If you’ve ever found yourself in a foreign café, sipping your coffee and wondering, “Where exactly do I belong?”—you’re not alone. That question, and so many others, is precisely why I created Almost Local. Life abroad is an adventure but comes with its fair share of dilemmas. And that’s what we’ll be diving into on the podcast—honest conversations about the highs, the struggles, and everything in between.
What Do I Mean by Dilemmas?
They’re the rugged, in-between moments of expat life that make us pause, rethink, and sometimes even doubt our choices. These are the moments when we ask ourselves: Am I doing this right? Will this place ever feel like home?
Everyone’s experience abroad is different, but these are five dilemmas I’ve personally faced as a woman navigating expat life—challenges I know many others have experienced, too. And they’re exactly the stories we’ll be unpacking in Almost Local.
What Are the 5 Biggest Dilemmas of Living Abroad?
1️⃣ Identity Crisis: Who Am I Here?
Moving abroad often means redefining who we are. How much do we adapt? How much do we hold onto? That constant negotiation can be both exciting and overwhelming.
I remember returning to Argentina after moving to New Zealand and telling my best friends, “Oh! Nothing has changed much here.” Their unanimous reply? “That’s because YOU are the one who has changed!” That moment hit me—I hadn’t even noticed how much I had evolved.
2️⃣ Building a Social Life from Scratch
Making friends as an adult is hard. Making friends in a new country? Even harder! How do you find your people when you don’t have years of history or built-in social networks?
When I moved to New Zealand at 36 with two young kids, I knew zero people. I figured, No problem—I’ll make friends! But let’s be honest: building a social circle from scratch takes effort. I threw myself into every event I could—mainly through my kids’ school—and slowly, I found my people.
Then, I moved to the Netherlands, another move yet again. I had to start from scratch! Was it hard? A lot of work! But I knew that finding my community was everything. No matter where I go, having that support system makes all the difference.
3️⃣ Career vs. Personal Growth
Some of us move for work, others for love, and some for adventure. But what happens when our careers or personal goals take a backseat?
I was already running my business when we moved abroad—managing a team from 16 hours ahead? Not precisely standard practice! Yet, somehow, it worked. But balancing ambition, work, and expat life is a constant juggling act—and one we’ll be talking about more in Almost Local.
4️⃣ Raising Kids in a Different Culture
If you’re parenting abroad, you’ve probably wondered: Am I raising my kids with the right balance of my culture and theirs? Do we embrace new traditions, hold onto our roots, or blend both?
I’ll never forget dropping my 5-year-old daughter off at school in New Zealand. She didn’t speak a word of English. The first day? Tears. And not just hers—mine, too. I thought, This is impossible. But six years later? We made it work.
And then, changing schools again when we moved to the Netherlands? Oh, and learning Dutch? Let’s just say I’m sure I’m on my kids’ ‘most hated’ list for a while! These moments—funny, harsh, and unexpected—are the ones we’ll share here.
5️⃣ The “Where is Home?” Question
After years abroad, home isn’t just one place anymore. Do we stay, move on, or go back? And if we go back, will it even feel like home?
Honestly? I’m still figuring this one out. Maybe home isn’t a place—it’s a feeling, a moment, or the people we share it with.
Let’s Talk About It!
These are just the beginning! Every week on Almost Local, we’ll tackle these dilemmas with honesty, humor, and the shared experiences of incredible expats. Because the truth is, we may never have all the answers—but at least we don’t have to figure it out alone.
What’s been your biggest expat dilemma? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your story! 👇 🌍