Join me as I delve into the inspiring story of Mariana, a brave expat who left Portugal in 2018 for a new life in Edinburgh. Discover the challenges she faced and how she persevered through the struggles of settling down abroad. In this first part of our interview, Mariana shares the lessons she learned along the way and the journey that led her to Geneva, Switzerland.

Whether you're considering a move abroad or are currently navigating the complexities of expat life, this episode is a must-listen. Get an inside look at the difficulties of adjusting to a new country and culture, the impact of language barriers, and what to expect from the Swiss tax system.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tips on how to overcome the hardships of moving abroad and take ownership of your own situation. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from Mariana's experience and insights. 

Listen to this episode if you want to learn: 

• Discover the struggles of moving abroad and why the first weeks and months can be so difficult.
• Learn why Mariana made the decision to leave Portugal and move to Edinburgh, Scotland and later to Geneva, Switzerland.
• Gain practical tips on how to overcome the hardships of expat life and the importance of taking ownership of your own situation.
• Understand the real impact of language barriers and how not to take difficult situations personally.
• Get a glimpse into the unique challenges of adjusting to life in Geneva, including things that are hard to get used to in the Swiss culture.

These are my favorite quotes of the episode: 

•  04:22 “The thing that I was always telling myself, was, I can always come back, and I don’t know what it's going to be, but I can try, I can go and if I hate it then I’ll come back.”  
• 04:37: “And I remember the night before I went to Edinburgh, I was like crying and my parents were like ‘you don’t have to go’ and I was like ‘no I should. I really want to go and see how it goes and so on’. I ended up going.” 
•  12:39: “I think it’s one of the reasons why I also became an expat coach because at the time I didn’t know anything of what I know right now … sometimes it's so easy to get in that space of overwhelm, that space of ‘OMG, nothing goes right or why is it so hard or why is it me and everyone else seems to have it all figured out and so on.” 
• 13:00: “It can be so easy to fall in that trap, but sometimes it's really about: How can I be more in touch about how I feel, how can I be more in touch with things I like? What can I try? So really to try to take steps… to really step out of that hole that sometimes we can dick for ourselves” 

Make sure to listen to Part 2 in two weeks to learn: 

• Learn how to effectively finance your move abroad as an expat, including tips and strategies for budgeting and saving.
• Get practical guidance on finding a job in Geneva, including what you need to know to increase your chances of success.
• Discover how to use your expat experience to personally grow and develop, both professionally and personally.
• Explore why everyone's expat experience is unique and what you can do to create the life that you truly want, regardless of your circumstances.

Do you have any questions, tips for improvement, or you're seeking more inspiration for moving abroad? Then follow me on: IG & TikTok: @chrigerdes and YouTube: Beyond-an-ordinary-life
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