ease of transitioning into life in Germany from the Netherlands, with no need for a visa as an EU citizen!

 

She shares about how prior to Germany, she lived and worked as a digital nomad; her encounters with people in the lifestyle helped her realize she could do the same thing! As someone who speaks multiple languages and has great writing and translating skills, she freelanced and pursued her travels for two years. We even explore careers for digital nomads outside of the IT/tech industry, and how the pandemic has helped companies worldwide realize the endless list of benefits to remote work!

 

Later on, we dispel common myths around how "advanced" and "modern" Germany is, and how traditional it still can be - even in Berlin! We also confess how scary doing your taxes in German is, even as a fluent speaker. Finally, we describe the benefits of being an expatriate, and from solo travel.

 

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We start off by discussing the job market for foreign teachers in Taiwan, how he made the journey from S. Korea to Taiwan, and how easily he transitioned into his new life there. He tells me about how he effortlessly balances his time between working as a teacher and authoring fantasy and extreme horror fiction!

 

He describes the ease of entering Taiwan vs. South Korea. In Taiwan, you are required to have the Alien Registration Card (ARC), even though it isn't technically considered a visa. We also dive into the challenges of socializing and meeting new people leading up to the pandemic, and compare the learning process for Korean vs. Mandarin.

 

Todd characterizes Taipei as a "city of mopeds", and other similar cities in Asia. He also explains his average number of hours of teaching a week, and how the contracts can sometimes differ drastically from what's actually offered to someone. Lastly, we wrap up with sharing future travel aspirations within Asia!

 

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Naomi and I dive deep into the remote work lifestyle, and how workaholic tendencies can creep in! We also explore the differences in work culture between North American and Europe, and how the pandemic has shifted our collective thinking on 'conventional' work.

 

She shares how she met her husband in Europe and experienced difficulty proving her marriage to the visa office! Lastly, we talk about why they'll be heading to the US eventually, the flexibility afforded by entrepreneurial and remote work lifestyles, and the value of networking.

 

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We're all enduring difficult times right now, but I don't want this podcast to fade away! I wanted to update my listeners on what's next, and hopefully lift your spirits a bit.

 

If you're a current or recent expat who would like to share your experiences on the podcast, feel free to reach out!

 

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(!!! Bear in mind, this episode was recorded prior to the height of the COVID-19 outbreak !!!)

 

Forsythia and I have a very raw, in-depth conversation about life in Shenzhen, China. She explains why she chose China over South Korea, how she truly got out of her comfort zone, and how the alluring photos of foreign countries on Instagram drew her into expat life!

 

She compares and contrasts teaching children in public schools vs. international schools in Shenzhen, and how the latter represents a much more fulfilling experience. She also describes dealing with country's overbearing censorship, praising the virtues of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

 

We also confront some of the less savory aspects of living there, such as explicit racism, language barriers, significant cultural differences, bug infestations, pollution and smoking in restaurants. We wrap up with Forsythia offering very insightful advice if you ever consider relocating to China in the future!

 

(Note that due to our inability to record a non-timed session, we had to rush at the end! Thanks Chinese censorship laws...)

 

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Zack Shay is a savvy Online Marketing Consultant working remotely in Ireland. She talks at length with me about her unconventional choice to relocate to a country in which many of the locals are trying to get out!

 

We dive into what it's like living in a small Irish town vs. in Dublin, her journey into working in online marketing, and foregoing the "go, go, go!" culture of the US in exchange for a calmer one. She also shares how she's acquired local and governmental information through sheer happenstance, along with colloquial differences and the European "first floor"!

 

We wrap up with exploring personality as a major factor in deciding to move abroad, and how the lifestyle entails "double the adulting" when compared to life at home.

 

You can find Zack on her website zackshay.com, on her Facebook page @zackshaybiz, and on Instagram @zack_shay!

 

| Website: https://www.theexpatexperience.org/ | Facebook: The Expat Experience |

Dave tells me about his career as a Laughter Coach in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)! He shares how he started creating 'laughter demonstration' videos in the U.S., and how he uses "laughing on purpose" to connect with people across the world. Further, he gives me insight into the accommodation perks he's received while touring in different places!

 

He describes how he originally planned to write his next book in the city, and was drawn to it by an old friend. We talk with considerable detail about business vs. tourist visas, and the value of enlisting an affordable lawyer/consultant for the application process.

 

What's especially fascinating is how Dave has used "laughing on purpose" to survive and even embrace the hectic and sometimes tense nature of the city, particularly the heavy congestion of traffic. Moreover, he shares how much he treasures the spontaneous and adventurous interactions he's had with the locals!

 

You can find Dave on his website davebermancoaching.com, and even join his Facebook group titled 'Daily Laughers'.

 

| Website: https://www.theexpatexperience.org/ | Facebook: The Expat Experience |