Who is Behind Almost Local?
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Maria Barciela
Founder, Host & ConnectorMaria Barciela is an expat, entrepreneur, and storyteller at heart. Growing up between Brazil and Argentina, she has lived in New Zealand and the Netherlands, and now calls Auckland home, where she hosts the Almost Local podcast and shares stories of life abroad with humor and honesty.
Over the past 20 years, Maria has co-founded Across South America, a boutique travel company, and built multiple projects along the way. A lover of travel, she’s visited over 40 countries, started her first business at 26, and embraces minimalism whenever she relocates—yes, even when it comes to shoes!
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Andrea Perez
Community Facilitator & Growth CoachAndrea blends her background in Psychology, Coaching, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming with years of experience supporting teams and personal growth. As a Thrive Coach, she creates safe, inclusive spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered—especially those navigating life in new environments.
Home for Andrea is New Zealand—she moved there at 24 for the adventure, fell in love, and stayed. Having relocated multiple times herself, she brings deep empathy and insight into the challenges of starting over, helping others build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
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Andrea Beck
Storyteller & Content WriterAndrea has always been captivated by stories; first through books, and later through the people she met traveling the world. Born in Canada, she has lived in the United States and Switzerland, and now calls The Hague, Netherlands home. Through her travels, she fell in love with the connections, experiences, and unexpected moments that come with living abroad.
A former English teacher, writer, and passionate explorer, Andrea now balances life with caring for her new puppy, learning new languages, and capturing stories of women navigating life abroad. Fun fact: she has just published her first novel, Below the Surface.
