Meet Yolanda: from loneliness to belonging in the US

Meet Yolanda, a global expat who has relocated six times across the world before eventually settling in California — what started as a one-year adventure turned into 16 years, two children, and a deep journey of rebuilding home from scratch.In this episode, Yolanda shares how she and her husband moved to the U.S. after winning the Green Card lottery, chasing sunshine and a new adventure. But beyond the excitement of Yosemite road trips and the honeymoon phase of expat life, reality soon set in: loneliness, cultural differences, and the unexpected challenge of building a life — not just living in a new place.Yolanda opens up about the emotional side of relocating: missing the sounds of city life, struggling with surface-level friendships, and becoming a new mother far from family support. She explains how she navigated homesickness, built meaningful rituals, and intentionally created community — from coffee shop routines to long walks with her baby, and eventually returning to university at Berkeley to reconnect with purpose and people.This conversation explores the deeper side of expat life:Why speaking the same language doesn’t mean cultural easeThe difference between friendliness and real friendshipHow to build belonging when community doesn’t come naturallyWhy rituals — even small ones — can transform your expat experienceLearning what you truly need to thrive abroadYolanda also shares how understanding cultural differences, including what she calls a “stranger-danger” mindset in the U.S., helped her stop taking things personally and instead build authentic relationships intentionally.This episode is a thoughtful and honest conversation about identity, resilience, and the work required to truly feel at home abroad.Whether you're considering a move, newly relocated, or years into expat life, Yolanda’s experience is full of relatable insights and practical inspiration.Café & Bar Recommendations (California – Marin County & Napa Area)Blue Barn — A favorite local spot for brunch and salads (Yolanda recommends the Thai chicken salad)Jacuzzi Family Vineyards — Beautiful vineyard near Sonoma with unique infused olive oils and wine tastingDr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs (Calistoga) — Relaxing spa experience perfect for a special dayGolden Haven Hot Springs (Calistoga) — Another wellness escape in Napa Valley🎧 Also mentioned:Yolanda’s podcast — The Places We Call HomeExpat song: Spice Girls Wannabe a nostalgic Brit-abroad tradition during afternoon tea gatheringsFollow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Follow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Shannon,an American expat who followed love to Germany—and ended up building a thriving small business in Baden-Württemberg.Originally from the San Francisco area, Shannon moved to Germany for what was meant to be a temporary chapter. Fourteen years later, she’s still there, raising a family and running her own aesthetics business from the ground up. In this episode, we talk about navigating entrepreneurship abroad, dealing with German bureaucracy, learning the language while building a client base, and adapting to cultural differences without losing yourself.Shannon shares the reality of starting a business as an expat woman in Germany, the importance of community (especially when friendships come and go), and how she blended her American personality with German culture to create a business that truly works—for her and her clients.An honest, warm conversation about resilience, identity, and building something of your own far from home.📍 Location Recommendations (Germany)Kazumi (Böblingen) – her go-to sushi spotMotorworld Böblingen – where her business is located, plus bars, restaurants, and car lovers’ heavenBrazilian Churrasco Restaurant (Stuttgart) – lively atmosphere, music, and all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ🎶 Expat Song“I Follow Rivers” – a song that captures the leap of faith that brought her to GermanyFind Shannon: www.californiaglowbeauty.com  Related article: Starting a business in GermanyFollow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Josh,Entrepreneur, community builder, and Dutch expat who turned isolation on the French Riviera into connection, and a thriving international community.Joshua moved to the South of France in 2018 with his wife, chasing a better quality of life, sunshine, and a slower pace. What he didn’t expect was how isolating life abroad could feel, even in one of the most beautiful regions in the world.In this episode, we talk about the reality of settling into the French Riviera: navigating language barriers, adapting to a slower (very slow) pace of life, and the challenges of building genuine friendships in a place shaped by tourism and transient expat populations. how that experience led him to create Next Locals, a community-first platform born from simple meetups over drinks, consistency, and the desire to bring like-minded people together offlineFrench culture, the importance of making an effort with the language, the differences between Paris and the South, and how creating a “tribe” is what truly makes a place feel like home.🎤Song Tell Ol’ Bill - Alternate version by Bob Dylan: https://open.spotify.com/track/4UFz15tiyxEV8w70Az6GtN?si=Rxnj3klnSPiKVVxdhXxTIA🍕Restaurant recommendations in Cagnes-sur-Mer. La Spiaggia : https://www.laspiaggiaplage.com/Le Bistrot de la Marine: https://lebistrotdelamarine.fr/ Next Locals website: https://nextlocals.com/ Follow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram 📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Zach and Anna,Serial expats and founders of StartAbroad, a relocation company built from real-life experience moving abroad, sometimes with support, sometimes completely on their own.From the Dominican Republic to Kenya, Rwanda, an unexpected year stuck in the US during Covid, and finally settling in Costa Rica, Zach and Anna share the highs, lows, and emotional rollercoaster of expat life. We talk about culture shock, common expat mistakes, outdated information, scams, and why moving without the right support can quickly become overwhelming.They also explain why they created StartAbroad, the kind of practical and emotional support expats really need, and what it means to truly adapt to a new culture, especially when raising a child abroad.Costa Rica RecommendationsGingerbread (Nuevo Arenal) – their favourite local restaurant (pro tip: ask for the chef’s menu)Playa Conchal – white sand, crystal-clear water, and perfect beach daysMarino