Almost Local Episode #3 - My little "expat" workbook

Join Maria as she introduces Almost Local Episode #3, featuring her delightful "expat" workbook!

🎒 Grab your free Little Expat Workbook – your pocket guide to navigating expat life with more clarity and confidence! [Download it here]

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Got a voice, a story, or just a love for mics and meaningful chats? You could co-host an episode with Maria or share your journey on the blog! Slide into our DMs or visit almost-local.com to pitch your idea.

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Episode Transcript

Maria Barciela (00:01):
Hey, I'm Maria.
Welcome back to Almost Local.
Today I have something differentand special to share with you.
I am, really happy to share alittle workbook I created.
It is is, called Five DilemmasEvery Expat Faces and How to Own

(00:24):
Them.
This workbook was done from myown experience as an expat I've
been.
Navigating life abroad foralmost 10 years.
I really hope you love it, andthat this becomes a nice
resource for you to, write downyour thoughts and do some

(00:46):
journaling and understand, whatyou're going through while
navigating this messy lifeabroad.
So this little workbook is free.
It's, personal and is the mosthonest thing that I've done and
put out there so far.
Let me walk you through, whatthese five dilemmas are because

(01:10):
the truth is life abroad isn'tjust brunch and beautiful
Instagram photos, life abroad.
If you've been living as anexpat, you know that it's also
about identity crisis,homesickness, guilt, confusion,

(01:30):
and.
The feeling of, everyonethinking that you are living the
dream while.
You might be, feeling stuck.
if this all sounds familiar toyou, let me walk you through,
the five dilemmas that Iincluded in this little
workbook.
And like I said, the workbook isa very simple, small, tool,

(01:55):
resource that it's available onthe website for you to download,
for free.
If you wanna go to our web,almost local.com, you can
download at any time.
You can also reach out to me, onInstagram.
I'm happy to share this littleworkbook anytime.
Which are these five dilemmas?
The first dilemma is who even amI here?

(02:18):
Who even am I here?
This is about, when everything,is set up in your life, your
roles, your daily routine, yourrhythm, and suddenly this all
changes and shifts, when youmove to a different place.
And you start wondering, whathave I become?

(02:39):
When I first moved to theNetherlands, People had told me
that everyone here, spokeEnglish, and the truth is that
is, a hundred percent truth.
Everyone speaks English.
However, the most, simple thingslike for me, going to the
supermarket and just being in anaisle and not really,

(03:01):
understanding.
Any of the labels and trying totalk to people.
this small talk was really, andit's still, difficult because
people speak Dutch here.
So for me that was, the startingof some sort of identity crisis.
Who am I here?
I can't even make small talk.

(03:23):
Dilemma number two is I miss mypeople.
And at the same time, I feelguilty.
So when you start, missing yourfriends back home, but at the
same time you start having thisfeeling of missing out on things
that are happening.

(03:43):
That is something we all gothrough.
I even have to be honest, I haveavoided video calls with friends
because I felt I was.
Missing a lot of things thatwere happening and that I wasn't
part of that life anymore.
And also feeling guilty becauseI was the one who had made the
decision to leave.

(04:04):
dilemma number three is I'velost momentum.
This could be related to yourcareer, to my purpose in life.
losing momentum when we moved toNew Zealand, I started,
reorganizing and reshaping mylife.
I was, working from home, alsogoing to a co-working space.

(04:26):
I made new, colleagues on thetravel industry.
As I own a boutique travelagency called, across South
America.
So for me, starting from scratchand building this new life
abroad, was, quite challenging.
And then when we moved again.
To the Netherlands where I'mactually living, I lost

(04:48):
momentum.
So this is why I included thisdilemma, this little workbook,
this feeling of losing thiswhole life.
You have, really struggle torebuild.
It's quite a big challenge and,quite a big struggle.
So that's why I also, includedas part of the workbook.

(05:09):
Number four, I don't know whereI belong.
Anymore.
So this is, the constantstruggle of being between
places.
home is not back there.
Home is not here.
You start wondering, where do Iactually belong?
And the concept of home startsto change.

(05:33):
Home starts to become, more afeeling rather than a place.
Home is not a country, a city, ahouse.
Home is something.
Different, it's a differentconcept.
Number four, I don't know whereI belong anymore.
It's really interesting as westart, moving to different

(05:56):
countries or cities, and westart realizing this is, more of
a feeling rather than a place.
Dilemma number five.
Everyone thinks I'm living thedream, but I feel stuck.
You've got the visa, you've gotthe job.
You have the beautiful place youare renting.

(06:18):
But deep.
Inside you feel, something ismissing, you are stuck or
something is not really workingokay.
you start wondering if you'vemade the right decision.
I can't tell you how many timesI've been told you are so lucky.
For living abroad, you arealways going from one place to

(06:41):
the other.
But the truth is, I have feltsometimes stuck.
I have felt unsure.
I have, moments of doubt of notbeing sure whether we had made
the right decision of moving.
That's also the reason why Iincluded this dilemma in the
workbook because this is partof, how we all feel when we live

(07:04):
abroad.
Or at least these dilemmas,these five dilemmas and any
other.
Challenges you might be facing.
These dilemmas are not problemsto be fixed.
They are invitations to reflecton your journey.
And that's the reason I createdthis little journaling workbook,

(07:26):
to help you, record thesethoughts and experiences, and
explore, these answers, right?
I do believe that there are notright answers if you have, the
experience of like me of livingfor several Years abroad.

(07:49):
I'm sure that your answers nowwould be very different from any
reflections or answers you mighthave had five years ago or 10
years ago.
Like I said, this littleworkbook is available on the
website for you to download anytime.
It is, a free resource that I'vecreated from my heart, my own

(08:11):
experience.
I would love to hear back fromyou if you have the time to,
reflect and share your storywith me, you can do that.
Anytime via, Instagram, atalmost local, and also, keep
listening to the podcast on thenext episodes, we'll start

(08:31):
digging deeper into thesedilemmas we will be.
Having some fellow expats whoare, here to, share their own
stories and tell, about theirstruggles and also their wins.
Not just things that went wrong,but also what are those things
that worked and share, how waslife navigating abroad?

(08:56):
Honestly, you are not alone.
We will be, listening to theselovely stories keep, listening,
and join for.
The fourth episode, that we willbe releasing soon.
I would love for you to, listenagain, to review the podcast.
Just tell me what your thoughtsare, how you navigate life

(09:19):
abroad, what, your experiencesare.
I would love to learn more aboutyour experience.
You are also welcome to send mea message if you'd like to be
included in one of these,interviews with fellow experts.
Thanks again for listening.
Now I'm off to my second morningcoffee and I will be, meeting

(09:42):
with you soon.
Cheers and take good care.