Ballena National Park – home to the iconic Whale Tail beach on the South Pacific coastExpat Song“Under the Sea” (salsa version) by Alejandro Sanz – the soundtrack of this chapter of their expat lifeConsidering a move abroad, book a free consultation callRelocating to Costa Rica?Follow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram 📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Tracey,Relocation coach, somatic practitioner, and six-time expat who has turned “trying it for three months” into a life philosophy. In this episode, we explore what it really means to build home within yourself—especially when life (and identity) keeps shifting with every move.Tracey takes us through her first unexpected opportunity at just 16, the resilience she discovered in herself, and the massive identity shift that unfolded years later in Canada, where she learned that relocation doesn’t fix what hurts, it magnifies it. We dive into her FEEL framework for processing emotions abroad, the five emotional phases of relocation, how to recognise when it’s time to move on, and why true belonging has more to do with your inner landscape than your postcode.She also shares her favourite New York spots (get ready for tacos + crepe cakes!) and the expat song that anchors her to our shared humanity.Short, deep, and soul-stretching—this one is for anyone navigating the messy middle of expat life.Footnotes & LinksTracey’s Recommendations in New York:Los Tacos No. 1 – Her go-to for some of the best tacos in the city.Lady M – For the famous crepe cakes (matcha is her favourite).Her Expat Song:“Streets of London” by Ralph McTell – A reminder of compassion, connection, and the stories we all carry.Resources Mentioned:Contact Tracey: www.traceyzhang.comTracey’s FEEL Framework (Find, Express, Embrace, Let It Move)Her ebook: Five Emotional Phases of RelocationRelated article: Identity shifts abroadYoutube video: https://youtu.be/wPcHq5IiAqkFollow for more expat stories:📘 Meet the Expats Blog📹 Youtube Channel📱 Instagram 📱TikTokCredits:Intro outro Ice tea, Not the kingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Nancy,After two decades of living abroad in Switzerland and Denmark, Nancy opens up about navigating grief as an expat — balancing a global career in biotech with the heartbreak of losing loved ones from afar.She shares how returning to the U.S. reshaped her sense of home, what helped her cope with loss overseas, and how she found purpose again by building a new life (and business) back in Montana.We discuss:Managing grief and guilt while living abroadStaying connected to family from thousands of miles awayReverse culture shock and the pull of “coming home”Finding community and faith through life transitionsThe importance of slowing down and listening to your instinctsNancy’s Picks:🇩🇰 Copenhagen — Zahida for vibrant dinners & Union Kitchen for a cozy brunch☕ Montana — City Brew Coffee, where friendly faces make homecoming sweeter🎵 The expat song: Great Is Thy Faithfulness — a reminder of strength, wherever you areRelated article: Managing grief as an expatHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Megan,From starting out as an au pair in Germany to running her own language coaching business, Megan talks about how travel shaped her career, changed her mindset, her top tips for learning languages, and why confidence is the secret to better communication.We discuss:Building confidence when learning a new languageThe difference between language lessons and coachingOvercoming “learned helplessness” and perfectionismTips for immersion — from switching your phone language to joining local meetupsMegan’s Mexico Picks:🌮 Tropical Tacos — for cochinita and mezcalitas🥐 Media lunas from local bakeries (Argentinian croissants!)🍝 Francesca’s (Italian) & Celine’s (French) for international flavors💧 Cenotes — natural lagoons perfect for a refreshing afternoon swimThe expat song: Leaving on a jet plane, by John DenversFind Megan: Megalanguagecoachwww.linkedin.com/in/megan-nicholls-59a47077https://www.instagram.com/megalanguagecoachhttps://www.youtube.com/@megalanguagecoachRelated articles: Moving abroad when you don't speak the languageHow to learn a new languageVideo: https://youtu.be/GL3_KG17BnYTake online language classes with LingodaHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Dr. Elefant Yanni, a Swiss psychologist now based in Singapore, who has built a career helping expats and international couples navigate the highs and lows of life abroad. From her first move to Canada, then Korea, and now Singapore, Dr. Yanni shares how each relocation shaped her understanding of relationships, resilience, and the invisible bonds between expats.In this conversation, we dive into the realities of expat life—the loneliness of the “trailing spouse,” the provider complex that can strain couples, and the small daily habits that keep love and family strong when everything around you changes. With practical tips on making friends, cherishing couple time, and knowing when to seek support, this episode is a gentle reminder that while expat life can be challenging, it’s also a unique chance to grow, connect, and rediscover yourself.Footnotes🌏 Free Guide – 3D Human Therapy: Download Dr. Yanni’s free guide to psychological independence at psychologyexperts.online/3dform.🍜 Singapore Favorites:Eat: East Coast Lagoon Food Village – hawker delights with Michelin-worthy bites by the sea.Drink: Atlas Bar – a breathtaking Art Deco landmark with world-class cocktails.Coffee & Pastries: Tiong Bahru Bakery – French pastries meet turmeric lattes in true expat fusion.🎶 Expat Song: Fleeting Future by Akusmi – a soundtrack to the fleeting moments that shape our lives abroad.Related article: Dealing with emotional burnout due to expat life pressure.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet Rehka,Co-founder of Boundless Life, a program that helps families live, learn, and work abroad together. From childhood trips and student exchanges to creating a whole new way of schooling on the road, Rekha shares her journey to building a community where children thrive and parents connect while traveling the world.She tells us about the spark that inspired Boundless Life, what a day in their schools looks like, and the magic of building deep friendships across cultures.✨ Rekha’s recommendations:Café: Zest, Ubud, BaliRestaurant: Souldough Pizza, PortugalCarte blanche: Watching the sunset from the cliffs of Syros, GreeceExpat song: “I Am Light” by India.ArieRelated article: How families can go nomad.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.